About Mass Audubon  

Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org.  

About this position 

Mass Audubon is committed to creating a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just organization and to providing greater access to nature for everyone, which is why we created the Environmental Fellowship Program for Early Careers (EFP). Now entering its fifth year, the EFP is a unique program that increases pathways for a diversity of early career professionals into environmental professions. Each 14-month fellowship is hosted within one of five departments/teams: Land Conservation, Conservation Science, Nature in the City, Wildlife Sanctuaries & Education, or Diversity & Inclusion. Our fellows will tackle some of the most pressing environmental concerns of our time while working with a passionate and dedicated team of professionals. This is an opportunity designed for recent graduates or those beginning their careers with up to one year of professional experience. In addition to professional experience, the fellows are given opportunities for networking, mentoring, and skill development within a supportive cohort model. To learn more about the program, please register for an Information Session which will take place on Wednesday, January 28th at 6PM EST and Monday, February 9th at 6PM EST. 

Mass Audubon launched our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA) Strategic Plan, a roadmap to create a more inclusive, equitable, and accessible organization that ensures all people feel a sense of belonging in nature. The plan addresses systemic racial and economic inequities that have limited access to the outdoors. The Diversity & Inclusion Fellow will help support the three pillars of the Strategic Plan: Leadership & Vision (embedding DEIJA practices across staff and board), People & Culture (building a diverse, inclusive workforce and equitable employee experience), and Community Connections (centering marginalized voices, supporting Indigenous rights, and reducing the nature deficit in environmental justice communities).

Responsibilities
Primary duties and responsibilities will be divided between your work with the Diversity & Inclusion team outlined below (80%) and your own professional development, cohort connections, mentoring, and professional projects or research (20%). 

The Fellow will be responsible for supporting departmental initiatives across coordination, partnerships, fundraising, and communications. Key responsibilities include: 

• Workshop Facilitation & Planning
  • Collaborate with project managers and program leaders to plan and facilitate professional development, including team meetings, outings, and leadership trainings for Mass Audubon staff and volunteers, with a focus on DEIJA.
  • Support planning and coordination for external DEIJA events, training, and engagement activities for the general public, with opportunities for deeper involvement if the Fellow has an education or environmental education background.

• External Partnership Support
  • Contribute to research and educational projects related to Indigenous partnerships.
  • Support emerging partnership opportunities with Indigenous communities as organizational priorities evolve.
  • Work with across disciplinary team of educators, managers and other wildlife sanctuary staff to prepare and conduct activities for community engagement and educational initiatives, with an emphasis on connecting with marginalized communities.
• General 
  • Attend and actively participate in statewide and regional staff meetings, professional learning communities, and professional development trainings related to your area of focus.
  • Effectively communicate and represent Mass Audubon’s mission, vision, and programs to students, teachers, visitors, members, and community members.

Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications: 

Must Haves: 

• Must obtain a Bachelor’s degree by the start of the fellowship. Degrees or fields of study especially suitable for this work include: Education, Environmental Studies and Sustainability, Ecology, Political Science, Public Policy, Ethnic Studies, Women/Gender and Sexuality Studies, or related field.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of DEI frameworks and practices.
• Embodies principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility in a professional work environment.
• Committed to helping build healthy, vibrant, and equitable communities through education and public engagement.
• Strong project management skills, including organization of tasks, listening to input from team members and community members, synthesizing information from a wide array of sources, problem solving on a day-to-day and long-term basis, evaluation, and the ability to move a project forward with input from others 
• A growth mindset, with the ability to be self-reflective and an eagerness to improve one’s own skills.
• Experience cultivating and supporting spaces of learning and growth amongst peers. 
• Excellent writing and speaking skills.
• Solid skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Teams, and Outlook)
• Ability to commute to Lincoln, MA at least once a week
• Willingness to travel throughout the state 

Nice to Haves: 

• Interest in developing entry level career skills
• Experience leading professional development activities
• Experience designing educational activities
• Experience with coalition building
• Familiarity with local Indigenous history and sovereignty
• Knowledge of the natural history and conservation issues of Massachusetts
• Familiarity with and passion for culturally responsive teaching and/or other equity-based pedagogy
• Valid driver’s license