Position Announcement - July 2024

Naturalist/Educator

Hawks Aloft, Inc. seeks a unique individual to join our conservation team. This person is multi-faceted and interested in participating in all aspects of Hawks Aloft, including educational programs for schools and our community, avian research, raptor husbandry, and raptor rescue.

Our primary educational program is Living with the Landscape, a school year-long program that serves all students in participating Title I schools through a conservation curriculum with a combination of lecture and active play that builds in intensity in the upper grade levels of local elementary schools. The program is entirely grant-funded and free to participating schools.  It includes field trips to natural areas and a conservation project for the school. Live, non-releasable birds of prey, our avian ambassadors, are at each classroom presentation to help students understand the ecological lessons in the curriculum. We also participate in outreach events in our community and statewide.

Hawks Aloft has a dedicated Raptor Rescue hotline, staffed year-round during daylight hours.  Staff, volunteers, veterinarians, and wildlife rehabilitators work together to ensure that injured raptors, corvids, and roadrunners are provided medical care, either at one of our Albuquerque locations or to another permitted facility within the state. We are active in the conservation community, working on topics relative to the electric utility industry, local conservation issues, the New Mexico Avian Conservation Partners, and other nonprofits in New Mexico.

The ideal candidate has a strong interest in birds and conservation, excellent social skills to engage youth while making presentations to diverse groups, is physically fit has a BS degree in biology or a related field, or the equivalent in work experience.  Good organizational skills and multi-tasking are essential. Classroom education experience and other experience with youth and raptors are also a plus.  Raptor handling and/or raptor rehabilitation a plus.

Our nonprofit functions as a team with overlap in various duties as the need arises.  Duties include raptor care, including occasional overnight care, raptor handling, cleaning cages, bird laundry, as well as veterinary visits and assisting with raptor rescue responses.  We do not expect any one candidate to have experience in all areas but will provide training as needed for the right candidate. Position will be filled when the individual that is the best match for Hawks Aloft is found.

Primary Duties:

• Conduct conservation education programs at K-12 schools
• Implement curriculum with a focus on live birds of prey and relevant ecological concepts
• Assist with public outreach booths as needed
• Assist in the care of our 30 non-releasable raptors, including occasional overnight shifts.
• Assist with raptor rescue and rehabilitation as needed

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s in education, biology, or experience in a related field
• Demonstrated classroom experience
• Raptor handling experience a plus
• Availability to work non-traditional hours (evenings and weekends)
• Strong time management & organization skills
• Detail-oriented
• Ability to work well in a small, team-oriented organization
• Experience with social media websites, i.e. Facebook, Instagram
• Experience with low-income schools/students
• Experience teaching a broad range of age groups

This is a permanent, full-time position with benefits. Start date is as soon as a suitable candidate can be found.  This is a full-time, permanent position that requires a minimum of 40 hours per week with some weekends and evenings.  Initial salary $30,000 plus benefits, including vacation and sick leave, and use of a company vehicle.

NO PHONE CALLS, NO PERSONAL VISITS!  To apply, send a cover letter with dates of availability, resume, and at least three references to:

gail@hawksaloft.org

Hawks Aloft, Inc.

Attn: Gail Garber, Executive Director

PO Box 10028

Albuquerque, NM  87184