Government Relations & Civic Engagement Manager

The Wildlife Society; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Part time

Job summary

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is seeking a part-time limited term Government Relations & Civic Engagement Manager to implement a focused strategy, engage with elected officials, and promote bird conservation through recognition programs and timely communications.

The position reports to the VP of Advocacy and Threats Programs, is remote, and offers an implementation-focused role with opportunities to collaborate with the Development team as needed. Application deadline is October 16, 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience working directly with congressional, state legislative, or local government offices.
• Experience with conservation, environmental policy, agriculture, public lands, water, or related policy issues.
• Experience developing recognition programs, awards, events, or stakeholder engagement campaigns.
• Experience creating social media or digital communications for public officials or nonprofit organizations.
• Existing relationships with policymakers, government staff, conservation organizations, or relevant coalitions.
• Familiarity with 501(c)(4) organizations and the legal and strategic distinctions between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Make bird-friendly leadership visible at local, state, and federal levels through recognition and storytelling via email, web stories, and social media.
• Build and maintain authentic, low-burden relationships with elected officials and their staff.
• Recognize and amplify positive actions by policymakers.
• Identify and support a small number of high-leverage policy opportunities.
• Develop recognition tools and experiences that elected officials are proud to share.
• Build toward 'Birdies' awards program that becomes a valued recognition for policymakers.

Job description

Title: Government Relations & Civic Engagement Manager

Supervisor: VP of Advocacy and Threats Programs

Location: Remote

Salary: Estimated at $48/hour*; Based on experience

Term of Position: September 2026 to September 2027; This position is supported through outside funding commitments and is subject to periodic reviews to confirm the continuation of funding. The role may include collaboration with our Development team to help ensure sustained support; however, ongoing employment is contingent upon the availability of grant funding and partner commitments.

Application Deadline: October 16, 2026

Position Summary:

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is a fast-growing, results-focused nonprofit seeking employees with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to make a difference for birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. Inspired by the wonder of birds, ABC achieves lasting results for the bird species most in need while also benefiting human communities, biodiversity, and the planet’s fragile climate.

American Bird Conservancy Action Fund (ABCAF) is seeking a part-time limited term Government Relations & Civic Engagement Manager to help implement a focused strategy to increase the visibility and recognition of elected officials who support bird conservation, build constructive relationships with policymakers and their staff, and strengthen ABCAF's reputation as a trusted, nonpartisan conservation partner.

This position is an implementation-focused role. The Manager will translate ABCAF's strategy into consistent, polished communications and meaningful, light-touch engagement with elected officials and their offices. The position will coordinate recognition opportunities, develop and distribute "Bird Champion" content and materials, support rapid-response communications around positive policy developments, maintain relationships with policymakers and partners, and help develop ABCAF's Bird Conservation Champions Awards ("The Birdies").

The ideal candidate is an excellent writer and relationship builder who understands how government offices operate, can recognize opportunities for positive engagement, and can execute high-quality work independently with limited staff capacity. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in a politically sensitive environment and will consistently use a nonpartisan, constructive, recognition-oriented approach.

Primary Duties:

ABCAF is intentionally pursuing a "signal over scale" strategy. Rather than attempting broad advocacy or mass mobilization, the organization will focus resources on making support for bird conservation more visible, desirable, and politically valuable.

The Manager will help ABCAF:

• Make bird-friendly leadership at the local, state, and federal level visible through high-quality recognition and storytelling through email, web stories, and social media.
• Build and maintain authentic, low-burden relationships with elected officials and their staff.
• Recognize and amplify positive actions by policymakers.
• Identify and support a small number of high-leverage policy opportunities.
• Develop recognition tools and experiences that elected officials are proud to share.
• Build toward "Birdies" awards program that becomes a valued recognition for policymakers.

Benefits:

This position is benefits ineligible

Preferred

• Experience working directly with congressional, state legislative, or local government offices.
• Experience with conservation, environmental policy, agriculture, public lands, water, or related policy issues.
• Experience developing recognition programs, awards, events, or stakeholder engagement campaigns.
• Experience creating social media or digital communications for public officials or nonprofit organizations.
• Existing relationships with policymakers, government staff, conservation organizations, or relevant coalitions.
• Familiarity with 501(c)(4) organizations and the legal and strategic distinctions between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) advocacy.

* American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is committed to promoting fairness and equity in all partnerships. We collaborate with external partners to advocate for competitive and equitable funding rates in future agreements.

At American Bird Conservancy, we believe that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills makes us more effective. We are committed to creating a respectful and inclusive work environment for all of our employees.

As an equal opportunity employer, ABC is committed to ensuring that employees and applicants for employment have equal opportunities regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other factor unrelated to the requirements of the position.