Description

Bonsai Leadership Group is excited to support National Audubon Society in its search for a Vice President, California. 

ABOUT NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
The National Audubon Society (Audubon) is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. They work throughout the Americas toward a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation.  

Audubon has more than 800 staff working across the Western hemisphere. Together as one Audubon, they aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. Audubon does this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community among all those who recognize that what is good for birds is good for the Earth.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where its talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. By honoring and celebrating the remarkable diversity of humanity, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to their work throughout the hemisphere.

Guided by its bold strategic plan, Flight Plan, Audubon will achieve new levels of impact for birds, people, and the planet. 

Learn more at audubon.org.

ABOUT AUDUBON IN CALIFORNIA 
In California, Audubon is a bold and deeply rooted force for conservation, advocacy, and community engagement across the Golden State. With a $12 million annual budget (FY26), a talented staff of over 40, and a network of 48 local chapters and more than 118,000 members, Audubon California brings people together to protect the places that birds depend on.

 Audubon’s California program is one of the most dynamic and high impact programs within the National Audubon Society. Operating at the intersection of science, policy, and community, this work spans the state’s extraordinary landscape—from coastal wetlands and migratory flyways to grasslands, ranches, deserts, and urban habitats. Together with partners and communities, Audubon is shaping a more climate-resilient future, creating vital bird habitats, restoring ecosystems, and advancing equitable conservation strategies across California.

Audubon manages a portfolio of nine sanctuaries and centers encompassing more than 16,000 owned or leased acres, and influences stewardship on an estimated 1.5 million acres across the state. Key sites include Bobcat Ranch, Richardson Bay Audubon Center, Debs Park, Starr Ranch, and Kern River Preserve. Through innovative programs such as conservation ranching, coastal resilience initiatives, and Pacific Flyway protection, Audubon delivers measurable outcomes for species like the Allen’s Hummingbird, Tricolored Blackbird, and Western Snowy Plover.

This team also engages 2,500 volunteers annually and oversees seasonal and fellowship programs that expand pathways into conservation careers. For more information about Audubon’s programs in California, visit audubon.com/california. 

THE OPPORTUNITY
Audubon seeks an experienced, entrepreneurial, and strategic leader to serve as Vice President, California to drive conservation impact and growth within Audubon’s California program. This leader will guide a talented, geographically distributed team to advance habitat, climate, policy, and community-building strategies that deliver measurable progress toward Audubon’s Flight Plan and Conservation Milestones.

The Vice President, California will report to the Vice President, Conservation Action, Western Flyways and champion California’s role within a hemispheric conservation vision, fostering strong collaborations with leaders across the Americas to align state priorities with national and international goals. They will also cultivate strategic relationships with key partners to expand regional conservation impact. 

A skilled people leader and enthusiastic fundraiser, the Vice President, California will inspire and mobilize Audubon’s bipartisan network, work with the Development Team to secure major gifts and transformative philanthropic and public funding, and strengthen relationships with policymakers, partners, and communities across California. This role requires exceptional political and policy acumen, a compelling public presence, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes, lead confidently through change, and operate effectively in times of ambiguity.

To see the full list of primary responsibilities, visit https://www.bonsaileadershipgroup.com/vpca. 

Requirements

Candidates from a range of backgrounds are encouraged to submit their interest. While the ideal candidate will exhibit many of the following attributes and experiences described below, they need not possess them all for consideration:

• 15+ years of progressive senior leadership in conservation, environmental policy, advocacy, or civic engagement, with full accountability for programs, budgets, and teams in large, complex organizations and a deep knowledge of California’s conservation and policy landscape.
• Accomplished people leader with exceptional ability to cultivates collaborative, high-performing, and resilient teams. Experienced mentor and coach who fosters accountability, professional growth, and a positive, productive work culture with experience guiding teams through organizational change while maintaining focus on long-term impact.
• Proven and enthusiastic fundraiser with a track record of collaborations that secure transformative gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and public agencies.
• Strategic thinker and decisive leader with a history of aligning a broad representation of stakeholders toward common goals, setting clear priorities, and leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives to measurable success. Demonstrates the discernment to say no when necessary to maintain focus and achieve impact.
• Expert at navigating matrixed organizations, influencing without direct authority, and fostering collaboration across teams, functions, geographies, and organizational levels.
• Respected advocate with strong political acumen, adept at engaging stakeholders across political spectrums and forging cross-sector collaborations.
• Dynamic communicator and storyteller with a compelling public presence and the ability to inspire a wide range of audiences, mobilize support, and elevate organizational visibility.
• Trusted relationship builder with the necessary integrity, transparency, and strong interpersonal skills to engage authentically with stakeholders representing a broad range of perspectives.
• Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.
• Deep alignment and commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
• Demonstrated experience managing a schedule that includes evening and weekend work, along with routine travel within California and across the U.S.