Job Opportunities
Development Specialist
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary seeks a motivated Development Specialist to support fundraising, donor relations, and campaign coordination for the first and best raptor conservation organization in the world.
The Development Specialist provides essential administrative, operational, and fundraising support for fundraising activities at Hawk Mountain and is a year-round part-time position that reports to the Membership Director. Excellent interpersonal written and verbal communication skills are a must. This position requires an understanding of the Hawk Mountain mission, including raptor conservation science and education.
Responsibilities include maintaining accurate donor communications, database updates, donor stewardship, and assisting with special events and campaigns to help the organization meet its revenue goals. The ideal candidate is friendly and extroverted, highly organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about the organization’s mission.
Schedule: Part-time with occasional weekends required.
Competencies and Attributes
Communication: Highly effective communicator including verbal, written, and social media.
Flexibility: Demonstrates professionalism and ability to seize opportunities while respecting organizational goals as well as its chain of command.
Motivation: A self-starter with a genuine passion for raptor conservation science and natural history. Promotes the work of Hawk Mountain to all audiences.
Solution-oriented: Projects a positive attitude and helps to solve problems.
Teamwork: Integrates development collaboratively across the organization.
Attendance: Regular and predictable attendance.
Primary Duties
Donor Stewardship and Communication:
- Help Membership Director with membership renewal, recapture, and acquisition mailings.
- Monitor donor inquiries received via phone or email, ensuring prompt, professional responses.
- Prepare and send personalized thank-you letters, tax receipts, and acknowledgement packages for capital campaign and other gifts. Ensure the President, Director of Development, or Membership Director personalize thank you notes as appropriate.
- Help execute and create exciting donor cultivation events by assisting with logistics including registration, check-in, and donation collection.
- Assist with data entry and updating donor information.
- Track actions and follow-up with donors to ensure follow through.
- Support the cultivation of individual and corporate donors through research.
- Aid in the follow-up with the donors, coordinating presidential and department tasks, calls, letters, and meetings. Assist with quarterly donor updates.
- Assist with the logistics of a fundraising campaign.
- Manage inventory of visitor or donor marketing materials.
- Help create exciting events, such as having a scientist or educator present a program.
- Flexible schedule attending some weekend events, managing onsite weekend information table, or participating in offsite membership tables as required.
Administrative Support and Other:
- Assist with Board of Directors’ meetings.
- Assist with volunteer coordination as needed.
- Help prepare database reports for the Business Office.
- Perform other duties, as assigned, to support the development team.
To Apply:
Email resume and cover letter to Business Manager Shelley Davenport at [email protected].
Please do not call to inquire. Candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Seasonal Sanctuary Steward/Invasive Species Specialist
This Stewardship position is chiefly responsible for conducting invasive species control on the Sanctuary utilizing manual, mechanical, and chemical methods. Other principal responsibilities will be utilizing GPS to aid in mapping invasive species, conducting restoration efforts through seeding and planting, and a variety of media production to share and educate public. Other duties when required include but are not limited to: Facilities and trail maintenance, responding to medical and weather emergencies, minimal custodial duties, and anything else that is deemed a priority throughout season as assigned. Internship credits can be available to selected candidates.
Compensation: $15.00 (hourly wage) - (Up to 40 hours a week)
Schedule: Mid-May to Mid-August - Position starts May 18
There are currently four positions available which, along with full-time staff, will serve as a team prioritizing control of invasive plant species and native habitat restoration.
Position Breakdown:
65% - Conducting removal and eradication of invasive species
20% - Time conducting restoration efforts utilizing native sources
10% - Advanced training opportunities
5% - Miscellaneous duties
Qualifications:
- Must be 18 years of age or older and possess a valid driver’s license
- Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and written
- Must be able to perform the physical labor required for all aspects of the position including the ability to carry a 50 lb. backpack in adverse conditions for 5 miles and be able to perform various job responsibilities in inclement weather.
- Must be able to work and collaborate in a team environment
- Must possess skills to effectively interact and educate the public on Sanctuary mission
- Must possess the ability to perform in an environment of changing workloads and priorities
- Preferred degree tract or degree in Environmental Science, Resource Management, Parks and Recreation, or related field.
- Preferred experience with invasive species control such as pulling, mowing, cutting, or spraying.
- Preferred experience in conducting restoration utilizing native species
- Preferred first aid/CPR certifications or at minimum willingness to assist in response to medical emergencies.
- Possess the ability to perform in an environment of changing workloads and priorities.
- Preferred proficiency in the operation of hand and power tools, mowers, string trimmers, hand saws, and 4X4 trucks and tractors.
- A willingness to perform Best Management Practices (BMP) related to invasive species control and become certified as a PA pesticide technician.
- Basic knowledge of Northeast flora and fauna is a plus.
- Experience in media collection is a plus.
- Experience with GPS/GIS is a plus.
Conservation Field Skills Acquired through this position:
- Central Appalachian Native and Invasive plant identification
- BMP in plant management with a focus in invasive species control
- Certification as a PA Pesticide Technician
- Rigging and Mechanical advantage
- Risk tree and Blowdown Removal
- Wildland Travel and Navigation
- Firearm Safety and Handling
- American Kestrel Nestbox Ecology and Management
- Broad-winged Hawk Nesting Ecology
- Introduction to Songbird Banding Utilizing Mist Nets
- Forest Resource Overview, Now and for the Future
- Basic Woodshop Tool Use for assigned projects
- CPR and First Aid Certification
How to Apply:
If interested, email cover letter and resume/CV to Noah Rauch, Sanctuary Steward, at [email protected].
Seasonal Research Technicians for Pennsylvania Bird Atlas
DEADLINE: April 24, 2026, but applications will be reviewed upon receipt
The Pennsylvania Bird Atlas (https://ebird.org/atlaspa) is hiring a team of point count technicians to conduct surveys throughout Pennsylvania during the summer of 2026.
DATES: May 18 – mid July 2026
Compensation
- $20/hr
- A combination of campsites and hotel accommodations will be provided for a total of 5 nights/week.
- Mileage reimbursement on personal vehicles will be provided. Vehicle rental may be provided in lieu of use of a personal vehicle if necessary.
- Technicians are responsible for providing their own food, binoculars, smartphone, camping equipment, and vehicle (if possible).
Responsibilities
The field season will begin with a mandatory orientation session at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary (Orwigsburg, PA) during the week of May 18, 2026. The remainder of the season, technicians will work independently conducting avian point count surveys at assigned roadside locations, recording distances and behavior codes of individual birds, and entering data into a database. Surveys will occur in all habitat types across the entire state of Pennsylvania. The work schedule will require flexibility in the event of inclement weather but will be no more than 40 hours/week.
Qualifications
- Ability to identify birds of Pennsylvania by sight and sound. Preference will be given to applicants with previous experience using eBird and conducting point count surveys. Prior birding experience need not be through a paid position.
- Valid driver’s license and safe driving history.
- Must be willing to work early mornings and long hours in a variety of conditions including hot weather and buggy conditions.
- Must be comfortable camping independently.
- Must be comfortable working independently and be able to follow all Atlas protocols.
- Must be comfortable navigating by GPS and driving long hours in rural and urban settings.
- Must be self-motivated and have good communication skills.
To Apply:
Send an email with “Lastname-technician” as both the subject line and the name of your attached application. The application should include a single document (.doc, .docx, or .pdf) containing a cover letter and resume. Please include names and contact information for 2-3 references, including at least 2 that can attest to your birding skills. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt.
CONTACT: Amber Wiewel ([email protected])