Career Opportunities

Friends of Ballona Wetlands is seeking a
Habitat Restoration Coordinator

Job Title: Habitat Restoration Coordinator
Reports to: Director of Habitat Restoration and Upper Education
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Hours: Full time 40 hours per week
Salary: $55,000 - $60,000 annually

We are seeking a passionate team member to support habitat restoration, stewardship, volunteer engagement, monitoring, and community programming at the Ballona Wetlands. Working closely with the Director of Habitat Restoration and Upper Education, this position will help launch and implement the Ballona Stewardship Plan, coordinate restoration goals and projects, support volunteer and field programs, assist with surveys, data collection, monitoring reports, and help ensure that restoration events are well-organized, safe, and effective. The ideal candidate is organized, dependable, comfortable working outdoors, able to communicate clearly with volunteers and staff, and deeply committed to environmental restoration, community engagement, and the long-term protection of the Ballona Wetlands.

How to Apply
All applicants must apply by submitting a PDF resume and cover letter to employment@ballonafriends.org using “Habitat Restoration Coordinator” in the subject line.
Email submissions only; No phone inquiries. 

Required Experience & Skills

  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, or related field

  • Experience or education in habitat restoration, environmental science, ecology, natural resources, or a related field

  • Strong organizational skills and ability to coordinate multiple projects, events, and deadlines

  • Experience working with volunteers, community members, interns, students, or similar groups

  • Ability to communicate roles, responsibilities, and expectations clearly to volunteers and team members

  • Comfort working outdoors in wetland, restoration, or field conditions

  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and partners

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to maintain records, assist with reporting, and support monitoring protocols

  • Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends, including at least one Saturday per month

Preferred Experience and Skills

  • Experience with habitat restoration, native plant work, invasive plant removal, or ecological stewardship programs

  • Experience coordinating volunteer programs or community restoration events

  • Familiarity with Southern California coastal wetland habitats, native plants, wildlife, or restoration practices

  • Experience assisting with biological field surveys, vegetation monitoring, butterfly counts, or similar data collection

  • Experience with environmental education, naturalist training, or leading interpretive programs

  • Experience training or supervising interns, fellows, volunteers, or field teams

  • Familiarity with restoration permits, monitoring reports, or grant-related documentation

  • Comfort delivering presentations to partners, volunteers, or community groups

Duties and Responsibilities

Ballona Stewardship Program

  • Under the direction of the Director of Habitat Restoration and Upper Education, help implement the Ballona Stewardship Plan

  • Recruit, coordinate, and manage dedicated Volunteer Corps members

  • Host volunteer trainings and communicate roles, responsibilities, expectations, and progress

  • Coordinate restoration goals, volunteer priorities, and stewardship projects with the Director of Habitat Restoration and Upper Education

  • Help create a welcoming, organized, and effective volunteer experience that supports long-term restoration goals

Habitat Restoration

  • Assist with and sometimes lead monthly Friday and Saturday Community Restoration events

  • Assist with and sometimes lead corporate and private group volunteer restoration events

  • Maintain monitoring and reporting protocols, analyses, and reports for habitat restoration projects

  • Assist the Director of Habitat Restoration and Upper Education and the Manager of Scientific Programs with permitting, data collection, and monitoring reports for ongoing Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve restoration projects

  • Assist with the training and management of field interns

  • Assist with the training and management of CCAC Fellows and comply with program requirements

  • Assist with the management, documentation, scheduling, and coordination of field surveys, including vegetation and butterfly counts, particularly El Segundo Blue Butterfly surveys

  • Assist with the management of outside contractors performing habitat restoration work

  • Support adaptive management of restoration projects through careful documentation, coordination, and field support

Upper Education

  • Attend California Naturalist instructor training

  • Help design and implement naturalist trainings at Ballona Wetlands

  • Provide occasional assistance with high school and college field trips

  • Support educational programming that connects students and community members with the ecology and restoration of Ballona Wetlands

Outreach and Community Engagement

  • Assist with weekend community events, averaging approximately one per month

  • Assist with community events such as Earth Day, Coastal Cleanup Day, Migration Celebration, Celebration of the Blues, and others

  • Deliver presentations to partners and community groups on relevant habitat restoration, stewardship, and naturalist topics

  • Represent Friends of Ballona Wetlands in a professional, welcoming, and mission-aligned manner when working with volunteers, partners, and the public

Physical Demands
The position requires outdoor work in wetland terrain for extended periods of time under inclement conditions, involving activities such as walking, navigating, reaching with hands and arms, and effectively communicating verbally.

Schedule
Position to start ASAP. Full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Must be available for some weekends and evenings.

Benefits
Our benefits include health insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, vacation, 56 hours of paid sick leave per calendar year, and paid time off for all Friends of Ballona Wetlands recognized holidays.

If you are excited about the prospect of joining a small team of environmental educators who are creating and providing high-quality environmental education experiences for young people throughout Los Angeles which deepen their understanding, enjoyment and stewardship of the world around them, please send your cover letter and resume to employment@ballonafriends.org to apply!

Friends of Ballona Wetlands is always eager to diversify its staff and reflect our community. Candidates of diverse backgrounds and perspectives are encouraged to apply. Friends of Ballona Wetlands provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including but not limited to pregnancy), gender expression, gender identity or sexual orientation, military or veteran status, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, national origin, age, physical and/or mental disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements Friends of Ballona Wetlands complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.