IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
SCOPE: Since its inception, the Xerces Society has strived to use the best available scientific information to further the conservation of butterflies, moths, and numerous other invertebrate species. The Xerces Society is looking for a Butterfly Conservation Specialist to join our growing conservation team and help us continue to successfully implement our mission.
BACKGROUND: The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, worms, starfish, mussels, and crabs are but a few of the millions of invertebrates at the heart of a healthy environment. Invertebrates are essential to the reproduction of most flowering plants, including many fruits and vegetables; they are food for birds, fish, and other animals; they build the stunning coral reefs of our oceans. Yet invertebrate populations are often imperiled by human activities and rarely accounted for in mainstream conservation. Named after the extinct Xerces blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche xerces), the Society has been at the forefront of invertebrate protection for four decades. We harness the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of local citizens to implement conservation and education programs. Since 1971 we have protected endangered species and their habitats, produced ground-breaking publications on insect conservation, trained thousands of farmers and land managers to protect and manage habitat for beneficial insects, and raised awareness about the invertebrates of forests, prairies, creeks, deserts, and oceans.
The Xerces Society is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with offices in several other states. The Society currently has 15 full-time staff members, multiple contractors, and an annual budget of over $1,400,000.
MAJOR JOB ACTIVITIES: This is a national level position that will require considerable travel, especially throughout the West Coast (and will often require more than 40 hours a week due to travel). The successful candidate will have a strong background in butterfly biology, entomology, or applied ecology; advanced knowledge of land management practices beneficial for butterflies; and strong outreach skills. The position will also include writing educational materials, conducting literature research, and coordinating with academic scientists.
Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Butterfly Conservation Specialist will:
o Manage our effort to conserve monarch butterflies and their habitat, which will include:
o Maintaining our large database of Californian monarch overwintering sites,
o Developing a survey protocol, contacting land owners, and then conducting habitat assessments at all of the high priority monarch overwintering sites,
o Providing workshops and training for citizen scientists to monitor monarch overwintering sites,
o Developing and distributing management guidelines to assist land managers in protecting monarch overwintering groves, and
o Developing management plans for selected sites.
o Assist in management of the IUCN Butterfly Specialist Group.
o Plan surveys for at-risk butterflies.
o Assist in the development of management plans for at-risk butterflies.
o Perform limited applied research on select butterfly species.
o Develop status reviews and ESA listing petitions for critically imperiled butterfly species.
o Develop and run a butterfly management short course that provides land managers with guidance on how to best manage habitat for butterflies.
o Update and maintain the Xerces Red List of butterflies and moths (http://www.xerces.org/red-list-of-butterflies-and-moths/).
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
o Bachelors degree (graduate degree strongly preferred) in entomology, ecology, conservation biology, or natural resource management, or 3 – 5 years experience in conservation science, and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
o Experience in entomology is preferred.
o An understanding of butterfly biology and pollination ecology.
o Proficiency in ArcGIS software and other common applications (Google Earth, Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Web browsers.)
o Ability to manage complex or multiple projects.
o Knowledge of species (especially invertebrates), natural communities, ecosystems, ecological processes, and their conservation needs.
o Ability to synthesize, interpret, and communicate complex scientific information to influence conservation practice.
o Ability to develop and give engaging presentations to audiences of more than twenty adults.
o Ability to communicate professionally with a wide variety of people.
o Ability to manage time and diverse activities under deadlines, while delivering quality results.
o Able to communicate effectively with scientists, nonscientists and agency staff.
o Extremely dependable, punctual, and with great attention to detail.
ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
o Ability to develop creative ideas to improve conservation strategies.
o Knowledge of endangered invertebrates.
o A good sense of humor.
TERMS: This is a full time position and we are an at will employer. The Xerces Society is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.
SALARY: $34,000 – $40,000, depending on experience.
BENEFITS: This position includes a generous benefits package: eleven paid holidays and two weeks of vacation accrued after first year, medical benefits, and a flexible work environment. If the position is extended beyond one year, eight percent of the base pay will be contributed toward a SEP retirement account, beginning in January of the calendar year following the first full year of employment.
LOCATION: Ideal location is in Portland, Oregon, but will consider locations in California.
APPLICATION: Anyone interested in this position should mail or email a cover letter, resume, and names and contact information for three references (if emailed, please send as a single attachment [MS Word or PDF]) to:
Butterfly Conservation Specialist Search
The Xerces Society
4828 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97215
suzanne@xerces.org
DEADLINE: April 18, 2011
