SCOPE: The Xerces Society is looking for an Endangered Species Conservation Associate to work on the conservation of western monarch butterflies and other at risk species.

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, vegetables, and nuts; they are food for birds, fish, and other animals; and they build the stunning coral reefs in our oceans. Yet invertebrate populations are often imperiled by human activities and rarely accounted for in mainstream conservation. Established in 1971, and named after the now extinct Xerces blue butterfly, the Xerces Society is at the forefront of invertebrate protection, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of local citizens to implement conservation, restoration, and education programs. We protect endangered species and their habitats, produce ground-breaking publications on insect conservation, train thousands of farmers and land managers to protect and manage habitat for beneficial insects, and raise awareness about the invertebrates of forests, prairies, deserts, creeks, wetlands, and oceans. The Xerces Society is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with regional offices in California, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, and North Carolina. We
currently have twenty two employees and multiple contractors, and an annual budget of nearly $2,000,000. For more information about the Xerces Society, please visit www.xerces.org. For more information about monarch butterfly conservation, please visit www.xerces.org/monarchs.

 

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 applied ecology, conservation biology, entomology, or butterfly biology; advanced knowledge of how land management practices affect butterflies; and strong outreach skills. Under the direction of the Endangered Species Program Director, the Endangered Species Conservation Associate will spend approximately two thirds of her or his time managing our
effort to conserve monarch butterflies and their habitats and approximately one third of his or her time assisting with other endangered species conservation projects. The monarch butterfly conservation activities will include:

  • Monitoring monarch butterfly populations and assessing overwintering habitat at multiple monarch overwintering sites on the California coast;
  • Providing workshops and training for land managers and citizen scientists to monitor and manage monarch overwintering sites;
  • Finalizing and distributing management guidelines to assist land managers in protecting monarch overwintering groves;
  • Developing management plans for selected monarch butterfly overwintering sites;
  • Maintaining and filling gaps in MS Access and GIS databases of California monarch overwintering sites; and
  • Mapping monarch breeding locations in the western US.

Additional activities may include:

  • Conducting literature reviews for a variety of invertebrate species;
  • Writing status reviews and Endangered Species Act listing petitions for critically imperiled species;
  • Conducting field surveys for a variety of at-risk invertebrate species;
  • Developing endangered species program web content and managing web pages;
  • Assisting senior staff with a variety of endangered species related tasks; and
  • Other activities relating to the conservation of at-risk invertebrate species.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

  • Bachelor’s degree (graduate degree strongly preferred) in ecology, conservation biology, entomology, or natural resource management, or 3 – 5 years of experience in conservation science, and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience in conducting field research.
  • Excellent writing skills.
  • Proficiency in ArcGIS software and other common applications (Access, Google Earth, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Ability to manage multiple complex projects.
  • Knowledge of species (especially invertebrates), natural communities, ecosystems, ecological processes, and their conservation needs.
  • Ability to synthesize, interpret, and communicate complex scientific information to influence conservation practice.
  • Ability to develop and give engaging presentations to audiences of more than twenty adults.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide variety of people, including scientists, nonscientists and agency staff.
  • Ability to manage time and diverse activities under deadlines, while delivering quality results.
  • Extremely dependable, punctual, and with great attention to detail.

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

  • Ability to develop creative ideas to improve conservation strategies.
  • Knowledge of endangered invertebrates.
  • Proficiency editing websites.
  • A good sense of humor.

 

TERMS: This is a full time position and the Xerces Society is 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, three weeks of paid time off accrued after first year, medical benefits, disability insurance coverage,
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.

 

LOCATION: The ideal location is in Portland, Oregon, but locations in California will be considered.

 

APPLICATION: Anyone interested in this position should mail or email a cover letter, resume, and names and contact information for three references to Katy Gray. If submitting by email, please send cover letter, resume and references as a single attachment [MS Word or PDF] to Katy Gray at: kgray@xerces.org.

Please write Endangered Species Conservation Associate Search in the subject line of the email.

If by mail, please send all documents to:
Katy Gray
Attn: Endangered Species Conservation Associate Search
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
628 NE Broadway, Suite 200
Portland, OR 97232

DEADLINE: September 6, 2012

http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/xerces-monarch-endangered-species-job-2012.pdf