Inland Northwest Pollinator Habitat Specialist (Living Farms Project)

JOB TITLE: Inland Northwest Pollinator Habitat Specialist (Living Farms Project)

LOCATION: The ideal candidate would be located or willing to relocate to Central Washington state or North Central Oregon (Spokane, Tri-cities, Yakima or Wenatchee, WA preferred). Remote position. Candidates must have a home office location suitable for work purposes, with good internet access, and must work from a city/state location approved by Xerces as their permanent work location.

COMPENSATION: $29.34 – $30 per hour starting.

STATUS & SCHEDULE: Full-Time, hourly, non-exempt position, scheduled to work ~ 40 hours/week.

JOB START DATE: October 2024

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 12, 2024

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

All applications must be submitted via our application website at: xerces.org/jobs

We are committed to creating a more diverse workforce that is welcoming to all employees and the communities we serve. As part of the application process, please be prepared to answer a brief essay question (1,000 characters or less) in which you describe some ways you might help Xerces collaborate with diverse audiences or historically excluded communities in this role.

Xerces provides accommodations for the job application process if needed. If you need an accommodation to complete the job application process, please email reasonable.accomodation@xerces.org with your specific request.

JOIN US!

Come join a growing team of conservation professionals at the Xerces Society who are dedicated to protecting some of the world’s most important animals. We are seeking a skilled and collaborative candidate with experience working in or around agricultural lands to plan and implement pollinator conservation efforts with farms across the Pacific Northwest.

At Xerces, we harness the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of the public to implement conservation programs. We take action by helping farms and public agencies develop conservation plans for pollinators and beneficial insects, producing ground-breaking publications on insect conservation, training thousands of farmers and land managers to protect and manage habitat for beneficial insects, protecting endangered species and their habitat, and engaging the public to raise awareness about invertebrates found on farms, forests, prairies, deserts, streams, wetlands, towns and cities. Our methods focus on habitat conservation planning, education, scientific analysis, advocacy, and applied research to conserve invertebrates, such as bees, butterflies, mollusks, and fireflies.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:

The Inland Northwest Pollinator Habitat Specialist (Living Farms Project) will support Xerces private-sector partners in designing and implementing cutting-edge conservation systems for bees and beneficial insects on farms across the Pacific Northwest. Supervised by Xerces’ Food Systems and Living Farms Project Lead, this position will collaborate closely with farm managers, as well as key staff at some of the largest food companies in the world to implement conservation practices on farms that serve the manufactured food and fresh produce industries.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop large-scale habitat restoration plans, including protocols for site preparation, planting methods, and ongoing maintenance.
• Manage and provide technical support for habitat restoration projects both remotely and onsite.
• Directly participate in the planting and maintenance of hedgerows, wildflower meadows and cover crop systems in heavily managed agricultural settings, including direct collaboration with farm staff and labor.
• Perform extensive monitoring of on-farm pollinator and beneficial insect habitats throughout the region.
• Document pest management practices on farms and work with farmers and Xerces’ pest management specialists to foster the adoption of reduced-risk/ecologically-based pest management strategies.
• Work with key staff at select food companies to identify and reach out to farms that will implement habitat restoration.
• Support partners with science-based advice and consulting on native bee and beneficial insect conservation and on-farm ecosystem services.
• Communicate our conservation model and the impact of our work to diverse stakeholders including farmers, food companies, and government agencies at conferences, workshops, and business meetings.
• Support the promotion, recruitment, and on-boarding of farms into Xerces’ Bee Better Certified farm and food product certification program, including technical assistance throughout the application process.
• Travel frequently to job sites within Washington and occasional travel to job sites out of state.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:

REQUIRED

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to develop work plans and work independently managing multiple long-term projects simultaneously.
• Extensive knowledge of native plant ecology and restoration ecology in highly impacted landscapes.
• An understanding of pollination ecology and the role of native pollinators (especially bees) in agroecosystems.
• Extensive knowledge of diverse, large-scale farm practices and crop management systems.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and be capable of organizing meetings and presenting information to a wide variety of professional clients and stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to work with diverse teams and constituents in a respectful, equitable, and inclusive fashion.
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint). The use of Google Suite and geospatial data management is required daily.
• Ability to use mobile digital data collection tools.
• Ability to travel out-of-town for multiple days (e.g. approximately 6 overnights per month during peak season)

PREFERRED

• Spanish-language competency
• Cross-cultural, multicultural, and/or multilingual skills, background, or experience.
• Personal or professional background in agriculture.
• Strong track record of managing large-scale native plant habitat restoration projects.
• Specific knowledge of agriculture and restoration in the inland Northwest region.
• Ability to develop and give engaging presentations to audiences of more than twenty adults.
• Ability to synthesize, interpret, and communicate complex scientific information in a way that will influence conservation practice.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS or other mapping software.

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, agriculture, horticulture, entomology, natural resource management, conservation science, or related field of study.
• Valid driver’s license in the United States and a motor vehicle records check prior to employment allowing employee to be insured under Xerces corporate liability insurance. Offer of employment is contingent on this record check.

PREFERRED

• Master’s degree ecology, agriculture, horticulture, entomology, natural resource management, conservation science, or related field of study.
• Bilingual in Spanish

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Be able to perform the following with reasonable breaks and/or accommodations:

• Able to move and transport supplies, materials, equipment weighing up to 30 lbs.
• Occasionally work in the field for 8-12 hours per day under adverse weather conditions.
• Frequently traverse across agricultural roads and fields, unpaved roads and walkways, and unimproved trails for periods of 2-8 hours.
• Occasionally to frequently drive vehicle or fly by commercial airline for periods of up to 8 hours.
• Able to work in stationary position for periods of 2-8 hours.
• Travel overnight when necessary for project assessments, implementation or planning.

BENEFITS: This position includes a generous benefits package including; thirteen paid holidays, paid time off accrued starting at a rate of 1.73 hours for every 30 hours of pay (15 days per year for a 40 hour/week schedule), medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage, the option to participate in a pre-tax flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses, short-term disability insurance where not provided under state law, long-term disability insurance, participation in a 401k retirement program with employer contribution match upon meeting eligibility requirements, and a flexible work environment.

MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Xerces Society and our programs, please see our website: www.xerces.org

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

All applications must be submitted via our application website at: xerces.org/jobs

TERMS: The Xerces Society is an at-will employer. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

MUTUAL ARBITRATION: Xerces policies require that employees accept a binding mutual arbitration agreement and process for dispute resolution as an alternative to a jury/trial process. Acceptance of the agreement is a condition of employment, and candidates are offered a position with a minimum of 72 hours to

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Xerces Society is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer including disability and veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

PRIORITY REFERRAL OF PROTECTED VETERANS

We request priority referral of protected veterans for all openings with our organization. In order to be considered for employment, all applicants for employment with Xerces Society, apply through our Job Board. When referring or being referred as a candidate, including protected veterans, please refer them to this applicant site; xerces.org/jobs

Xerces Society Inc