Pesticide Specialist- Freshwater and Natural Lands

JOB TITLE:  Pesticide Specialist- Freshwater and Natural Lands  

LOCATION: Remote position based in Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada Oregon, or Wyoming. Candidates must have a personal office location suitable for work purposes, with broadband internet access, and must work from a city/state location approved by Xerces as their assigned work location.

COMPENSATION: $2,749.93 semi-monthly, $65,998.32 annually 

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

JOB START DATE:  October 16, 2026

APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 24, 2026

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: 

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

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 Pesticide Specialist, to support efforts that reduce reliance on pesticides and mitigate risks to native invertebrates with a focus on protecting rangeland ecosystems. Efforts include both outreach and advocacy to shift policy and practice.

At Xerces, we harness the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of the public to engage in invertebrate conservation. Working across landscapes as diverse as inner cities, high deserts, farms and streams, we protect at-risk invertebrates and their habitat, assist people to establish and protect beneficial insect habitat, produce ground-breaking publications on insect conservation, and raise awareness about invertebrates, their value, and how to protect them.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING: 

This position will report directly to the Xerces Society’s Pesticide Reduction Program Director.  The person will be an integral part of the Pesticide Reduction team. The Specialist will use advocacy, outreach, and collaborations to expand the use of conservation minded management practices with a focus on improving state and federal programs that subsidize insecticide use to suppress native insects (e.g. grasshoppers and Mormon crickets) across Western rangelands. 

While responsibilities will vary over time, key aspects of this position include:

1) Monitoring and tracking research into the risks pesticides pose to freshwater invertebrates. 

2) Evaluating risks from specific pesticide use practices.

3) Promoting ecologically-responsible integrated pest management. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Monitor state and federal programs that fund grasshopper and other suppression efforts.
• Build relationships and collaborate with diverse partners including non-profit organizations, rangeland managers, state Cooperative Extension offices and researchers to support more sustainable grasshopper management.
• Provide project management, including tracking of and reporting on rangeland pest management work.
• Provide technical support to a variety of audiences on how people can protect freshwater invertebrates and other beneficial invertebrates from pesticides.
• Assist in creation and dissemination of pesticide related outreach materials. Materials could include fact sheets, substantive comments, summaries of scientific findings, and position papers.
• Design and deliver trainings.
• Evaluate pest management plans to determine potential risk to invertebrates. Provide recommendations to reduce reliance upon pesticides and minimize pesticide related risks.
• Review pesticide data including research articles, risk assessments, use and monitoring data and/or incident reports.
• Respond to requests for information from Xerces Society team members, natural resource agencies, and the public.
• Maintain regular communication with the remotely based Pesticide Reduction Program Director.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:  

REQUIRED

• Understanding of pesticides, ecotoxicology, and pesticide regulation.
• Ability to understand, interpret, synthesize, and effectively communicate complex scientific information to a wide range of audiences that include conservation partners, policymakers, the public, and the media.
• Knowledge of integrated pest management principles and methods to protect beneficial insects from pesticides.
• Knowledge of the ecology of freshwater invertebrates.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Public speaking experience. Comfort presenting to diverse audiences such as conservation partners, policymakers, and others.
• Background and interest in building partnerships and outreach. A demonstrated successful history of collaborative work. Ability and enthusiasm to work with diverse teams and constituents in a respectful and inclusive fashion.
• Willingness to learn and use knowledge gained both through standardized experimentation and accumulated through adaptive processes.
• Extremely dependable and organized, with the ability to prioritize and manage time and diverse activities under tight deadlines, while delivering high quality results.
• Proficiency with use of spreadsheets, word processing, and presentation applications; specifically Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.
• Ability to travel out of town overnight a few times during the year

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:

PREFERRED

• Experience working with technical support providers (such as Cooperative Extension or other), Tribal governments or public land managers.
• Understanding of environmental laws including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act.
• Knowledge of the ecology of pollinators, natural enemies of crop pests and other beneficial insects.
• Resident in a Western state that experiences regular or occasional grasshopper and/or Mormon cricket suppression efforts. These states include Colorado,  Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada Oregon, and Wyoming.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

REQUIRED

• Either a Master of Science degree or a Bachelor’s degree and more than 2 years of experience in ecotoxicology, entomology, ecology, horticulture, pest management, or other similar area of study.
• Valid driver’s license in the United States and a points-based motor vehicle records check prior to employment allowing employee to be insured under Xerces corporate liability insurance.
• Essential Functions of this position require the employee to drive a vehicle, and an offer of Employment will be contingent on this record check.
• Must have current authorization to work in the United States with any employer. Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

PREFERRED

• Bilingual or multilingual (name languages, and spoken and/or written level of fluency)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

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

• Operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a telephone, copy machine, and computer printer for periods of 1-8 hours.
• Seldom to Occasionally lift and move supplies, materials, equipment weighing up to 40 pounds (for example boxes of publications)
• Seldom to Occasionally drive for up to 4 hours to event locations potentially under adverse weather conditions.
• Travel overnight when necessary for meetings, project assessments, implementation, meetings, or planning.

BENEFITS: This position includes a generous benefits package including; thirteen paid holidays, paid time off (PTO) 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), 16 hours of PTO at new hire date, 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 superseded by state law, long-term disability insurance, life 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. Newly-hired employees based in the state of Montana are not hired at-will but are subject to an 18-month probationary period. 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 consider.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Xerces Society is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.