Bat Conservation International (BCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ending bat extinctions worldwide, seeks a full-time Agave Restoration Coordinator to join BCI’s Conservation Department.

The Agave Restoration Coordinator will join a dynamic organization and diverse team, reporting to the Agave Restoration Program Manager and working closely with the Habitat Protection and Restoration Team (HP&R). The Agave Restoration Coordinator will take a lead in expanding multi-sectoral partnerships for the Agave Restoration Initiative in the United States and coordinating and leading on-the-ground restoration activities with BCI staff and partners.

BCI is a distributed organization with staff across the United States and internationally. The Agave Restoration Coordinator position is a remote/work-from-home position but will entail significant travel within Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Applicants based in these or neighboring states will be preferred. There may also be opportunities for travel to agave restoration sites in Mexico.

BCI’s Agave Restoration Initiative:

Bat Conservation International’s Agave Restoration Initiative works at a landscape scale to protect and restore healthy, functioning, and climate-resilient ecosystems for threatened and endangered pollinating bats and local communities. Through this bi-national initiative, we have built multi-sectoral partnerships, bringing together over 65 partners across conservation, civil, government, academic, and business communities to achieve success. By working with a diverse set of partners from the U.S. and Mexico, this initiative builds strong local support in key areas that enables us to identify and implement culturally and environmentally suitable strategies for agave restoration. Find more information about the Agave Restoration Initiative at https://www.batcon.org/our-work/protect-restore-landscapes/agave-restoration/ and https://www.batcon.org/batsandagave/.

Position Description:

The Agave Restoration Coordinator will play a key role in strengthening BCI’s on-the-ground agave restoration work and partnerships in the United States. This position will be the lead coordinator and implementer for agave restoration field activities (including but not limited to agave plantings, seed collection, and eDNA (environmental DNA) surveys) in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. They will play a primary role in development and maintenance of partnerships for the Agave Restoration Initiative in the United States – including working with private landowners, tribal partners, federal and state agencies, and non-government organizations.

Other tasks include but are not limited to helping create and manage external partner contracts, assisting with grant and report writing, collating and managing field data and project impact metrics, and communicating with and engaging the public on agave restoration work and outreach activities.

BCI encourages staff to seek out opportunities within other teams to better understand the full capacities of our programs and to build working relationships with colleagues outside of their respective teams. Opportunities may include assisting with watershed restoration, cultural resource surveys, subterranean wildlife surveys, drone surveys, and acoustic surveys. BCI offers on-the-job training, and opportunities for additional safety certifications may be available.

This position is ideal for a highly motivated individual willing and able to plan and lead field work safely, efficiently, and professionally, who has a working and functional knowledge of restoration activities, and who has experience developing and managing collaborative partnerships.

Primary Responsibilities and Expectations:

The Agave Restoration Coordinator will work closely with the Agave Restoration Program Manager in three core areas, with a particular focus on agave restoration work in the Southwest United States:

Logistics and Program Implementation (estimated 50% time):

• Serve as the primary coordinator for agave restoration work in the United States, including communicating regularly with BCI staff and external partners to plan agave restoration field work (e.g. plantings, seed collection, eDNA (environmental DNA) surveys).
• Lead agave restoration field work, including making travel reservations, gathering materials and supplies, training BCI field crews and volunteers on agave restoration activities (e.g. agave plantings, seed collection, eDNA surveys), and leading crews to implement these activities. (The candidate will receive training in these activities by current BCI staff.)
• Support the planning of regional agave meetings with BCI staff and external partners.
• Attend and present at virtual and in-person conferences and public outreach events.

Program Development (estimated 40% time):

• Develop and improve new and existing agave restoration partnerships in the United States, including with non- profits, land managers, native plant nurseries, state and federal agencies, tribal partners, and local interest groups, and serve as the primary point of contact and coordinator for these partnerships.
• Work with the Agave Restoration Program Manager to develop priority objectives, actions, and outcomes for agave restoration in the United States.
• Support grant development and report writing for grants supporting the Agave Restoration Initiative.
• Assist Agave Restoration Program Manager with developing material that supports and communicates program accomplishments, successes, and needs for annual reports, newsletters, regional updates, social media posts, grants, and more.

Administration (estimated 10% time):

• Assist with program budgeting for agave restoration activities in the United States, including working with external partners to co-develop project goals and workplans.
• Assist with creating and managing external partner contracts. Communicate with partners for project updates, impact metrics, and reports.
• Collate and organize U.S. agave planting and restoration data into existing databases.
• Develop and improve field survey tools, field protocols, and databases for agave restoration as needed.
• Communicate restoration activities to BCI’s Social Media Manager; provide information for social media posts.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time, primarily remote position. The work schedule is flexible and will vary based on project needs but will average 40 hours per week. The position will entail office work (from a home office) as well as significant travel for field work and partner meetings in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Current estimation for travel is 30%.

Field projects will often require multi-day travel. Field sessions typically last 2-5 days, including paid travel days, though some projects may last longer and may include working weekends. Overnight lodging will be provided in hotel rooms or shared house rentals, with private bedrooms for each team member.

Work Conditions and Physical Effort:

• Field projects are often in or near small towns or in remote, mountainous or desert terrain with limited services.
• Work environments may include exposure to adverse conditions and disagreeable elements such as extreme temperatures, dirt/dust, strong winds, rain, rugged terrain, and high elevation, which require situational awareness, adherence to basic safety precautions, and open communication.
• A moderate to high level of physical fitness is required. Field work will often require moderate physical activity, including using shovels and digging tools, planting agaves, hiking, and carrying equipment. Heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects up to 30 pounds may be required.

Qualifications and Skills Needed (If you have 70% or more of the knowledge/experience listed below we encourage you to apply):

Required Knowledge/Experience:

• 5 years of conservation or restoration experience working with federal, state, and/or private partners.
• Experience in field work planning and implementation, including training and leading field teams and volunteers.
• Experience in building and maintaining long-term relationships with conservation partners.
• Ability to engage with external partners in project development and completion.
• Experience in coordinating and managing projects.
• Proven success in designing, directing, and implementing multiple conservation projects, setting deadlines and ensuring program accountability.
• Familiarity with the function and organization of various public lands management agencies and experience interfacing professionally with agency employees (e.g. National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Energy, state agencies).
• A moderate to high level of physical fitness is required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Knowledge/Experience:

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field of study such as natural resource or range management, wildlife sciences, ecology, biology, conservation, forestry, agriculture, human dimensions of natural resources, or related fields.
• Botanical, ecological, and/or horticultural knowledge and experience, particularly of agaves and plants of the Southwest United States.
• An understanding of natural resource issues of the Southwest United States.
• Knowledge and experience with restoration ecology, native plant restoration, and restoration field techniques.
• Experience developing and leading community-based conservation and citizen science programs.
• Experience using hand tools (e.g., shovel, saw, pick, axe).
• Experience in off-trail navigation via map and compass and/or GPS.
• Experience in using data collection tools such as Survey123.
• Comfortable with or a willingness to learn 4×4 off-road driving.
• Certifications in first aid and CPR (training will be provided if necessary).
• Valid passport for potential international travel (primarily Mexico).

Work Characteristics and Competencies:

• Strong project management skills, including planning, organization, time management, and multi-tasking skills. Ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and diplomatic skills in English, including the ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with a wide range of partners. Comfortable communicating with colleagues and partners virtually (email, Zoom meetings) and in field settings.
• Ability to make decisions and operate effectively in uncertain or changing situations.
• Reliable and self-motivated worker. Demonstrate initiative and resourceful problem-solving skills to optimize project completion.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Able to work productively as both a team leader and player in a highly collaborative environment.
• High standards for integrity and quality of work.

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI):

BCI is deeply committed to JEDI and embeds JEDI-centered practices in our conservation work and organizational culture. BCI is determined to be an employer of choice and believes that the best organizational performance will come from a safe, diverse, and inclusive work environment. Read more about our JEDI statement at www.batcon.org/about- us/justice-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/.

To Apply:

If you have 70% or more of the knowledge/experience described above, we encourage you to apply. Candidates interested in this position should submit their resume (no maximum length) and attach a document explaining how your work and lived experiences have prepared you to be successful in this position, what you find compelling about this position, and what unique qualities you can bring to the role and to Bat Conservation International as a whole. A cover letter is not required and will not be considered when evaluating applicants.

The deadline to apply for this position is June 23, 2023. Interviews are anticipated to begin on June 27, 2023, with an ideal start date in mid to late July 2023.

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What We Offer You:

The salary for this position is $65,000. BCI offers a competitive compensation package with an organizational culture that supports staff well-being and professional development. Benefits include but are not limited to paid vacation and sick time; 401(k) plan with employer match; and health, dental, and vision insurance plans.