Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Habitat and IPM Planner

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 agricultural conservation planner with experience with pollinator habitat implementation, habitat restoration and Integrated Pest Management.

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: 

You’ll be joining a growing team of professionals working to conserve some of the world’s most important animals. The Pollinator Conservation Specialist will support Xerces’ private-sector partners in designing and implementing cutting-edge conservation systems for bees and beneficial insects on farms across California and the U.S.

Supervised by Senior Pollinator Habitat Specialist, Food Systems and Living Farms Project Lead, this position will collaborate closely with farm managers, crop industry leaders and key staff at some of the largest food companies in the world to design and implement biodiversity and regenerative practices on farms that serve the manufactured food and fresh produce industries.

LOCATION:  Southern California: Bakersfield or other central location in Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Ventura or Riverside Counties. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Work with key staff at select food companies to identify and reach out to farms that will implement habitat restoration.
• Work with leaders in the California citrus industry to implement pollinator conservation, soil health and carbon sequestration practices on citrus farms.
• Develop large-scale habitat restoration plans, including protocols for site preparation, planting methods, and ongoing maintenance.
• 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.
• Document pest management practices on farms and work with farmers to foster the adoption of Integrated Pest Management strategies.
• Directly participate in the establishment of hedgerows, wildflower meadows and cover crop systems in heavily managed agricultural settings, including direct collaboration with farm staff and labor.
• Perform monitoring of on-farm pollinator and beneficial insect habitats throughout the region. 
• Support partners with science-based advice and consulting on native bee conservation, on-farm ecosystem services and nature-based pest and climate solutions. 
• 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.
• Travel frequently to job sites within California and occasional travel to job sites out of state.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:  

REQUIRED

• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to work independently managing conservation projects and plans with professional clients.
• Knowledge of California 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.
• Knowledge of large-scale farm practices and specialty crop management systems (especially in California Citrus). 
• Knowledge of pest management practices in large-scale farm operations including pesticides and Integrated Pest Management.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and ability to organize meetings and present 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, Slack). The use of Google Suite and geospatial data management software is required daily.
• Proficiency or willingness to learn how to use mobile digital data collection tools and ArcGIS mapping software.

PREFERRED

• Spanish-language competency
• Cross-cultural, multicultural, and/or multilingual skills, background, or experience.
• Previous employment or personal background in California Citrus or other agricultural networks.
• Client management
• Conservation planning experience
• Ability to synthesize, interpret, and communicate complex scientific information in a way that will influence conservation practice.
• Ability to develop and give engaging presentations to audiences of more than twenty adults.
• Ability to manage time and diverse activities under deadlines, while delivering quality results.
• Ability to tell a compelling story through writing and digital imagery.

REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, horticulture, ecology, conservation biology, entomology, natural resource management, conservation science or toxicology.
• At least 2 years of field experience in natural and/or working lands.
• 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 in agriculture, horticulture, ecology, conservation biology, entomology, natural resource management, conservation science or toxicology
• 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.
• 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. 

COMPENSATION: $31.51/ hour, approximately 65,540/yr.

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.