JOB TITLE: Wisconsin Pollinator Conservation Specialist
LOCATION: Remote in Wisconsin (Madison regional area preferred), Candidates must have a personal office location suitable for work purposes, with broadband internet access.
COMPENSATION: $62,857.68 per year (paid at $2,619.07 semi-monthly)
STATUS & SCHEDULE: Full-Time, salaried, exempt position, scheduled to work ~ 40 hours/week.
JOB START DATE: June 2025
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 8,2025
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
All applications must be submitted via our application website at: xerces.org/jobs
Xerces provides accommodations for the job application process if needed. If you need an accommodation to complete the job application process, please email re*********************@****es.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 Pollinator Conservation Specialist who will provide habitat conservation technical support and training for Wisconsin farmers, land managers, and conservation agency staff.
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:
Working as a member of the Xerces Society’s Pollinator Program team and reporting to the Xerces Society’s Agronomist and Native Plant Materials Specialist, the Wisconsin Pollinator Conservation Specialist will provide pollinator-related technical support and outreach to farmers, working-lands managers, conservation agency staff (such as the USDA-NRCS and conservation districts), and other agricultural conservation partners across Wisconsin. In addition, this staff-person will oversee an ongoing Pollinator Habitat Kit program supporting agricultural land managers and food security in Wisconsin.
More specifically, the person in this position will focus on providing guidance to farmers and other partners about the planning, planting, or management of habitat for bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects that help control crop pests, pollinate crops, enhance soil health and serve as food for wildlife on and around agricultural lands. This habitat also is designed to be protected from pesticide exposure, and will provide additional climate-resilience benefits, including helping in carbon sequestration, water capture, erosion reduction, and more.
Technical support and outreach efforts may vary greatly depending on the needs of the individuals or communities being reached, ranging from on-the-ground field visits with individual producers, to responding to phone or email inquiries, to larger trainings and presentations at key events. We see this position as a critical and exciting step forward as we expand Xerces’ reach and impact in Wisconsin, increasing native habitat quality and quantity in agricultural areas, as well as increasing the collective knowledge about pollinator habitat restoration among farming communities.
The ideal candidate will have experience with native plant-based habitat restoration and management, native pollinator and beneficial insect ecology, and the diverse farming and pasture systems of Wisconsin. Experience and comfort in a public outreach role, as well as at least a basic knowledge of pesticide risk mitigation and Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management, will help the candidate succeed in this position.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Working as a member of the Xerces Society’s Pollinator Program team, the Wisconsin Pollinator Conservation Specialist will:
- Provide one-on-one technical support and advice to farmers and conservation agency staff on pollinator, monarch butterfly, bumble bee, beneficial insect, or wildlife habitat restoration projects, including the development of on-farm habitat demonstration sites.
- Conduct public outreach, such as participating in farm tours, conferences, webinars, and other events to provide clear and cutting-edge information to agricultural audiences. The topics of the outreach include creating pollinator and beneficial insect habitat and how to protect pollinators, other beneficial insects and habitat from pesticide risks. Outreach may involve participating in partner events, or designing and coordinating our own events.
- Support the ongoing management of a regional Pollinator Habitat Kit program, building upon the existing program and successful models in other regions. This work involves native plant selection and design; coordination with nurseries to ensure availability of key plants; coordinating with other Xerces staff; and recruitment and support of farmer partners.
- Assist in the creation, updating, and dissemination of technical guides on the habitat kit program, habitat planning and restoration, seed mix design and specifications, and other technical materials and tools for use by farmers, the general public, and conservation agency staff.
- Assist working landowners in efforts to protect habitat from pesticide exposure, and to reduce pesticide use and impacts in general.
- Promote and collaborate with colleagues to amplify nationwide Xerces conservation initiatives such as Xerces’ Bee Better Certified, the Farming with Soil Life Initiative, sustainability consulting for the food industry and electric power industries, and technical assistance to the USDA-NRCS.
- Respond to requests for information or assistance from Xerces Society team members, state and federal government agencies, conservation partners, the public, and the media.
- Maintain regular communication with the remotely based Supervisor, including providing status reports on work plans, and progress reports.
- Travel / drive regularly in Wisconsin to meet with farm partners, conduct field visits, and participate in trainings/events
- Other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:
REQUIRED
- Knowledge and experience in wildlife habitat planning, enhancement, restoration and management. This could include experience with native plant establishment, weed or invasive species control, grassland restoration, hedgerow design, riparian and wetland restoration, cover-cropping, etc. Experience in the Upper Midwest is highly desirable.
- Knowledge of the ecology of bees, butterflies, other pollinators, or beneficial insects.
- Good understanding of the farming systems and crops of the Upper Midwest. Specific experience in Wisconsin agriculture is a plus.
- Experience working directly with farmers, pasture managers, or organizations that support agriculture. The ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of the challenges faced by farmers as they navigate production and the business of agriculture.
- Ability to understand, interpret, synthesize, and effectively communicate complex scientific information related to invertebrate conservation, habitat restoration, pest management, plant establishment, pesticide usage, and impacts on invertebrates.
- Basic knowledge of Integrated Pest Management practices, Conservation Biological Control, and other strategies for reducing negative impacts of pest management on pollinators and other beneficial insects.
- Demonstrated project management skills, including organized record keeping, managing timelines, managing budgets, reporting deliverables, and coordinating with team members, partners, and conservation audiences.
- Excellent written communication skills in English, including the ability to write clear emails, project reports, and technical conservation documents for diverse audiences.
- Exceptional verbal communication skills in English, as well as presentation and public speaking skills for diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated interest or experience in nonprofit work and conservation issues.
- Clear and concise verbal and written communication.
- Strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Proficiency with use of spreadsheets, word processing, and presentation applications; specifically, Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.
- Experience working collaboratively with multiple team members and responding to requests in a timely manner.
- Ability and willingness to work with diverse teams and constituents in a respectful, equitable, and inclusive fashion.
- Strong self-organization and initiative, taking responsibility to resolve issues and complete work assignments with minimal supervision after initial training.
- Reliable attention to detail, with strong editing, proofreading, and document review skills.
- Flexibility to embrace a range of duties as required, and adaptability to change project focus as needed.
PREFERRED
- Close familiarity with the diverse eco-regions of Wisconsin.
- Direct experience working with agricultural producers in Wisconsin.
- Solid understanding of pesticides commonly used in Wisconsin agriculture; the risks pesticides pose to beneficial insects and wildlife; and direct experience implementing risk-reduction strategies.
- Familiarity with the diverse demographics of Wisconsin agriculture and direct experience with at least some of the distinctive agricultural systems of the state.
- Knowledge of USDA Farm Bill conservation programs and the work of the NRCS, the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and local conservation districts.
- Bilingual in Spanish or Hmong languages.
QUALIFICATIONS:
REQUIRED
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) in natural resource management, ecology, agronomy, conservation biology, entomology, wildlife biology, horticulture, conservation planning, agriculture 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. Essential Functions of this position require the employee to drive a vehicle, and an offer of Employment will be contingent on this record check.
PREFERRED
- Master’s degree in natural resource management, ecology, agronomy, conservation biology, entomology, wildlife biology, horticulture, conservation planning, agriculture or related field of study
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 move and transport supplies, materials, and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
- Occasionally to frequently drive a vehicle for periods of up to 8 hours;
- Occasionally to frequently drive vehicle for periods of up to 8 hours.
- Seldom to Occasionally work outdoors in the field for 1-8 hours per day under potentially adverse weather conditions.
- Occasionally to Frequently traverse across unpaved roads, walkways, fields and unimproved trails for periods of 1-8 hours, carrying up to 10 pounds of material or equipment.
- Seldom to Occasionally 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 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 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.
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