Endangered Species Conservation Biologist – Fireflies

The Xerces Society • Ames, IA

7d • Remote

About The Position

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 conservation biologist who can help us grow our firefly conservation initiative across the central U.S. and Canada. 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: This new position reports to the Xerces Society Senior Conservation Biologist—Firefly Lead (Portland, OR, office) and works closely with the Conservation Biologist—Firefly Atlas Coordinator (Amherst, MA, office), other Xerces conservation staff, and project partners. The role focuses on expanding firefly conservation initiatives and Firefly Atlas engagement across the central U.S. and Canada. The Endangered Species Conservation Biologist will support Xerces’ firefly conservation initiative by engaging land managers, biologists, researchers, and community scientists; increasing awareness of firefly conservation issues; and helping develop evidence-based management guidance. Key responsibilities include coordinating with partners and land managers, recruiting and training Firefly Atlas participants, conducting firefly surveys, assisting with species identification, and providing technical expertise and support to staff, partners, and the public. The position will also use Firefly Atlas data in addition to the other data sources and the scientific literature to inform best management practices, species assessments, and conservation recommendations for imperiled and data-deficient firefly species nationwide. The ideal candidate will have a strong scientific background, excellent outreach and presentation skills, and experience with project management, field-based surveys, management guidance, and conservation planning. Success in this role requires strong collaboration skills and the ability to build lasting partnerships with diverse stakeholders. This position is home-based in the central U.S.

Requirements

• Strong expertise in invertebrate conservation
• Extensive field experience conducting species surveys, ideally with fireflies, other invertebrates, birds, and/or nocturnal wildlife
• Demonstrated success building collaborative partnerships with researchers, land managers, community scientists, master naturalist and extension programs, and other stakeholders
• Proven ability to develop, manage, and query databases
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical and popular writing, public speaking, and presenting to diverse audiences
• Ability to synthesize and clearly communicate complex scientific information to community scientists, conservation partners, policymakers, the public, and the media
• Strong organizational, time-management, and project-management skills; ability to manage multiple complex projects and deliver high-quality work on schedule
• Highly collaborative, dependable, self-motivated, and able to work independently with a strong conservation ethic
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Interest and experience in outreach and professional networking.
• Graduate degree in ecology, conservation biology, entomology, wildlife biology, natural resource management, or other relevant field; or bachelor’s degree in one of these fields of study plus at least 2 years of experience working in wildlife conservation, community science or conservation.
• 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.
• Ability to travel overnight when necessary for meetings or fieldwork, sometimes up to a week at a time.
• Ability to work unusual hours, including nighttime hours, during the firefly field season, which is roughly from May-August, depending on location.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with firefly conservation, including survey methods and species identification, particularly in the central and eastern U.S.
• Knowledge of key U.S. land managers and firefly researchers, with the ability to build partnerships to advance conservation goals
• Proficiency with ArcGIS for basic mapping and spatial data analysis
• Experience with website design, editing, and maintenance (WordPress)
• Working knowledge of Canva and Constant Contact
• Experience creating charts, graphs, and other graphics to help visualize and communicate data effectively
• Experience using statistical methods to advise on monitoring protocols and analyze species occurrence and abundance data, such as occupancy modeling, species distribution modeling, and population monitoring
• Basic understanding of the uses and challenges of DNA barcoding, particularly as it relates to species identification, cryptic species detection, and cataloging of rare or imperiled species
• Basic understanding of imperiled species issues, including general familiarity with state and federal Endangered Species Acts, state wildlife action plans, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and other conservation status ranking assessments, such as NatureServe and the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
• Background knowledge about threats and mitigation strategies relevant to fireflies, especially in terms of artificial light at night (ALAN) and pesticide use
• Plant identification skills and knowledge, as well as familiarity with habitat and natural community classifications in the central U.S.
• Bilingual or multilingual (conversational Spanish or French)

Responsibilities

• Conduct targeted outreach to firefly researchers, land managers, and agency biologists, and community scientists to build partnerships and expand Firefly Atlas participation.
• Develop and deliver trainings (in-person and virtually) on firefly conservation, survey methods, and species identification.
• Conduct surveys for threatened and data-deficient firefly species using Firefly Atlas survey protocols, which includes habitat assessments and species documentation through photos and detailed flash pattern observations.
• Maintain a safety mindset and manage risks when conducting fieldwork, leading field events, and advising community scientists.
• Assist with review and species verification of Firefly Atlas observations, particularly for the central U.S. and Canada.
• Assist with Firefly Atlas data curation, mapping, and sharing.
• Analyze and visualize Firefly Atlas and related data to identify spatial and temporal patterns, habitat associations, and conservation priorities, and communicate results to partners, staff, and the public.
• Engage participants and the public through appropriate communication channels (e.g., website, virtual presentations, email, social and traditional media).
• During the firefly field season (adult surveys May–August, larval surveys spring and fall), spend 15-50% of time on fieldwork, in-person trainings, and field nights, with frequent multi-day travel (up to ~10 overnights per month during this time).
• Assist with testing and refining long-term monitoring protocols.
• Develop and disseminate evidence-based, species-specific resources and management guidance for public and private land managers.
• Coordinate with state wildlife agencies and participate in federal, state, and local processes affecting imperiled fireflies.
• Support and promote the establishment of firefly sanctuaries.
• Respond to technical and informational requests from staff, agencies, researchers, and the public.
• Maintain regular communication with a remote supervisor and team, and contribute to other endangered species conservation projects as needed.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level