Pollinator Crew Lead

Colorado State University • Fort Collins, CO

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Colorado State University is hiring Pollinator Crew Leads housed in the Forest and Rangeland Stewardship Department. The Crew Leads will work with the national park pollinator inventory team in the Mola Bee Lab and closely with the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Division based in Fort Collins, Colorado. They will lead AmeriCorps interns and volunteers in sampling butterflies, bumble bees, and vegetation for an ongoing inventory project at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), and provide fieldwork and technical support for other NPS pollinator projects in the continental United States as needed.

RMNP fieldwork is planned for approximately April through October 2027, primarily at elevations of 7,000–12,000 feet in montane and subalpine meadows, alpine tundra, riparian areas, and forest-edge habitats. Before field season, Crew Leads will help the Principal Investigator develop and refine protocols, test field equipment, and train the field crew. After field season, they will assist with data analysis, compiling and presenting results, and report writing. Project results will support management decisions and conservation efforts at national park units. This is a one-year position.

The Crew Lead should plan to live in park housing at McGraw Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado, from early May through the end of October 2027. The position requires travel to field sites outside Colorado for up to 20% of the time. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States; work-authorization sponsorship is unavailable. The role has no direct reports but provides day-to-day direction to AmeriCorps interns during field season.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Ecology, Biology, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Natural Resource Management, Entomology, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.
• Experience collecting natural resource data outdoors.
• Experience identifying native plants and insects.
• At least two seasons of natural resource data collection experience.
• Valid driver's license and ability to pass a motor vehicle background check.
• Ability to safely operate field vehicles.
• Ability to live in park housing during field season and travel out of state for additional fieldwork.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the United States; sponsorship is not available.
• Expected to acquire a CSU travel credit card.

Nice To Haves

• Experience collaborating with federal agencies.
• Field experience above 8,000 feet in elevation.
• Experience or training identifying Colorado bumble bees and/or butterflies.
• Experience or training identifying native Colorado plants.
• Experience training others in field protocols and techniques.
• Familiarity with bumble bee conservation issues in Colorado.
• Experience with Bumble Bee Atlas survey methods.

Responsibilities

• Train and oversee four AmeriCorps interns working on the RMNP pollinator and vegetation inventory.
• Provide clear instructions and create a welcoming space for interns and volunteers.
• Assign daily work to crew members during field season.
• Enter data and perform quality assurance and quality control for data products and deliverables.
• Travel to pollinator project sites outside Colorado and assist with data collection.
• Train NPS staff in pollinator field protocols, including Bumble Bee Atlas and monarch inventory protocols.
• Assist with technical reports and journal articles.
• Complete assigned safety training and enforce safety protocols among crew members.
• Provide regular project progress updates to the Principal Investigator.
• Present project results to park staff, public audiences, and the scientific community.
• Before field season, assist the Principal Investigator with developing and refining protocols, testing field equipment, and training the crew.
• After field season, assist with data analysis, compiling results, presenting results, and report writing.

Benefits

• Colorado State University describes a robust benefits package, a collaborative atmosphere, and a focus on work-life balance; details are available through the university's benefits information.

What This Job Offers

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