JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: The Xerces Society
JOB TITLE: Pesticide Program Specialist
SCOPE: Under the direction of the Executive
Director, the Pesticide Program Specialist will
educate farmers, gardeners, land managers, policy
makers, and others about the problems with
large-scale insecticide use and promote
ecologically sustainable options. The Specialist
will also work with other Xerces program staff to
advocate for policies that better protect native
invertebrates in agriculture, urban and suburban
areas, streams, wetlands, rangelands, and
forests. For more on Xerces pesticide efforts go
to: http://www.xerces.org/pesticides/
BACKGROUND: The Xerces Society is an
international nonprofit organization that
protects wildlife through the conservation of
invertebrates and their habitat. Butterflies,
dragonflies, beetles, worms, starfish, mussels,
and crabs are but a few of the millions of
invertebrates at the heart of a healthy
environment. Invertebrates are essential to the
reproduction of most flowering plants, including
many fruits, vegetables, and nuts; they are food
for birds, fish, and other animals; they build
the stunning coral reefs in our oceans. Yet
invertebrate populations are often imperiled by
human activities and rarely accounted for in mainstream conservation.
Established in 1971, and named after the extinct
Xerces blue butterfly, the Xerces Society is at
the forefront of invertebrate protection,
harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the
enthusiasm of local citizens to implement
conservation and education programs. We protect
endangered species and their habitats, produce
ground-breaking publications on insect
conservation, train thousands of farmers and land
managers to protect and manage habitat for
beneficial insects, and raise awareness about the
invertebrates of forests, prairies, deserts,
creeks, wetlands, and oceans. The Xerces Society
is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with
regional offices in California, Nebraska,
Minnesota, New Jersey, and North Carolina. We
currently have 25 employees and multiple
contractors, and an annual budget over $2,000,000.
MAJOR JOB ACTIVITIES: Working as a team with
staff from Xerces Pollinator Conservation,
Aquatic Conservation, and Endangered Species
Programs the Pesticide Program Specialist will:
Translate relevant research findings into
reports and outreach materials for non-scientific audiences.
Work to stop municipalities from using pesticides for cosmetic purposes.
Work with nurseries, hardware stores, and other
businesses to remove neonicotinoid insecticides
and neonicotinoid-treated plants from their shelves.
Educate the public about the problems caused by
insecticides and provide rational and effective alternatives.
Support staff working in Washington, D.C., to
press for better regulations on insecticide registration and use.
Support farmers, city managers, and others in
developing and using alternatives to pesticides,
and help them reduce pesticide use.
Support farmers, city managers, and others in
implementing rigorous Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) plans that address the protection of
pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Work with cities, counties, and residents to
implement mosquito management plans that reduce pesticide use in wetlands.
Work to stop insecticide use on public lands
for the control of native grasshoppers.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS: The successful
candidate for this position will have extensive
knowledge and experience in Integrated Pest
Management (IPM), conservation biology, ecology,
toxicology, or other related fields. He or she
must be an effective communicator (both written
and verbal) and be capable of coordinating with
multiple staff and outside parties to prepare
outreach materials for a variety of lay
audiences. This is not a research position,
although the successful candidate must be able to
conduct thorough searches of peer-reviewed
scientific literature, read and understand the
relevant research findings, and effectively
communicate this research to non-scientists.
The position also requires:
A Bachelors degree (graduate degree strongly
preferred) in ecology, conservation biology,
integrated pest management, horticulture,
entomology, natural resource management, or 35
years of experience in conservation science,
and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge of species (especially
invertebrates), natural communities, ecosystems,
ecological processes, and their conservation needs.
Ability to interpret, synthesize, and
communicate complex scientific information to a
range of audiences to influence conservation practice.
Ability to communicate professionally and
effectively with a wide variety of people.
Ability to manage time and diverse activities
under tight deadlines, while delivering high quality results.
Ability to develop work plans and work independently on assigned tasks.
Ability to format and/or design professional
documents using Word, Publisher, InDesign or other publishing software.
Working knowledge of common software
applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Web browsers).
Knowledge of or ability to learn how to use
Geographic Information System software.
ADDITIONAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Strong understanding of pesticides, integrated
pest management, and toxicology.
Understanding of policies related to pesticides
at the national, state, and local level.
A good sense of humor.
TERMS: This is a full time, permanent position,
and we are an at will employer. The Xerces
Society is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.
SALARY: $32,000 - $40,000, depending on experience.
BENEFITS: This position includes a generous
benefits package: eleven paid holidays, paid time
off, medical and disability insurance, an annual
public transportation pass, membership in a car
share program, option to participate in a
cafeteria plan, eight percent of base pay toward
a SEP retirement account beginning after one year
of employment, and a flexible work environment.
LOCATION: Portland, OR
MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the
Xerces Society and our programs, please see our website, www.xerces.org.
APPLICATION: No phone inquiries, please.
Individuals interested in this position should
email a cover letter, resume, and the names and
contact information for three references as a
single attachment in MS Word or Adobe PDF. Put
Pesticide Program Specialist in the subject line of the email and send to:
Katy Gray
[email protected]
DEADLINE: September 20, 2013.
