Research & Conservation Technician (Tarantula Road Mortality Project)

Title: Research & Conservation Technician (Tarantula Road Mortality Project)

Position Reports To: Target Species Manager

About Butterfly Pavilion: Here at Butterfly Pavilion, we transform the way people think about invertebrates. These small but mighty animals that surround us are so much more than people think. They are everywhere because everything depends on them. They are the hidden heroes of the animal kingdom. As a leader in invertebrate knowledge, inspiration and connection, Butterfly Pavilion works to foster an appreciation of these critical animals by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation. Whether it is providing unique, hands-on learning experiences in our exhibits and educational programs, conducting new research that sets the standard for zoos across the country or building innovative solutions for species and habitat conservation in countries around the world, Butterfly Pavilion is leading the way in ensuring invertebrates are protected for the future.

Looking forward, we are committed to providing the most enriching experience for our audience, being recognized as a scientific authority, and being a leading educational resource on invertebrates. To this end, Butterfly Pavilion has begun the initial stages of launching a $55 million Capital Campaign to expand Butterfly Pavilion into the Center for Invertebrate Research and Conservation (CIRC) in a brand new, state-of-the-art facility in 2025.

A large part of who we are as an organization is how we interact with each other. Valuing our facility, guests, donors, and our team is a priority, without these puzzle pieces we cannot make it all work, these Core Values guide us throughout our day. We Love What We Do at Butterfly Pavilion, we Make Science Cool by Going Above and Beyond for all guests, donors, and team members while also Leading Change in invertebrate conservation. We Know Our Stuff and work to have a healthy culture by Being Positive and Welcoming to All. These are not just words, but words for us to live by here at Butterfly Pavilion.

Core Values:

Make Science Cool: Science has the power to change the world and education is where it starts. We immerse our guests in the world of invertebrates, creating a safe, comfortable atmosphere to make connections to nature, filling guests with wonder and inspiring them to embrace their role as stewards of our environment.

Go Above and Beyond: It is "our job" to find a solution, even if we did not create the problem. We never stop with okay, instead striving for world class in all we do.

Love What You Do: As a conservation organization, we are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do the work we do each day. Independ of role, project or task, we stand behind that work with an unwavering belief in the significance of our efforts to support our mission, knowing our passion will inspire others to join our efforts.

Be Positive: We approach challenges with vibrant optimism. Always assuming positive intent, we embrace a productive problem-solving attitude and a supportive team-oriented atmosphere.

Know Your Stuff: We are experts on invertebrates and their conservation. We are well-informed and present knowledge in a way that is accessible to the public and allows us to embrace our role as a community leader locally and globally.

Lead Change: We approach our work with a sense of exploration and adventure, pioneering new ways to view the world in which we live. As problem solvers, we seek new ways of tackling challenges and approaching opportunities.

Welcome All: We pride ourselves in embracing diversity of thoughts, beliefs, and lifestyles. We embrace a kind, compassionate, and engaging approach, welcoming all people in the work we do. We seek a competency of cultural understanding and social responsibility to make it as easy as possible for others to join us in conserving our natural world.

Direct Reports: None

FLSA: Field Technician

Salary: $19/hr

Location: La Junta/Las Animas, Colorado

Housing: Housing and vehicles are not provided.

Mileage: Mileage will be reimbursed

Commitment: Minimum 12 weeks (August through October 2024), about 20 hours per week

Minimum Age Requirement: 18 yrs

Position Summary: From late August through October, male tarantulas in southeastern Colorado leave their burrows in search of female mates in what we call the tarantula "mate-gration", often crossing local highways during their trek. These highway crossings offer a unique experience for people to see tarantulas; however, they also endanger the tarantulas, putting them in the way of motor vehicles. Butterfly Pavilion is working with the Colorado Department of Transportation and other partners to collect data about tarantula burrow density and road-mortalities along highways near La Junta and Las Animas, Colorado to inform mitigation measures, including vehicle pull-offs and underpasses for small animals, like tarantulas.

Butterfly Pavilion is hiring two Research and Conservation field technicians to perform data collection for this project from August through October 2024 in La Junta/Las Animas Colorado. Field Technicians will work together to survey for tarantula burrows and road-killed tarantulas along highways and on lands adjacent to highways. Research and Conservation Field Technicians will spend the beginning of their jobs communicating with local partners like the US Forest Service and private landowners to gain access permission and plan surveys. They will then spend September through October conducting surveys over the course of the 10 week "mate-gration".

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Provide active, self-motivated participation in Butterfly Pavilion's research and conservation goals.
• Communicate with Butterfly Pavilion staff, interns, partners, and volunteers.
• Reach out to local landowners and partners to ask permission to survey on their property.
• Perform tarantula burrow surveys along roads and on public and private property.
• Perform tarantula road mortality surveys along roads.
• Assist with additional research and conservation projects as needed.
• Uphold AZA standards and follow Butterfly Pavilion animal policies.
• Effectively communicate to support the overall needs of the department and the organization.

Training:

• New Employee Orientation (can be virtual for field technicians in southeastern Colorado)
• In-the-field training with supervisor in tarantula burrow surveying and road-kill surveying, GPS use, and data management

Competencies:

• Ability to Work in the Field
• Ability to Work as part of a Team
• Project/Time Management
• Results and Goal Orientated
• Detail Oriented
• Communication Skills

Qualifications/Experience:

• Interest in invertebrate research and conservation
• Actively pursuing a Bachelor's or Associate's degree from an accredited university
• Experience conducting ecological research, particularly participating in fieldwork, a plus
• Basic computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets) Microsoft Suite
• Basic fieldwork skills, including using a global positioning system, are a plus
• Criminal background check

Additional Requirements:

• Field Technicians must follow all non-negotiables, check email and phone messages regularly, report injuries within 24 hours, and alert immediate supervisor and necessary team staff when calling in from work.
• Required trainings and Butterfly Pavilion functions as designated essential by department and/or organizational need.
• Additional duties based on organizational priorities and as assigned by the Director of Research and Conservation.

Work Environment/Physical/Transportation Requirements:

Work Environment

• These work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the Research & Conservation Field Technicians will encounter. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the Research & Conservation Field Technicians.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to high humidity, dryness, intense sunlight, heat, cold, wind, thorned vegetation, and precipitation, insects such as mosquitos and flies, wildlife, and uneven surfaces. The employee will be exposed to and may work regularly around tarantulas. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. This employee will work outside for the collection of data.

Physical Demands

• These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for a volunteer to successfully perform the essential functions within this position. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the Research and Conservation Field Technician position.
• While performing the responsibilities of this job, the field technician is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to: sit, stand, use hands and fingers to handle or feel, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and lift (the field technician must be able to lift 20 lbs). Vision abilities required by this job include far and close vision. This position will be required to walk long distances in the field to visually count tarantula burrows, roaming tarantulas, and road-killed tarantulas. This position will require the use of a GPS and written data collection.
• Employee must have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination.

Transportation

• Must have a valid driver's license and the ability to commute to and from field work site and perform work duties using a personal vehicle.
• Mileage costs for work activities will be reimbursed.
• Must have Colorado state minimum liability insurance for operating a motor vehicle.

How to Apply:

Butterfly Pavilion is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply for open positions and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or veteran status.

Applicants must submit a Resume and Cover Letter to the following link: (HR TO PROVIDE AT THE TIME OF POSTING). Position is open until filled. No phone calls or drop in's please.

Tarantula Roadkill Project Technician

Interviewee:

Male Texas brown tarantulas move from now until early November every year to find mates. The wander randomly in hopes of coming across a female's burrow. In doing so, they cross the highways in southern Colorado and sometimes get hit by vehicles. Butterfly Pavilion wants to note the areas of highest mortalities on three main highways south of La Junta, CO. This position will involve driving the 109, 101, and 350 about three times a week to check for road-killed tarantulas. Because the tarantulas move at dawn and dusk, we'd like technicians to be able to survey in the early morning to ensure they can record tarantulas that were hit by cars the previous night and that morning. We'd like for one technician to drive, while the other scans for tarantulas for road safety. Once one is found, the technicians would take a GPS coordinate of the location of the roadkill and write down the location.

We will also be conducting a survey to note the burrow locations and densities on the USFS land on either side of the 109. This will be done this Friday. We will be doing trainings this Friday for volunteers of the project from CDOT and it would be great for technicians to attend.

Of Note:

• This is a temporary position, which will go through early November
• This is not full-time
• Housing is not provided
• We will reimburse mileage during work duties

A vehicle is not provided for this position, but mileage will be reimbursed. Do you have a reliable vehicle and drivers license/insurance?

You would have to work with your fellow technician to arrange schedules for roadkill monitoring. What is your general availability during early mornings, evenings, and weekends to do this work?

How soon could you begin surveying for tarantulas?

Will you be available during the entire season (into early November) to collect this data?

Please explain your experience with fieldwork, particularly in remote areas such as southeastern Colorado.

Explain your experience with GPS and navigation?

Explain your techniques to record data and prevent errors in data collection.

What was your interest in this position?

What are your future career goals? How do you think this position will help you achieve them?