The Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) is seeking a contractor to provide technical coordination and plan-writing services to assist MAFWA’s member states, plus Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and other interested states with Monarch Conservation efforts. The successful candidate will be an independent contractor to MAFWA, eligible for monthly payments for work performed and for approved travel reimbursement; the position will not be eligible for benefits. To allow for better partnership and communication with the member states, the successful contractor will be provided office space in a state fish and wildlife office, ideally within the region (potential locations include Des Moines, IA; Lansing, MI,; etc.) but location negotiable, and provided with office equipment and support from that state.

Background

MAFWA believes that the success of conserving the Monarch Butterfly will be dramatically improved if the many states engaged in conservation planning, implementation and monitoring are doing so in a coordinated way that both respects individual state autonomy and builds upon regional and national habitat and population goals. A hodge-podge of inconsistent state plans throughout the range of the eastern population of the Monarch Butterfly will not be as beneficial as a concerted and coordinated effort. Because of the importance of the region to monarch productivity and migration, it is likely that particular emphasis will be needed along what has come to be known as the “I-35 Corridor” and the Ohio River Valley – encompassing most of the MAFWA member states’ geography plus Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The primary goal of a state-drafted and -implemented Central Monarch Conservation Strategy would be to account for the placement and priority of these efforts throughout the range through state fish and wildlife agencies, the organizations primarily responsible to manage wildlife and deliver wildlife conservation in the states.  State fish and wildlife agencies are not only uniquely qualified to perform this work by virtue of their jurisdictions in state and federal law, but they are also connected to the myriad of partners and stakeholders engaged in and impacted by this work, including various conservation non-governmental organizations, transportation agencies, industrial and agricultural organizations, research institutions and other state agencies.

Looking forward, state fish and wildlife agencies will be able to utilize the Central Flyway Monarch Conservation Strategy developed by this position to implement and monitor conservation actions on public lands and, through partners and stakeholders, additional private lands. This Strategy would contemplate considerations under the USFWS’s Policy for the Evaluation of Conservation Efforts (PECE Policy) regarding conservation actions which, if implemented, would potentially avoid the need to list the Monarch. However, if the USFWS determined that listing was warranted, the Central Flyway Monarch Conservation Strategy could serve as a basis for developing a Recovery Plan, Habitat Conservation Plan, Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances, or a Safe Harbor Agreement. Lessons learned in this effort may also help states as they address pollinator conservation more broadly in the future.

Scope of Services

Under the management of MAFWA’s Monarch Conservation Liaison and its Monarch Conservation Working Group, the contractor hired under this announcement, the Flyway Technical Coordinator, would provide the following services:

• Draft a Central Flyway Monarch Conservation Strategy comprised primarily of state plans and as described in the background section above; provide reports and updates to and respond to inquiries as they may arise from various state and federal groups on the final Strategy
• Coordinate planning activities among the states consistent with agreed upon governance structures in drafting the Strategy
• Coordinate a steering committee comprised of technical staff to solicit input on planning efforts and share information among the technical resources that may be included in or considered by the Strategy
• Identify outreach efforts underway through various entities like the Monarch Joint Venture, National Wildlife Federation, Pheasants Forever and others and the state planning efforts to incorporate relevant elements in the Strategy
• Liaise with the MAFWA’s Monarch Conservation Liaison and AFWA’s Science Coordinator on state-led monarch conservation efforts and incorporate relevant actions into the Strategy
• Research, track and disseminate up-to-date information regarding relevant federal and state habitat conservation programs and policies related to monarch conservation. Provide information to lawmakers, congressional staff and agency leaders concerning legislation and policy, upon
• Represent, promote and act on behalf of MAFWA related to technical strategy development and coordination at national, regional and state meetings, including but not limited to: MAFWA Director’s annual conference, AWFA annual conference, and the North American Wildlife Host at least two meetings of state technical staff and other partners, both during the strategy development and upon completion, to seek input and provide guidance for implementation.
• Submit written monthly and annual activity reports Evaluate program milestones and recommend changes to initiative direction to the state agency directors as needed. Administer a budget that accounts for all expenditures and submit periodic budget reports.

All work shall be agreed upon and subject to an executed contract between the parties, based on the laws and jurisdiction of the state of Kansas, the state in which MAFWA is incorporated.

Timeframe

The ideal contractor would be able to start by December 15, 2016. The Strategy must be completed by March 1, 2018, to be presented at the North American Wildlife Conference in March of 2018. The contractor will then be available to deliver updates on and make any necessary refinements to the Strategy through June 30, 2018. The Contract will terminate June 30, 2018, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the contract.

Qualifications

The contractor must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Wildlife Management, Entomology, Biological Sciences, or related field of study; and at least two years of professional experience in natural resources management or policy development. Additional consideration will be given to candidates with additional relevant experience, satisfactory performance of similar services, or education. A graduate degree in a related field is preferred and can be substituted for experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of the Contractor: Current knowledge of monarch ecology and management; an understanding of the relevant national conservation programs and policies; ability to communicate and coordinate with a diverse array of federal, state, non-governmental, and constituency groups regarding policy, research, habitat conservation, and related issues, programs, and practices; ability to use computer and basic office software; ability to travel.

Payment

A not to exceed amount to be paid for services rendered under the resulting contract is expected to be

$80,000 a year, pro-rated and payable in monthly installments. Additional pre-approved travel and material costs will be provided as required and authorized by the contract

How to Apply

Persons interested in this contract opportunity should submit a resume and cover letter to MAFWA’s Director-representative on Monarch Conservation, Kelley Myers, at Kelley.Myers@dnr.iowa.gov, by 4:00pm, Central Time, on October 24, 2016. Late submissions will not be considered. The resume and cover letter should address each of the qualifications included above. The cover letter should address the scope of services elements above; however, it is limited to not more than three pages. Potential contractors may be subject to an interview process.