Field Technician, Monarch Butterfly Habitat Monitoring (6 positions)

• position Title: Field Technician, Monarch Butterfly Habitat Monitoring (6 positions)
• Position Status: Seasonal, full-time
• Location: California
• Start Date: February 23, 2026
• Compensation: $18/hr
• Priority Application Deadline: January 11, 2026; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will remain open until filled
• Travel required: Yes, extensively throughout CA

Position Summary

Join the growing team of the Monarch Joint Venture, a nonprofit dedicated to conserving the monarch butterfly migration across North America. We are hiring three pairs of field technicians to study monarch butterfly breeding and migratory habitat across California. Technicians will be split into teams of two among three regions to survey Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or California Resource jobshiringnearme.org District (RCD) properties. Positions vary in duration and survey location. In your application, you will be asked to select the region(s) you are interested in:

• Northern California (5 months)

• Central California (9 months)

• Southern California (5 months)

All positions are full time (seasonal), approximately 40 hours per week, with the possibility of paid overtime, and benefits as required by law. Qualified candidates must be able to commit to the full term of the monitoring season, drive long distances with their partner, and live away from home during the project dates. Technicians will travel extensively, collecting biological data on monarch butterflies and their habitat, including milkweed, and other floral resources using an established monitoring protocol. Surveys will also include establishing and documenting permanent, long-term monitoring plots, mapping observations of milkweed, and collecting milkweed seed. Opportunities to support education and outreach events are also expected.

Field technicians will receive two weeks of paid training in February, prior to the start of the field season. This will include a week of virtual training and a week of in-person training. Technicians will be expected to arrive at an in-person training location in the San Francisco Bay Area. MJV will cover the cost of a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) training course before the start of the field season.  Necessary equipment, fuel, and lodging costs are covered by the project grants. Food and additional personal travel costs are the responsibility of the employee. Camping 5 days a week, on average, is expected for all positions. Ideal candidates will have a home base anywhere within the region and travel to survey locations as needed; all work-related travel & lodging costs are covered under the project grant, which will include a combination of camping, hotel, or rental accommodations – to be determined by the field crew each week, within a given budget.

Responsibilities

(A) Conduct monarch and vegetation surveys throughout California (90%)

Navigate to survey sites to perform monarch and vegetation surveys using a standardized protocol. Establish and document permanent monitoring plots. Document the topographic and biological features of each site, count monarch host plants (milkweeds), identify blooming plant species and record their frequency, examine milkweeds for monarch eggs and caterpillars, and count adult monarchs. Specific duties include:

• Training and field season preparation (5%): General onboarding procedures including organizational operations and safety training. Learn standard monitoring procedures for site visits. Prepare travel schedules and survey routes, and contact site managers/owners.
• Field data collection (65%): Conduct field surveys. Data collection involves walking a series of transects at each site and recording milkweed and blooming plants within 1-m2 quadrats, examining milkweed for monarch eggs and larvae within a 1-ha area, and recording adult monarch observations.
• Data and field logistics management (15%): Maintain, organize, and enter field data on tablets/computers throughout the season. Maintain a travel schedule and secure lodging as the season progresses with guidance and direction from the field supervisor. Conduct data proofing and correction to ensure data accuracy. Maintain regular contact with MJV staff and field site contacts.
• End-of-season wrap-up (5%): Spend 2 weeks working remotely at the end of the season, performing end-of-season wrap-up tasks including data entry, review, and analysis.

(B) Train others in Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program protocols and/or participate in education and outreach events (5%)

Technicians may assist in training local conservation staff and volunteers to conduct monitoring and enter data following Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) protocols. Trainings include informal field excursions and connecting trainees to IMMP resources for further learning. Participate in public education and outreach events focused on conservation, monarch science, and public lands access.

(C) Additional duties as assigned (5%) 

Conduct additional duties related to this field study as the need arises. Tasks may include, but are not limited to, organizing or generating media content and training tools, or preparing data or data collection tools for future use. 

Qualifications

Essential Skills: 

• Field technicians must have experience in the fields of biology, botany, wildlife, or another related field.
• Technicians must be able to work both independently and in close collaboration with a teammate.
• Work will entail long days of driving and collecting plant and insect data on uneven terrain, in direct sunlight, high temperatures, and buggy or other harsh field conditions.
• Technicians must be comfortable interacting with agency staff and the public, and be available to spend overnights in distant or remote locations.
• The positions require excellent verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to enter data accurately onto a mobile device and computer.
• A valid driver’s license is required.

Desired Skills: 

• Experience collecting plant and insect data or implementing other field monitoring protocols.
• Knowledge of California milkweed species and other flora.
• Experience with GIS and navigating with a GPS or compass.
• Coursework or experience identifying plants and insects.

Equal Opportunity Employment 

The Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) is an equal opportunity employer. As such, MJV offers equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, gender, religion, age, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. These opportunities include all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, job placement, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, advancement, and termination. All employees are expected to adhere to this policy. 

The Monarch Joint Venture is an at-will employer. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.