(INDIANA/OHIO/KENTUCKY) - A conservation partnership focused on restoring monarch butterfly populations is hiring two seasonal field technicians to work across Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky during the 2026 field season.
The Monarch Joint Venture is seeking a team of two remote sensing field technicians to study monarch breeding and migratory habitat on private lands enrolled in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program. The six-month, full-time seasonal positions will run from March 23 through Sept. 18, 2026.
The technicians will travel extensively throughout the three-state region, collecting data to support monarch, pollinator and wildlife conservation efforts. All travel, lodging and field logistics will be coordinated and covered by the project, with accommodations varying by location and including hotels, rental properties or field housing. A shared field vehicle and fuel will also be provided.
The positions pay $18 per hour and include three weeks of paid training prior to the field season. The Monarch Joint Venture will also cover the cost of required Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification training, which allows technicians to operate drones used in remote sensing work.
The Monarch Joint Venture brings together federal and state agencies, nonprofits, academic institutions and private partners to address the decline of the monarch butterfly. Officials say the project offers hands-on experience in collaborative conservation work.
The priority application deadline for the Midwest positions is Jan. 19, 2026.