Purpose of the Position:

You will work with private landowners to plan and apply several conservation practices to address resource concerns such as wildlife habitat, soil erosion, wildfire fuels reduction, renewable energy, and irrigation water sustainability. The planner will be part of a bigger team that leverages USDA-NRCS Farm Bill Conservation Programs to implement planned projects.

Pay: $25.00 to $28.00 Dependent on Experience (with potential increase pending additional grant funding) Recent Graduation- Entry Level applicants are encouraged to apply
Term: Full Time, at will Position (40 hours per week) Monday-Friday

Benefits: Full Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance Retirement Pension Plan through Oregon PERS (after 6 month waiting period)

11 Paid Federal Holidays
12 days of paid annual leave

12 days of paid sick leave 

Educational Opportunity:  As part of the position, you will receive comprehensive training and certification opportunities to advance your career in conservation planning. This will include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Certified Conservation Planner accreditation.  

General Position Summary:

The Natural Resource Specialist (NRS) – Conservation Planner is responsible for providing technical assistance to agricultural landowners and occasionally to partner organizations to conserve natural resources in Jefferson and Deschutes County, Oregon. This position will help the local USDA-NRCS District Conservationist, and the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District Manager facilitate conservation program implantation. This includes planning, implementing, and monitoring conservation projects. The NRS Planner will also coordinate with stakeholders and assist partner organizations in prioritizing and acquiring funding for conservation projects. This position may involve outreach to landowners, coordinating the development of conservation plans, grant writing, conservation project budget development, providing oversight of project implementation, reviewing and submitting completion and monitoring reports, and coordinating with funders. Working closely with private landowners is a key function of this job, and as such, good people skills are essential. This position exists to provide technical assistance as a cornerstone of the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District (JSWCD). The position will be addressing climate change mitigation practices, improving irrigation water management, reducing tailwater runoff issues, piping projects, riparian restoration, and juniper management. Many other conservation practices can be applied.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts are not regulatory authorities. The Natural Resource Specialist (NRS) – Conservation Planner will be assisting with USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program as well as the Conservation Reserve & Enhancement Program (CREP). Knowledge in riparian systems will be an asset to implementing CREP conservation projects.

This position is partly funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. This position is supported by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and has a focus on Water Quality on Agriculture Lands and the Oregon SB1010 rule.

Essential Functions / Major Duties:

Natural Resource Specialist (NRS) – Conservation Planner

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with private landowners.
• Work as part of a team of conservation minded organizations such as: the Middle Deschutes Watershed Council, local/state/federal agencies, tribal entities, irrigation districts, OSU Extension Service, and other conservation entities to successfully plan and implement conservation projects, workshops, educational tours, and outreach.
• Develop conservation projects with cooperators to address natural resource concerns.
• Assess irrigation practices, and assist landowners in improving water management for their property
• Prepare presentations and technical reports including annual progress reporting
• Determine funding sources that may provide incentives to landowners for conservation projects/practices on privately owned property
• Assists in conducting field investigations, surveys, and assembly of data needed in the development of conservation practices for structural solutions to problems with water quality, erosion, drainage, and irrigation.
• Provide assistance with planning, design, layout, implementation, certification of conservation practices and oversees construction practices for which Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has technical responsibility.
• Works with landowners on the application and maintenance of conservation practices.
• Determines priorities and scheduling of the application workload in the assigned area of field office.
• Assists with public information activities, outreach, and education periodically.
• Develop contracts with farmers and track conservation practices, operations and maintenance agreements up to CREP standard requirements.
• Work cooperatively with Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District as well as the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Oregon Farm Service Agency (FSA) to identify, organize and coordinate implementation of riparian habitat restoration projects in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties.

Secondary Functions:

• Promote the Conservation District, CREP and its programs
  • Participate in educational opportunities, including workshops, tours, youth activities as a district representative
  • Participate in community activities and with other organization such as watershed councils and irrigation districts as a district representative
  • Assist with fair booth and displays as needed
  • Assist with development and presentation of workshops on conservation topics as part of the district’s public outreach program
• Prepare project implementation reports for funding agencies
• Equipment
  • Properly care for assigned field equipment, including but not limited to, GPS units, phone, radio, compass, camera, water quality and quantity monitoring equipment, etc.
• Vehicles
  • Use government and district vehicles responsibly, report maintenance needs to supervisor
• Other duties as assigned.

Demands / Complexity:

The Natural Resource Specialist (NRS) – Conservation Planner is complex and requires field activities along with office activities. Training will be provided but it requires knowledge in a wide range of laws that govern district operations including state and federal permitting requirements; NEPA, Endangered Species Act, Privacy Act, and Oregon Ag Water Quality requirements. This position also requires a detailed knowledge of USDA NRCS Technical Standards and Implementation Requirements, the field office technical guide, conservation planning standards and procedures, and familiarity with the types of conservation practices commonly employed within the district.

The NRS Conservation Planner must be able to work independently, in a very diverse work environment with minimal supervision, including prioritizing daily work tasks, scheduling field work, and meetings. This is a very diverse working environment. The NRS Conservation Planner is responsible for documenting their own time for monthly reporting purposes. Conservation planning involves a working knowledge of soil and water conservation principles, practices, implementation methods and procedures and land use factors that affect soil erosion and water quality. 

Training will be provided since the Planner deals with aspects of agronomy, hydrology and engineering related to the planning and installation of soil and water conservation projects and management practices. They must become familiar with how to research and/or who to contact for detailed expertise as guidance. The Planner must understand the principles and techniques of surveying and drafting, as well as the operation of common farm machinery.

This position works with public employees at all levels both within and outside the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, other government agencies, federal, state and local officials and the public.

Supervisory Responsibility:

This job has no regularly assigned supervisory responsibility. 

Contacts with Others:

This position has daily, face to face interactions with the USDA Service Center staff which includes frequent interactions in person, via phone, email, and written correspondence occur with other stakeholders, and many State, Federal, and local agencies with whom the district works.  In addition, similar interaction occurs between the NRS Planner and the District’s clientele, primarily local farmers and ranchers. Typical interactions may include exchange of information, sharing of technical information, coordination of on-going projects or discussion of potential new projects, or providing technical assistance. Care must be taken to avoid sharing information governed by the privacy act, most of which is private landowner information.

Specific Job Skills:

The ideal candidate will have a good command of the English language and be able to communicate effectively by writing and by speech. They should be familiar with agricultural production practices and natural resource conservation. They must be proficient in the use of computers and in the use of certain software including Microsoft Office Suite products such as Excel, Word, and Power Point and ESRI-GIS software. They must have sound math skills including basic mathematics, plane geometry, and algebra. They must have good problem-solving skills.

Physically, they must be able to sit, stand, lift up to 50 lbs., and to walk moderate distances over uneven terrain, and work outside in all seasons. Occasional overnight travel, primarily for training, is required for this position. The position occasionally requires work more than 8 hours per day or over 40 hours per week. They must possess a valid Oregon driver’s license and be able to operate vehicles.  

Education / Experience:

This position requires:

• A bachelor’s degree with major course work in natural sciences, natural resource management, agriculture sciences, soil science, restoration ecology, water quality, or a related discipline or three years’ experience working for a natural resources agency, organization, or corporation
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience in collecting field data, i.e. plant identification, stream discharge, aquatic biological conditions, soil erosion indicators, water quality/climate data and maintaining field notes as required
• The ability to use a personal computer for information entry and retrieval, correspondence, development of data spreadsheets, graphs, maps, and conservation practice design.
• Education or experience in natural resources outreach in rural areas that includes working one-on-one, in group settings and/or public speaking.
• Grant writing and data analysis experience is desired.

Job Conditions:

Working conditions for this position are: office environment 49%; local travel and field work 49%; other travel 2%.  Employee must be willing to work in a variety of job conditions ranging from field work in summer heat and winter cold to office work. Employee can expect interruptions during their tasks at work to answer questions or fulfill various immediate needs tasks around the office. Office space is provided and working remotely is permitted on an ad hoc basis as the position allows and must be approved by the supervisor.