Job Type: Permanent
Salary Details: $47,840-$54,080 per year
Required Experience: 2 – 6 years

See full details at https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-conservation-techniciancrep-planner-redmond-oregon/760360937

The Conservation Technician/CREP Planner is responsible for providing technical assistance to agricultural landowners and occasionally to partner organizations to improve water quality and conserve natural resources in Jefferson County, Oregon. This position will help the District Manager facilitate District programs; plan, implement, and monitor conservation projects; coordinate with stakeholders; and assist partner organizations in prioritizing and acquiring funding for conservation projects. This position will involve outreach to landowners, coordinating the development of proposals, grant writing, budget development, providing oversight of project implementation, reviewing and submitting completion and monitoring reports, and coordinating with funders. This position will also include seasonal water quality monitoring through a partnership program of creeks in the Middle Deschutes Watershed. 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 District. The position frequently addresses irrigation water management, 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 Oregon Conservation Reserve & Enhancement Program (CREP)/Conservation Technician is fundamentally a landowner driven position providing technical and financial assistance to qualified landowners.

This position is funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and Oregon Department of Agriculture and requires a focus on Water Quality on Agriculture Lands and the Oregon SB1010 rule.

Essential Functions / Major Duties:

1. Conservation Technician (70% of time)

a. Coordinate with Oregon Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Environmental Quality, and stakeholders to implement the Campbell Creek Strategic Implementation Area (SIA) and the Middle Deschutes Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program (PSP)
b. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with private landowners, the Middle Deschutes Watershed Council, local/state/federal agencies, tribal entities, irrigation districts, OSU Extension Service, and other conservation organizations to successfully plan and implement conservation projects, workshops, educational tours, and outreach
c. Grant writing for projects on privately owned land
d. Develop conservation projects with cooperators to address natural resource concerns
e. Assess irrigation practices, and assist landowners in improving water management for their property
f. Prepare presentations and technical reports including annual progress reporting
g. Determine funding sources that may provide incentives to landowners for conservation projects/practices on privately owned property

2. CREP Planner (30% of time)

a. Develop contracts with farmers and track conservation practices, operations and maintenance agreements up to CREP standard requirements.
b. Work cooperatively with Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) as well as Deschutes and Crook Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), the Oregon 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 Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties.
c. Provide technical and financial assistance to landowners implementing conservation projects, including implementation the Oregon CREP. Please link for more details: https://www.oregon.gov/oweb/grants/Pages/crep.aspx

Secondary Functions:

1. Develop and maintain positive landowner and agency contacts

2. Promote the Conservation District, CREP and its programs

a. Participate in educational opportunities, including workshops, tours, youth activities as a district representative
b. Participate in community activities and with other organization such as watershed councils and irrigation districts as a district representative
c. Assist with fair booth and District displays as needed
d. Assist with development and presentation of workshops on conservation topics as part of the district’s public outreach program

3. Carry out assigned tasks in Jefferson County SWCD Annual Plan of Work

4. Prepare project implementation reports for funding agencies

5. Equipment
a. Properly care for assigned field equipment, including but not limited to, GPS units, phone, radio, compass, camera, water quality and quantity monitoring equipment, etc.

6. Vehicles
a. Use district vehicles responsibly; report maintenance needs to supervisor

7. Other duties as assigned.

Demands / Complexity:

The Conservation Technician/CREP Planner position is highly complex, requiring familiarity with 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 Job Sheet, the field office technical guide, conservation planning standards and procedures, and familiarity with the types of conservation practices commonly employed within the district.

The Technician/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 Technician/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.

The Technician/Planner deals with aspects of agronomy, hydrology and engineering related to the planning and installation of soil and water conservation projects and management practices. The Technician/Coordinator must become familiar with how to research and/or who to contact for detailed expertise as guidance. The Technician/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 District and USDA Service Center staff. Frequent interactions in person, via phone, email, and written correspondence occur with other SWCDs, and many State, Federal, and local agencies with whom the district works. In addition, similar interaction occurs between the technician / 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 must 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 including Excel, Word, and Power Point; and 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 in excess of 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. Must be proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; working knowledge of ArcView and/or ArcGIS, Microsoft Access and Outlook.
• 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 as the position allows and must be approved by the District Manager.

HOW TO APPLY

Send cover letter, resume and list of at least three references to districtmanager@jeffswcd.org.

If you have any questions, feel free to call Staci Merkt at 541.699.3170.

**Position open until filled**