Soil Scientist - Field Crew Lead

Soil Scientist
- Field Crew Lead

Department: Working Lands Conservation

Employment Type: Fixed Term
- Full Time

Location: Working Lands Conservation
- Logan, UT

Reporting To: Kristi Mingus

Compensation: $25.00 / hour

Working Lands Conservation (WLC) is a small, research-based non-profit located in Logan, UT. Our goal is to improve land management by bringing science to collaborative partnerships, while also supporting communities and livelihoods. Through our work, we are creating resilient Western landscapes and a resilient future for communities that utilize and value these working landscapes.

We are a team of field ecologists and communicators. We draw on our extensive experience designing ecological studies, collecting data, and analyzing information to understand how land management contributes to landscape health and stakeholder stewardship objectives.

We are a partner-oriented organization. We realize that trust, learning, and change happen when science is shared in conversation and as stories. We thus spend as much time building relationships as we do collecting data. We strongly believe that partnerships of diverse stakeholders lead to innovative management ideas, and that producers are the foundational stewards of working landscapes. We work closely with producers, state agencies, federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and university researchers to fulfill our mission, share ideas, and inspire innovative management.

Position Summary:

We’re excited to welcome a Soil Scientist
- Field Crew Lead to lead and conduct field work and support our Ecosystem Services Lab through soil health analysis. This is a Term-limited Position lasting from September 7, 2026 through December 31, 2026. The Soil Scientist will contribute to Working Land Conservation’s mission by executing field-based research and applied projects. They will also assist the Laboratory Manager with sample preparation and analysis for basic soil health parameters.

The Soil Scientist will oversee field operations for soil carbon and soil health projects, predominantly in Utah. This involves leading field crews, making real-time decisions about daily workflow, maintaining rigorous safety protocols in remote environments, and troubleshooting logistics on the fly when things don’t go according to plan.

When not in the field, the Soil Scientist will support the Laboratory Manager as a dedicated technician. Over the past year, WLC opened a non-profit Ecosystem Services Laboratory that provides ranchers and other stakeholders with cost‑effective soil, water, and plant testing so land stewards have the data needed to adaptively manage their landscapes. Duties will include following lab protocols, preparing samples for analysis, applying dilution theory for chemical procedures, assisting the Laboratory Manager with sample analysis, and maintaining a safe laboratory environment through proper chemical storage and waste management.

• Lead field work focused on soil health and soil organic carbon across diverse Western landscapes.
• Manage end‑to‑end field logistics, including crew, training, daily workflow decisions, and on‑site field safety.
• Troubleshoot equipment, vehicle, or scheduling issues in remote and off‑grid settings.
• Manage Field Technician(s) and mentor crew members on research protocols and safety.
• Travel as needed to initiate new projects and represent WLC with regional partners.

• Assist the Laboratory Manager with daily laboratory operations, sample preparation, and instrument runs.
• Follow strict laboratory protocols for soil health parameters.
• Maintain safety standards, chemical inventory, and proper hazardous waste disposal.

• Collaboratively work with the WLC team to further WLC’s mission.
• Dedicate time to the professional development of organizational and management skills.
• Contribute to a healthy, supportive, and inclusive culture at WLC.
• Other duties that are reasonable and consistent with this position.

You are, at heart, a field ecologist who loves leading research across the…