Conservation Drainage Specialist

ESE is seeking a motivated Conservation Drainage Specialist to join our technical team and help expand the adoption of conservation drainage practices across the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Basins. This is a technically focused role ideal for a person who enjoys a combination of office and field work. This Specialist will collaborate with other technical specialists, producers, and contractors to plan, design, and help install conservation drainage practices to make a measurable impact on water quality and agricultural resilience for environmental improvement and economic health.

Operating from your home, you will work on technical plans and designs for conservation drainage practices. You also will spend time in the field for data collection to support plans, designs and oversee practice installation, with a heavy focus in Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. Your work with producers and contractors is concentrated on drainage water management (manual & automated), denitrifying bioreactors, saturated buffers, and phosphorus removal systems.

As a technical specialist, you will coordinate with contractors, oversee construction activities, and ensure installations meet ESE’s design specifications and cost parameters. All work is to be of high quality, with careful attention to detail and accuracy. The position reports to ESE’s Technical Services Manager and is a member of a geographically distributed team.

• Conduct remote site assessments and in-field site investigations and surveys.
• Plan, design, and complete field layout for practice installation.
• Coordinate and manage land improvement contractors for efficient, cost-effective installation.
• Oversee construction, provide guidance, and perform checkout to verify compliance with design/practice standards.
• Manage workload and scheduling to maximize office and field work efficiency and to minimize travel time.

• Salary commensurate with experience and demonstrated proficiency.
• Health, life, short- and longterm disability insurance; workers compensation; SIMPLEIRA.
• Paid vacation (increasing with years of service), sick leave, and seven paid holidays.
• Travel in Iowa and to nearby Midwest states as needed, with expenses covered by ESE consistent with its policy.

You’ll be part of a mission-driven team advancing practical, science-based solutions that improve water quality and support resilient agricultural landscapes. This role offers independent work, collaboration with team members for advice and counsel, and the opportunity to help scale conservation drainage adoption by producers across the Midwest.

• Relevant coursework in agriculture, conservation, ecological sciences, engineering, mathematics, or related fields.
• Experience with field surveys, layout, and construction oversight.
• Experience with GPS survey equipment and GIS and CAD software is preferred.
• Minimum two years of experience working directly in agricultural and/or construction settings.
• Knowledge of Midwest agricultural systems, operations, and drainage design and installation.
• Effective communication skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and desire to work in a collaborative team environment
• Valid driver’s license and reliable personal vehicle suitable for use to perform position responsibilities.