SWCD Resource Conservationist

Soil and Water Conservation District SWCD
1008 W Lincoln Ave
Olivia, MN 56277, USA

Soil and Water Conservation District SWCD
1008 W Lincoln Ave
Olivia, MN 56277, USA

Job Summary:

The purpose of this position is to coordinate the SWCD water planning, implementation, prioritization, and outcomes tracking of One Watershed, One Plan comprehensive plans. Develop and oversee installation of structural and non-structural conservation projects.

Minimum Qualifications:

Four-year degree in geography, cartography, planning, geographic information systems, public administration, natural resources, environmental resource management, or a related field, or any acceptable equivalent combination of education and training, and four years of relevant experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Strong organizational skills
• Self-motivation; able to work with minimal supervision
• Project Management and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills
• Understanding of natural resources, conservation, agriculture, hydrology, local government and related issues.
• Develop projects, assess site needs and provide technical assistance on structural and non-structural conservation practices and projects
• Level I USDA Planner able to obtain of Level III Planner within 3 years
• Experience with MS Office, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical reports/data and financial reports

Primary Duties and Responsibilities include the following. These examples do not include all possible tasks and do not limit the assignment of related tasks within this classification.

• Coordinate with SWCD leadership and others to represent the SWCD in “One Watershed, One Plans” planning and implementation activities. This includes initial planning, plan amendments, prioritization of implementation efforts, tracking outcomes, accomplishments reporting, development of biennial workplans, and all related efforts.
• Develop projects with landowners and Renville County Public Works and provide technical expertise for the development of conservation
• Supervise and direct workload of subordinate SWCD staff, as assigned by the Administrator.
• Consult with technical staff to review local, state, and federal permits for projects and provide comments as appropriate.
• Coordinate and facilitate various watershed-based committee meetings, public informational meetings and civic engagement activities associated with local water/watershed planning activities.
• Coordinate the development and submittal of grant applications for projects related to the goals and objectives of the local water/watershed management plans and goals of SWCD and partners.
• Expected to work cooperatively as a team member with conservation partners, especially SWCD staff, Technical Service Area (TSA), Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) staff, USDA staff, Renville County staff, watershed project staff and others to develop conservation programs and accomplish goals and objectives of established
• Maintain accurate records and data management to ensure accurate reporting and that all deadlines are met.
• Data tracking, analysis, reporting, and coordination
• Identify potential funding opportunities and develop grant applications for those opportunities identified.
• Specific duties of this position are expected to change as the needs of the area
• These duties describe the general nature and level of work being performed by this position and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties Other duties may and will be assigned.
• Work environment is approximately 80% office setting and 20% in field work.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Driver’s license necessary and ability to pass a USDA security background check.

Physical Demands:

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing, or pulling and lifting; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust…