Private Lands Conservationist II – Easement Specialist

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are seeking a Private Lands Conservationist II-Easement Specialist in Waterville, Washington, to support the organization’s mission of enhancing wildlife habitat through conservation. This position will work in joint capacity with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other partners to develop and implement wildlife habitat projects on private land.

• Assist with annual monitoring of conservation easements including review of aerial photography, assessment of hydrology and vegetative cover, verification of legal ownership and completion of annual monitoring worksheet
• Conduct onsite inspections and provide photo documentation to support certification of implemented practices
• Conduct photo-point monitoring
• Complete GPS inventory of infrastructure (e.g., boundary markers, water control structures, culverts, fences, hunting blinds)
• Create maps in Conservation Desktop (CD) and ArcGIS Pro. Input customer data into CD.
• Aid in the development of conservation plans, Wetland Restoration Plan of Operations (WRPO) and Compatible Use Authorizations (CUA), including supporting documentation such as practice specifications, maps, and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation
• Develop project summaries, fact sheets for landowners, annual practice reminder letters, and other relevant reports
• Meet with landowners, contractors, and/or agency partners to provide technical assistance in the planning, design, and implementation of conservation practices
• Perform other related duties as assigned, including USDA program education and outreach activities.

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management or closely related natural resources field and/or related field experience
• Valid driver’s license required; work vehicle provided; some use of personal vehicle required (mileage reimbursement provided).
• Able to obtain USDA Federal Security Clearance
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner agencies
• Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse clientele
• Knowledge of wildlife ecology, wetland and grassland management including the ability to utilize various habitat management tools and techniques in the development of management plans
• Knowledge of conservation and wildlife programs provided by Federal (i.e. Farm Bill, US Fish and Wildlife Service), USDA Conservation programs state agencies, and Pheasants Forever. Knowledge of how these programs are implemented in an agricultural landscape is desired
• Ability to apply and use GIS tools and other technologies
• Strong organizational skills.

Please contact Erik Lewis, HR Manager, via email at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).