Conservation Specialist - Gothenburg, NE

Precision Conservation Management; Gothenburg (NE); Remote; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Precision Conservation Management seeks a Precision Conservation Specialist to provide technical assistance to enrolled cooperators in the Gothenburg region. You will educate farmers on conservation practices, connect them to incentive programs, and report outcomes to PCM partners.

Role covers roughly a 90-mile radius of Gothenburg, NE with travel to farms, data management, and collaboration with PepsiCo and other partners to promote sustainable farming and financial stability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in agricultural management or related field preferred.
• Ability to manage a heavy workload and meet timelines.
• Willingness to travel across multiple counties to meet farmers.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Excel data entry.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work independently or in a team.
• Understanding of current farming practices and nitrogen management.

Responsibilities

• Support up to 100 farmers in adopting conservation practices.
• Promote PCM programs and conservation practices.
• Represent the project with strong management and admin responsibility.
• Collaborate with PCM Director and Operations Manager on objectives.
• Identify opportunities and challenges to meet PCM goals.
• Coordinate internal and external communications.
• Organize farmer meetings and trainings with partners.
• Collect and maintain farmer data and program records.
• Execute strategic program activities and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Prioritization

Travel readiness

Office suite

Self-motivated

Interpersonal skills

Independent & team

Nitrogen management

Education

BS in agricultural management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Job description

Precision Conservation Management (PCM) is a farmer service program led by the Illinois Corn Growers Association in partnership with over 30 conservation leaders, including PepsiCo and the Nebraska Corn Board. PCM’s mission is to increase adoption of conservation practices on corn, soybean, and wheat fields while evaluating their impact on farm financial stability.

The Precision Conservation Specialist provides technical assistance to enrolled cooperators in the Gothenburg region. This position offers a culture of professional and personal growth; as part of a growing program, you will have opportunities to shape future work and development. In this role, you will work in conjunction with program partner PepsiCo to support farmers who grow corn for Frito-Lay, helping them adopt conservation practices in water, nutrient, and soil management. You will educate cooperators about conservation practices and connect farmers in the Frito-Lay sourcing region to exclusive incentive programs and cost-share opportunities.

The Specialist will be responsible for helping farmers within an approximately 90-mile radius of Gothenburg, NE secure financial and technical assistance to adopt conservation practices and/or expand their use of conservation practices. PCM Specialists also have reporting responsibilities to PCM partners, including PepsiCo, demonstrating success in expending grant funding and cost-share dollars provided by the partners. Additional expectations of assisting program partners are required from time to time.

PCM Specialists deliver customized reports to farmers, summarizing the sustainability and financial impacts of their current operations and generating environmental and financial comparisons with other farming practices. This role is ideal for someone passionate about sustainable agriculture, eager to support Nebraska farmers in achieving environmental and economic success.

Remote - Gothenburg, NE

Duties and responsibilities

• Support up to 100 farmers within the PCM program as they work to adopt conservation practices.
• Promote PCM and the implementation of specific conservation practices.
• Represent the project and demonstrate strong management and administrative responsibility.
• Collaborate with and maintain open communication with the PCM Director, PCM Operations Manager on the implementation of PCM objectives.
• Identify opportunities and challenges in meeting PCM objectives and work with other PCM staff including analysts, Specialists, data collectors, and partners, to meet goals.
• Conduct and coordinate internal and external communications.
• Coordinate with other PCM Specialists and partners to conduct farmer meetings and trainings.
• Collect and maintain detailed and up-to-date farmer management data and other program records.
• Coordinate and execute strategic and programmatic activities of the PCM program.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree related to agricultural management, production agriculture, agronomy, ag economics, or agricultural/environmental sustainability strongly preferred.
• Ability to prioritize a heavy and varied workload, deliver results on a timeline, and provide regular report of activities/achievements.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the multi-county area to meet farmers at their homes, shops, or fields.
• Proficient with basic computer software (Microsoft Office Suite) and comfortability entering data into online platforms and into Excel
• Self-motivated.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to work with farmers and manage professional relationships.
• Proven ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Understanding of current farming practices, nitrogen application techniques, and nitrogen loss concerns.

Physical requirements

• Position will require regular local travel, and some regional travel within the Midwest including three team meetings a year.
• May require in-field work to collect data and samples in various weather and physical environments.