King CD Farm Conservation Planner

All original content is; Washington; On-site; USD 70,841 - 85,715; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation and holidays

Medical and dental insurance

Participation in the State of Washington Retirement System

Job summary

A regional conservation organization in Washington is seeking a Farm Conservation Planner to deliver technical assistance to farmers and land managers. The role involves authoring Farm Conservation Plans, managing projects, and promoting best management practices. Candidates should have a background in agricultural resource management and demonstrate exceptional customer service skills. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Self-starting individual with a passion for helping farmers.
• Ability to manage a busy workload and high volume of clients.
• Experience engaging with issues involving diversity, racial equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance to farmers and land managers.
• Author Farm Conservation Plans focused on regenerative practices.
• Manage projects, conduct site visits, and prepare educational materials.

Skills

Strong agricultural-based natural resource management background

Exceptional customer service skills

Ability to maintain accurate and detailed reports

Job description

King Conservation District is seeking one (1) Farm Conservation Planner to join a high-performing team of dedicated and passionate professionals and report to the Rural Lands and Farm Services Program Manager. This position will provide technical assistance to farmers and land managers to promote the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) while protecting natural resources. Technical services include on-farm site visits, authoring Farm Conservation Plans with a lens for regenerative agricultural practices, encouraging the implementation of BMPs through the District’s “cost share” program, managing projects from start to finish, preparing educational materials, hosting farm tours and webinars, and giving presentations.

The Farm Conservation Planner works directly with farmers, including dairy operations, and other land managers whose motivations for assistance may include general stewardship goals, agricultural exemptions, coordination with permitting, assistance on compliance with state nutrient management requirements, referrals for land use code violations, and coordination with farm taxation off-set programs.

This position requires a self-starting individual with strong agricultural-based natural resource management background, in combination with a passion to help farmers and land managers with their stewardship goals. We want someone who shares our beliefs in earning the public trust every day and that government can, and must, provide high quality customer service. The Farm Conservation Planner will manage a busy workload. They will coordinate a high volume of new and existing clients. The Planner works in partnership with farmers and land managers so that both the District’s goals and the client’s goals are addressed.

This employee will be held accountable for individual metrics and must demonstrate the ability to maintain accurate, detailed, and professional reports and records. Each employee at the Conservation District is encouraged to seek continued learning opportunities, develop their individual technical knowledge, and explore strategies for how conservation practices and services may be improved. The ability to provide exceptional customer service, earn the trust of the public, and work cooperatively with a diverse population is essential to this position.

Work is usually varied and complex, frequently applying advanced principles and concepts in day-to-day work. Actions are often mid-term, focused on what, how, and why. Helps leadership to plan program goals and objectives. May be accountable for some program results.

Compensation

Full-Time, Exempt Position: This position will begin at Step 1 within either Grade 25 (Resource Planner 2), Grade 26 (Resource Planner 3), or Grade 27 (Resource Planner 4), currently between $70,841.42 – $85,715.88 annually. After passing a successful probation, candidates will automatically move to step 2 within the salary band at which they were hired.

Benefits: The District offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid vacation and holidays, medical and dental, a nominal life insurance policy with the option to increase coverage at employee’s expense, support for trainings, and participation in the State of Washington Retirement System (PERS).

Application Information

To Apply: If you are interested in pursuing this position, please apply by emailing [e-mail] with the following materials:

• A resume.
• A cover letter, describing as specially as you can how your experience, skills, and values are a fit with King Conservation District’s goals and mission as described in this announcement.
• A brief personal equity statement, describing your skills and experience engaging with issues involving diversity, racial equity and inclusion in organizations. This statement should not exceed 300 words.

A full job description can be found here .