Natural Resource Specialist/Physical Scientist/Environmental Engineer (Pesticide Properties Database Data Steward)

NEW Solutions; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 57,000 - 81,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance premium coverage

Vacation and sick leave accrual

Paid federal holidays

Vision and dental insurance optional

Job summary

NEW Solutions is recruiting a Natural Resource Specialist/Physical Scientist/Environmental Engineer to steward the Pesticide Properties Database (PPD) within the WIN-PST framework for NRCS. The role supports field-level conservation practice design and data integrity with EPA pesticide data updates.

The position emphasizes experience in pesticide properties data, compliance with data standards, and collaboration with NRCS staff; 5 hours per week, Portland, $50/hour, non-federal program

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience reviewing, collating and analyzing pesticide properties data, or an MA/MS degree in a related field.
• Experience using Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Access.

Responsibilities

• Research and add EPA-approved pesticides and active ingredients to the PPD used by WIN-PST.
• Develop biannual updates for the WIN-PST PPD, reviewing EPA data and populating missing elements.
• Serve as SME for revised processes for future PPD updates.

Skills

Pesticide data analysis

EPA pesticide data familiarity

Windows

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Access

Education

MA/MS Degree in Agronomy / related field

Tools

Windows

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Access

Job description

Natural Resource Specialist/Physical Scientist/Environmental Engineer (Pesticide Properties Database Data Steward)

ID: ADC1-S&T-WNTSC-004

Location: Portland

Program: ACE

Wage/Hr: $50.00

Hours/Week: 5

Minimum Age: 55

Disclaimer: This is not a federal position. This role is offered through a partnership agreement and does not constitute an NRCS hiring action.

This position is a non-federal role funded through an existing agreement between NRCS and NEW Solutions. The enrollee will provide direct support to farmers and landowners, enabling the implementation of conservation practices on the ground. This role contributes to NRCS's mission by enhancing capacity in field offices and ensuring timely assistance to producers. It is designed to free up NRCS staff for emergency and high-priority responses, not to replace federal staff.

This role helps ensure continued progress on conservation planning, practice implementation, and technical assistance, especially in high-demand or disaster-affected areas. It aligns with the Administration's priorities for farmer-first, field-facing, and partner-enabled capacity expansion.

For over 25 years, National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions) has specialized in connecting experienced workers (ages 55+) with full-time and part-time job opportunities that support the critical missions of Federal Agencies across the United States.

NEW Solutions connects experienced workers (ages 55+) with the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). These are experienced professionals who provide technical and professional assistance to the Department of Agriculture for the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program.

• Benefits: Paid Health Insurance Premium for positions budgeted at 60+ hours per pay period, Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Federal Holidays, and optional Vision and Dental Insurance available for positions budgeted at 35+ hours per pay period.

Positions listed here do not guarantee employment for any definite period. Enrollment in the Experienced Worker Programs administered by NEW Solutions is temporary. The enrollment relationship between NEW Solutions and the Enrollee is an ?at-will? relationship. This means that an Enrollee is free to terminate enrollment at any time during the enrollment period, and NEW Solutions and the Agency have the right to terminate the relationship with the Enrollee.

PLEASE NOTE: An ?ACES Enrollee? is not a federal employee, nor an employee of NEW Solutions. An ?ACES Enrollee? is a participant in a grant program established through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the USDA-NRCS and administered by NEW Solutions.

This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the United States.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 10 year(s) of experience in reviewing, collating, and analyzing pesticide properties data for use with NRCS business tools. OR MA/MS Degree in Agronomy, Water Quality, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, or other related fields of study

• No
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access

Duties:

Researches and adds new EPA approved pesticides and active ingredients to the Pesticide Properties Database (PPD) used by the Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST). WIN-PST is used by NRCS staff to design and implement conservation practices that require mitigation of environmental risk associated with pesticide use.

• Develop biannual updates for the WIN-PST PPD. This includes reviewing EPA pesticide property data and identifying new pesticides for inclusion in the PPD, researching and populating missing data elements for new pesticides, and supporting the creation of the biannual PPD update.95%
• Serve as SME for development of revised process for future PPD updates.5%

Other:

• annual information system security, anti-harassment, and civil rights training.
• Travel Requirements: occasional travel to satisfy the duties of the position.
• Overnight travel: .
• Physical requirements: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.