Operational Services Specialist

National Experienced Workforce Solutions; Bangor (ME); On-site; USD 34,000 - 49,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Paid Federal Holidays

Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave

Vision and Dental Insurance (optional)

Job summary

National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions) is seeking an Operational Services Specialist for the ACE program in Bangor, ME. The role supports conservation delivery and planning, focusing on assisting NRCS staff and landowners with technical and operational tasks.

Ideal candidates have extensive conservation planning experience and familiarity with Windows-based tools. The position is part-time (20 hrs/week) and includes health benefits and paid leave under a cooperative agreement

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 year(s) of experience in conservation planning agriculture and natural resource management, or BA/BS Degree in Agricultural or natural resource management preferred
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS PowerPoint
• Conservation Desktop and CART. Adobe Acrobat experience may be helpful.

Responsibilities

• Assist NRCS conservation planners with data collection, developing conservation planning alternatives, environmental evaluation, and training support.
• Support NRCS program delivery, planning, guidance, and assistance to increase on-the-ground technical assistance to agricultural producers, including Farm Bill programs and reporting.

Skills

Conservation planning

Natural resource management

Agriculture

Education

BA/BS Degree in Agricultural or natural resource management

Tools

Windows

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Access

MS PowerPoint

Conservation Desktop

CART

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Operational Services Specialist

ID: AME1-010

Location: Bangor

Program: ACE

Wage/Hr: $30.00

Hours/Week: 20

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 15 year(s) of experience in conservation planning agriculture and natural resource management, or a related field of study. OR BA/BS Degree in Agricultural or natural resource management preferred

• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS PowerPoint
• Conservation Desktop and CART. Adobe Acrobat experience may be helpful.

Duties

Work will be performed in support of overall farmers first conservation delivery for the State Conservationist and partner organizations. Tasks will generally consist of assisting NRCS conservation planners with collecting data, developing conservation planning alternatives, environmental evaluation, complex natural resource training and job approval authority assistance in the areas soil, water, air, plant, animal, human, and energy, preparing trip reports, coordinating and communicating with conservationists, engineers, and other NRCS personnel. Examples of activities for conservation assistance covered by this agreement are as follows:

• Operational Support: Provide technical and operational support, recommendations, and implementation assistance on a wide range of Farm Bill programs, delivery tools, policy, and accomplishment reporting. Advise on Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) and RCPP programs to enhance boots on the ground conservation to Maine landowners, partners, farmers, and ranchers. This may include, but is not limited to, providing assistance to NRCS staff and stakeholders.90%
• Assist NRCS staff with NRCS program and training delivery functions, planning, guidance, and assistance with NRCS programs to increase delivery of on the ground technical assistance to agricultural producers.10%

Other

• required AgLearn training.
• Training with local applications to complete tasks in PD.
• Travel Requirements: GOV use for site visits and field office visits
• Overnight travel: Approximately two days per month.
• Required Safety Gear: Clothing and footwear suitable for the duties identified for the daily tasks.
• 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.