SWCD Resource Conservationist

Renville County; Olivia (MN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Soil and Water Conservation District SWCD in Olivia, MN is seeking a qualified professional to coordinate One Watershed, One Plan planning and implementation, and to oversee conservation projects with outcomes tracking.

The role requires a four-year degree in a related field and four years of relevant experience, plus strong GIS and project-management skills and MS Office proficiency. Opportunities exist to advance toward planner certification and collaborate with county and partner agencies.

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in geography, cartography, planning, GIS, public administration, natural resources, environmental resource management, or related field and four years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with SWCD leadership for One Watershed planning and implementation, tracking outcomes and reporting accomplishments.
• Develop projects with landowners and Renville County Public Works, providing technical expertise for conservation.
• Supervise and direct workload of SWCD staff as assigned by the Administrator.
• Review local, state, and federal permits and provide comments as appropriate.
• Coordinate and facilitate watershed-based meetings and civic engagement activities.
• Coordinate grant applications related to local water/watershed plans and SWCD goals.
• Collaborate with conservation partners to develop programs and achieve goals.
• Maintain accurate records and data management for reporting and deadlines.
• Data tracking, analysis, reporting and coordination.
• Identify funding opportunities and develop grant applications.
• Duties may evolve with area needs and are not exhaustive.
• Work environment ~80% office, ~20% field.

Skills

Organizational skills

Self-motivation

Project management

GIS skills

Understanding of natural resources

Develop projects and provide technical

USDA Planner pathway

MS Office proficiency

Data interpretation

Education

Four-year degree in geography, cartography, planning, GIS, public admin, natural resources, environmental resource management, or related field

Tools

GIS

MS Office (Word/PowerPoint/Excel)

Job description

Soil and Water Conservation District SWCD
1008 W Lincoln Ave
Olivia, MN 56277, USA

Soil and Water Conservation District SWCD
1008 W Lincoln Ave
Olivia, MN 56277, USA

Job Summary:

The purpose of this position is to coordinate the SWCD water planning, implementation, prioritization, and outcomes tracking of One Watershed, One Plan comprehensive plans. Develop and oversee installation of structural and non-structural conservation projects.

Minimum Qualifications:

Four-year degree in geography, cartography, planning, geographic information systems, public administration, natural resources, environmental resource management, or a related field, or any acceptable equivalent combination of education and training, and four years of relevant experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Strong organizational skills
• Self-motivation; able to work with minimal supervision
• Project Management and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills
• Understanding of natural resources, conservation, agriculture, hydrology, local government and related issues.
• Develop projects, assess site needs and provide technical assistance on structural and non-structural conservation practices and projects
• Level I USDA Planner able to obtain of Level III Planner within 3 years
• Experience with MS Office, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical reports/data and financial reports

Primary Duties and Responsibilities include the following. These examples do not include all possible tasks and do not limit the assignment of related tasks within this classification.

• Coordinate with SWCD leadership and others to represent the SWCD in “One Watershed, One Plans” planning and implementation activities. This includes initial planning, plan amendments, prioritization of implementation efforts, tracking outcomes, accomplishments reporting, development of biennial workplans, and all related efforts.
• Develop projects with landowners and Renville County Public Works and provide technical expertise for the development of conservation
• Supervise and direct workload of subordinate SWCD staff, as assigned by the Administrator.
• Consult with technical staff to review local, state, and federal permits for projects and provide comments as appropriate.
• Coordinate and facilitate various watershed-based committee meetings, public informational meetings and civic engagement activities associated with local water/watershed planning activities.
• Coordinate the development and submittal of grant applications for projects related to the goals and objectives of the local water/watershed management plans and goals of SWCD and partners.
• Expected to work cooperatively as a team member with conservation partners, especially SWCD staff, Technical Service Area (TSA), Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) staff, USDA staff, Renville County staff, watershed project staff and others to develop conservation programs and accomplish goals and objectives of established
• Maintain accurate records and data management to ensure accurate reporting and that all deadlines are met.
• Data tracking, analysis, reporting, and coordination
• Identify potential funding opportunities and develop grant applications for those opportunities identified.
• Specific duties of this position are expected to change as the needs of the area
• These duties describe the general nature and level of work being performed by this position and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties Other duties may and will be assigned.
• Work environment is approximately 80% office setting and 20% in field work.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Driver’s license necessary and ability to pass a USDA security background check.

Physical Demands:

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing, or pulling and lifting; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g., business office, customer traffic).

Eligible employees are offered a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement benefits, paid leave, holidays, and additional employee benefits.

Qualifications

Skills

Behaviors

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Motivations

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Education

Experience

Licenses & Certifications

Equal Opportunity Employer
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