Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) – Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) Biologist

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Overview

This opportunity is part of a new collaborative effort between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV), and Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) to accelerate land conservation through the NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program-Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE). The incumbent will serve as part of the Oregon NRCS conservation easement team. The position will advance wetland conservation throughout Oregon by assisting with, technical tasks, administrative tasks, and ACEP-WRE outreach with direction from the Oregon NRCS Easement Program Specialist.

Duties

• Assist NRCS Basin Easement Staff with development and implementation of Wetland Reserve Plan of Operations (WRPO).
• Opportunities to apply wetland conservation on private land.
• Provide technical support to NRCS Basin Easement Specialists and ACRP-WRE landowners with various activities associated with implementation of ACEP-WRE.
• Effectively use NRCS contracting and planning software (NRCS Conservation Desktop, etc.) to plan and implement wetland restoration and related conservation practices on ACEP-WRE enrolled parcels.
• Assist with administrative procedures of new ACEP-WRE applications and pre-obligation.
• Perform other related duties as assigned; including strategic program planning, partnership coordination, and assisting NRCS staff across Oregon with ACEP related activities.
• Coordinate ACEP-WRE outreach. Work closely with NRCS staff and conservation partners to boost ACEP-WRE enrollment.
• Travel for trainings, meetings and on-site project visits.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively with private landowners, government agency personnel and conservation partner organizations.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision.
• Ability to work cooperatively with diverse clientele.
• Knowledge of wetland ecology.
• Ability to obtain USDA Security Clearance.
• Excellent verbal/written communication and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license.
• A general qualification guideline for this position is a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in natural resource planning, wildlife biology/management or ecology and related conservation work experience.
• Computer skills are required, and the applicant should be familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability, or willingness to learn, NRCS Conservation Desktop and other NRCS planning and contracting systems.