Agricultural Conservation Specialist

The Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District is seeking an innovator and community-connector with a strong understanding of agriculture & soil conservation to manage and grow our agricultural services throughout our service area. Can you navigate a corn field as skillfully as you can navigate a multi-tab spreadsheet? Do you like talking with farmers about how the harvest is going as much as you like pitching new ideas to funders in a grant application? If so, read on! 

With support from the District Manager, the Agricultural Conservation Specialist will assume all duties as necessary to ensure the successful continuation and growth of the district in the agricultural assistance we provide to the community. These responsibilities include but are not limited to, workplan and budget development, fundraising and grant research and writing, grant tracking and reporting, partner networking, farmer outreach, education and technical assistance, and on-site practice implementation where appropriate. The Agricultural Conservation Specialist will be an employee of the Winooski NRCD and, as such, is expected to take on other tasks as needed to support broader organizational needs. 

• Maintain existing agricultural assistance services and ensure successful completion of deliverables under pre-existing agricultural grants.
• Perform all farmer outreach and recruitment for existing projects. Develop outreach materials; coordinate and host educational workshops; publicize District activities and programs. Disseminate information on Best Management Practices, Required Agricultural Practices, and local, state and federal cost share programs. Grow contact lists and increase engagement with the farming community.
• Deliver on-site technical visits, and provide technical assistance in identifying, securing funding for, and installing best practices for soils, water, and wildlife.
• Coordinate with staff from the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts to assist with the development of land treatment and nutrient management plans. This includes conducting field and farmstead assessments, assisting producers with soil and manure sampling, manure application calibration, use of tools for assessing nutrient management and working with farmers to draft NMPs though their GoCrop™ accounts. Follow up to ensure good record-keeping and implementation of NMP practices and provide farmer education on nutrient management practices that will improve water quality and yields.
• Perform targeted outreach to farmers on wetland restoration and river corridor easement opportunities.
• Perform survey work to document farmer funded conservation practices.
• Enhance assistance by expanding outreach, recruiting more farmer participation, and engaging in additional follow-up visits and communications to ensure recommended practices get funded and implemented.
• Diversify the types of producers we serve by utilizing new outreach vehicles and adjusting conservation services to be relevant above and beyond livestock production in a rural setting. Perform necessary research to grow expertise across the range of food producer needs and production types within the District.
• Improve coordination with network partners like NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service), Farmers coalitions, Rural Vermont, NOFA-VT (Northeast Organic Farming Association), and UVM-Extension and attend network events and continuing education trainings. Develop new relationships with non-traditional groups to gain new knowledge of the needs of our farming community and to further achieve the District’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals.
• Broaden relevance of conservation services through on-going surveys and research so that the practices we recommend and help fund address emerging environmental stressors as well as meet the shifting needs of our food producers.
• Work with the District Manager to grow programs and services to align with Winooski NRCD Core Values and Mission.
• Research, apply to, and assist with the administration of funding through grants, foundations, and donations. Track and report project and program progress. Develop new grant funded projects and programs based on local needs in coordination with the District Manager, statewide technical staff, Board of Supervisors, and partners.
• Act as a liaison between the District, its partners, and the general public as an outreach and information source. Represent the District at public functions, a responsibility shared among staff & Supervisors, including but not limited to local and regional planning commissions, town meetings, and other local civic activities as appropriate.
• Participate in regular staff and Board meetings to report on programmatic progress, and collaborate on shared responsibilities. Perform additional responsibilities as need arises.
• Take photos and videos regularly of field work and activities and contribute to Districts’ broader communications efforts including regular social media postings and newsletter blurbs.

Required Qualifications 

• 2 to 3 years of relevant practical experience or BA or BS in natural resources, agricultural sciences, or a related field.
• Familiarity with agricultural systems and regulations. Working knowledge of organic and regenerative land management, and agricultural conservation practices that benefit soils, water, wildlife, and climate.
• Knowledge of and/or experience working within Vermont’s (or similar) farming, agricultural and food systems.
• Strong communications skills and ability to effectively deliver education in environmental and conservation topics. Ability to understand and interpret scientific data, and communicate effectively with the public.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication, and public speaking;
• Commitment to Winooski NRCD’s Mission and Core Values and passion to help realize these values and mission through program development.
• Ability to identify and prioritize tasks & to work independently and as part of a team.
• Comfort with performing manual labor outside in variable weather conditions, across rough terrain for long periods of time. Ability to walk at least 5 miles with 10 lbs of gear.
• Ability to work cooperatively and communicate with varied and diverse audiences, landowners, municipalities, peers and staff from a variety of agencies.
• The candidate must be able to clear a thorough federal background check to work on the USDA NRCS computer system and have access to Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
• Strong computer literacy including experience with Windows, MS Office, Google Drive, and social media platforms.

Desired Skills and Experiences 

• Professional experience with nutrient management planning and GoCrop
• Working knowledge of Required Agricultural Practices (RAP’s), soil sciences, water quality challenges in Vermont.
• Experience navigating the federal Natural Resource Conservation Service EQIP program and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture’s BMP program.
• Experience in non-profit and/or government work environments.
• Familiarity with funding opportunities for sustainable agriculture and regenerative soils work.
• Experience in grant research, writing and administration.
• Strong research skills, survey development, data collection, and detail-oriented project tracking and reporting.
• Project management experience including identifying and developing budgets, deliverables, and work plans;
• Familiarity with map development, interpretation and experience with ArcGIS
• Conservation Practice installation experience including buffer plantings, fence work, etc.