Community Conservationist

NTRODUCTION:  

The COMMUNITY CONSERVATIONIST develops, coordinates, and implements educational programming and outreach strategies; advances marketing and public relations activities, and conducts targeted conservation on behalf of the North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District. The Community Conservationist may work at the Virginia, Minnesota office and remotely.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Community Outreach  

• Develops and maintains a network of various contacts including volunteers, community groups, educational institutions, conservation partners, and others.
• Engages all ages in a variety of soil and water conservation efforts, topics, and concerns.
• Provides and coordinates educational/promotional events for District such as speaking engagements, booths, contests, etc.

Marketing and Public Relations 

• Assists with development and execution of promotional plan activities and timelines
• Updates promotional plan with assistance of staff on regular basis
• Completes or assists with promotional efforts and methods, includes social media postings, website updates, targeted mailings, story maps, press releases, ordering giveaway items, etc.
• Creates, updates, and utilizes standardized templates for promotional materials.
• Tracks efforts and results

Targeted Conservation  

• Works with private landowners and municipalities to implement practices such as rain gardens and urban forestry.
• Together with partners, enhances community spaces with food forests, storm drain stenciling, invasive species removal, etc.
• Other work needed to satisfy funding opportunities and District priorities.
• Attends classes, workshops, meetings, conventions, etc. to develop and enhance skills.
• Prepares or assists with promotional reports, grant applications and reporting requirements.
• Notifies supervisor of any issues, mistakes, or concerns. Seeks guidance appropriately.
• Other duties as assigned

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

• Effective at public speaking, outreach, and community engagement
• Works with little direction, handles multiple projects and maintains a high level of productivity
• Seeks guidance from supervisor when appropriate. Promptly notifies supervisor of issues, mistakes or concerns.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with individuals, partner agencies and funding sources
• Ability to work indoors or outside in variable weather conditions.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends, based on District needs.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to pass criminal background checks.
• Valid driver’s license with clean driving record or other means of reliable transportation.
• Documents work time in 15-minute increments by funding source.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resource or communications field, or equivalent education and/or experience.
• Computer skills that include Microsoft Office suite of programs
• Strong written and oral communication skills

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Relevant conservation experience
• Public relations, communications, community engagement knowledge or work experience
• Social media and website experience
• Grant writing experience

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

CONSTANT: Sit and near vision. FREQUENT: Bend neck; talk/speak. OCCASIONAL: Lift and carry up to 50 pounds.  

SUPERVISION: 

This position is directly supervised by the District Administrator. Performance of each duty and assigned responsibility will be evaluated at least annually by the District Administrator. 

OVERTIME STATUS:  

This position is classified as a non-exempt employee and as a result is eligible to earn overtime.   

HOURS, WAGE & BENEFITS:  

Anticipated starting wage is $25.50 per hour. Current benefits include: a $1200 monthly cash stipend which can be used to 1) purchase health/dental/life insurances, 2) contribute to a medical savings account or 3) taken as taxable income; Section 125 Cafeteria plan; 401(a) tax-deferred retirement through Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) with employer match; voluntary deferred compensation plan (457(b)); paid holidays, paid time off (PTO), Work from the office and at home. Extremely flexible scheduling.  

VETERANS PREFERENCE POINTS:    

The SWCD gives veterans preference points to eligible applicants during the screening process. Please include a copy of your DD214 if you are applying for Veteran’s preference points.   

E-mail RESUME, COVER LETTER & DD214, if applicable, to:   

Miranda Frenning, Accounting & Human Resources Specialist  

North St Louis Soil & Water Conservation District   

miranda@nslswcd.org 

Please title the subject as: Community Conservationist  

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE:   

Apply By – June 4, 2024, at noon CST 

Interviews – June 13, 2024 

Start date – As soon as mutually agreed 

DATA PRIVACY:   

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13 requires that you be informed of the following about private data requested in the application process. Name, home address, telephone numbers, and email address are used to identify you and to contact you about potential job opportunities. If your name is not provided, we won’t be able to process your application. If your contact information is not provided, we will not be able to contact you and may reject your application. If you are a finalist for a vacancy, your name becomes public data and is available to anyone.   

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, disability, genetic information, veteran status or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law. North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District is an equal opportunity and veteran friendly employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the SWCD may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during the application and selection process and upon employment.  

You are not legally required to provide any of the private data listed above. SWCD employees and board supervisors involved in the selection process may have access to your private data if their work assignments reasonably require access. Others who may legally access the above data are individuals or agencies to whom we are required to release the data by law, rule, or court order.