Conservation Technician

The Mason-Lake Conservation District is seeking a Conservation Technician to serve as a consultant to private landowners looking to manage their natural resources. This is a fast-paced job as part of a welcoming team in a beautiful area. Private lands work will include a diverse variety of forests, open lands, dunes, inland lakes and streams and agriculture (including row crops, orchards, dairy, livestock, floriculture, silviculture). This project is funded by a grant through the Conservation Partners Program with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Job Status: Hourly, full-time, grant funded

Term: 3 years. Potential to extend dependent on applicant’s ability to manage projects and successfully obtain future grants

Compensation: $23 – $24/hour starting (equivalent pay to federal GS 7/9)

Benefits: Paid federal holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, health insurance option, IRA retirement plan with employer match

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Occasional evenings or weekend days

Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: none

Location: Scottville, M Start Date: May 2025

Closing Date: Applications received by April 13th will be most competitive. Open until filled.

Workplace Overview:

Conservation Districts are local government agencies that provide technical and financial assistance for private landowners (including farms) that want to implement conservation activities or practices on their land. Mason-Lake Conservation District (MLCD) staff positions and projects are grant-funded, making for both an innovative and challenging workplace. The Conservation District office is co-located with federal partner Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This strong partnership generates a fun, engaging and busy office, supporting projects on tens of thousands of acres and assisting over 3,000 walk-in clients and program attendees annually.

Position Summary:

The Conservation Technician will serve in a capacity similar to a consultant with additional aspects of outreach and education. Services provided by the Technician will include site visits to advise on best management practices, one-on-one demonstrations or mentoring landowners on how to complete these activities or practices, developing conservation plans, and providing guidance on Farm Bill programs and the application process. The Technician will help to address issues of soil quality, invasive species, regenerative agriculture and water quality issues that are priorities for our area. Landowner projects will often focus on wildlife habitat improvements (tree and shrub planting recommendations, native wildflower seedings/landscaping, establishing pollinator habitat); invasive species management (shrub removal), soil health improvements (reduced tillage, cover crops, precision agriculture), forestry (stand improvements and agroforestry), riparian or lakeshore restoration (erosion control) and agriculture practices that limit sediment and nutrient inputs to our waterways. This position requires the Technician to be a resource for landowners, but also provides the opportunity for a top candidate to be proactive with local conservation, striking up connections with landowners, local governments and community groups to address natural resources issues at a local level.

The Technician will also work side-by-side with NRCS to help Farm Bill clients to complete their field projects. They will utilize current research and NRCS conservation planning standards to help landowners better understand, plan, manage and conserve their natural resources.

Over the long term, this position offers room for growth and creativity in interdisciplinary projects for a candidate who can recognize natural resource needs in the community, create a plan of action to address those needs and pool resources to implement that plan. Expanding projects and growth in the position will require successful grant writing, management and/ or contracting on the part of the candidate, with support from the Executive Director.

Position Duties:

• Provide, as a public service, on-site and in-office technical advice to private landowners to advance implementation of conservation practices as outlined above
• Work closely and maintain a good working relationship with other resource management professionals, both public and private, in support of a holistic approach to the management of natural resources, building partnerships to achieve land management goals. This may include County/Township Parks, Drain Commissioner, MSU Extension, Tribal partners and others
• Work with partners to organize and promote workshops, seminars and field days to support peer-to-peer learning among farms and private landowners, incentivizing regenerative agricultural practices
• Help landowners to plan and map out projects via Google Earth, sketches, field layout or otherwise
• Track grant deliverables and client interactions accurately using Excel, StepL model, internal NRCS software, or similar; report progress via monthly staff reports, annual grant progress reports
• Work cohesively with NRCS to assist clients with implementing conservation practices
• Become familiar with Federal Farm Bill Programs, State Conservation Programs, and help to promote to clients where appropriate
• Assist with sourcing seed and plant materials for projects and sales
• Attend trainings to improve working knowledge on conservation practices and any topics relevant to this role to offer the best services to our clients
• Support Conservation District programs and assist with office walk-in clients, answering telephones, general office up-keep, major events such as Tree Seedling and Plant Sales, Household Hazardous Waste Day, Annual Dinner and other duties as assigned by the MLCD Executive Director
  • Promote best management practices for ag and natural resources monthly through website, newsletters, social media or similar avenues
  • Prepare and provide presentations to public on soil and water conservation topics, as requested

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s of Science in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management or a related field
• A minimum of two years of experience in agriculture, field biology, or other conservation fieldwork
• Possess technical knowledge of natural resource management techniques outlined above and ability to guide clients in such projects. Must be able to learn quickly and independently any new/unfamiliar practices
• Self-directed, creative problem solver
• Ability to connect with landowners, build relationships to “sell” conservation
• Proficient computer skills in MS office suite and ability to navigate on shared computer network and Google Drive workspaces, internal planning programs (GIS-based), modeling software
• Must be detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Excellent time management, written and verbal communication skills
• Able to work efficiently in and outdoors in varying conditions and rough terrain; able to bend, lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Occasional travel for trainings and meetings is required, including overnight
• Must be able to pass a Federal Background Security Check

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with wildlife habitat, forestry and stream management techniques and the ability to quickly learn agricultural operations OR vice versa
• Experience utilizing pertinent scientific research to advise project planning and disseminating that information to appropriate clients directly or via conservation education programs
• Experience compiling project data, tracking budgets, completing grant reports or ability to learn quickly
• Experience communicating with a variety of audiences, co-workers, partners while maintaining a positive attitude and good sense of humor are appreciated