Conservation Technician

About the Opportunity

Resilient Indiana Conservation Technicians will provide soil and water resource-related technical assistance to agricultural, woodland, and urban land users within a regional team consisting of members of local, state, and federal partners (Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP, https://icp.iaswcd.org/)). Technical assistance consists of facilitating the application of measures that protect and enhance the health and quality of soil and water and other natural resources.

Resilient Indiana: Technical Assistance for SWCDs (RITA) is an initiative of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD), an Indiana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enabling the conservation of Indiana’s natural resources through the combined support of its 92 member Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs).

Resilient Indiana’s purpose is:

• Build the capacity of Indiana’s SWCDs and partners to promote climate change mitigation activities
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve carbon storage on agricultural lands
• Improve ecological resilience of local agricultural enterprises and rural communities

IASWCD is hiring two (2) Resilient Indiana Conservation Technicians

Job Location

Each RITA Tech will be tasked to work with SWCDs in a five to seven county region. The map of RITA Assignments is at https://shorturl.at/83Klv. Applicants should indicate which vacant position(s) they want to be assigned. 

Job Responsibilities

Support local SWCD boards and staff efforts to promote climate change mitigation activities.

• Assist SWCDs with local climate mitigation and resilience activities
• Develop natural resources conservation program activities (such as: outreach, workshops and field days) in cooperation with SWCDs, partner agencies, and other organizations
• Assist in the development and implementation of long-range district plans and annual plans of work
• Coordinate SWCD programs/activities with the programs of other agencies and groups
• Provide information, promote opportunities, and be a resource to the SWCDs by speaking at county/regional meetings, conferences, creating displays, direct mailings, etc.

Assist outreach to the public on the benefits of measures that enhance the quality of natural resources.

• Develop strong relationships with land users/owners through formal and informal channels
• Meet with the public to discuss resources that will help them reach their personal conservation goals
• Maintain relationships with land users/owners to encourage continued conservation efforts
• Represent IASWCD as needed in public appearances to inform the public of the purpose of RITA

Coordinate with partners and others to expand knowledge of programs to improve carbon storage.

• Attend partner and other relevant meetings and events in the region to provide program updates and network
• Continuously cultivate new partnerships and maintain existing relationships with outside organizations that will be beneficial to the program and the land users/owners you work with
• Contribute information, updates, highlights, and relevant materials to internal, SWCD and partner newsletters, social media channels, and additional outlets (g. newspapers, radio, etc.)
• Coordinate with local partners to enhance learning opportunities for other ICP staff and landowners/users
• Represent the IASWCD at various meetings, hearings, conferences, forums, workshops, and conventions which may necessitate travel and/or overnight accommodations

Provide technical assistance and education in teamwork with other Indiana Conservation Partners.

• Work closely with ICP staff to efficiently handle technical assistance requests throughout the region
• Fully utilize Toolkit/Protracts/Conservation Link programs to document and manage conservation plans and technical assistance
• Maintain close working relations with personnel from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal, state, and local agencies and organizations
• Work with farmers and other landowners to develop conventional conservation plans addressing common resource concerns
• Prepare time and progress reports and maintain field office records of ongoing projects
• Conduct engineering field surveys for the purpose of designing climate change mitigation practices
• Prepare the design and complete engineering field layout of climate change mitigation practices
• Complete training to become Certified Conservation Planners

Perform other duties as assigned by the IASWCD RITA Director and/or the IASWCD Executive Director

Required Skills, Knowledge, Abilities and Experience

• Understanding of soil and water conservation theories, principles, techniques, and practices
• Ability to read, interpret, and draft engineering plans and specifications
• Understanding of surveying, computer-aided engineering design, and layout of conservation practices
• Understanding of modern farm equipment and practices
• Fostering and maintaining cooperative working relationships with diverse clients and partners
• Ability to attend occasional evening and weekend meetings
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Flexibility and versatility
• Ability to maintain a valid Indiana driver’s license, a safe driving record, and a vehicle for job-related activities
• Successfully complete an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification (Form)
• Ability to successfully obtain a LincPass (https://shorturl.at/giw01)

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, Abilities and Experience

• Expertise in the design, application, installation, and maintenance of practices relating to soil and water conservation
• Effective understanding of modern farm equipment, practices, and specific knowledge of equipment, application, and operation
• Experience talking and working with producers and woodland managers

Qualifications

Successful candidates will have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college.  Candidates may substitute an associate’s degree and at least three years of applicable experience in place of a bachelor’s degree.

The degree should be in a preferred field of study that relates to this position such as soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as physical/earth science, agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural/environmental engineering.

Working Conditions

It is expected that Conservation Technicians will be regionally located within the five to seven counties where the majority of their work will take place.  Conservation Technicians will have access to shared workspaces within local USDA Service Centers and/or Soil & Water Conservation Districts of the region.

Extensive travel within the assigned area is expected and less frequent travel outside the assigned area will occur. Some overnight travel may be necessary.  Conservation Technicians are expected to attend occasional night and weekend meetings in their assigned area. Conservation Technicians are required to possess a valid Indiana driver’s license and safe driving record. Conservation Technicians will use their personal vehicle for job-related activities and IASWCD will reimburse mileage.

Conservation Technicians will work outdoors under all types of weather and terrain conditions while carrying common surveying equipment part of the time and work in an office environment part of the time.

Supervision

Resilient Indiana Conservation Technicians shall be under the supervision of the Resilient Indiana Program Director, who provides direct guidance resolving problems and encouraging job growth. Conservation Technicians are expected to work independently and with various Indiana Conservation Partnership staff daily on projects in various locations. The work is non-routine due to project site-specific variables and will be randomly reviewed for completeness and accuracy.

The Resilient Indiana Program Director will evaluate the performance of the Conservation Technician on an annual basis. The Conservation Technician will attend frequent RITA team meetings. They will also be responsible for submitting regular activity reports to the RITA Program Director and IASWCD’s Board of Directors.

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time grant funded exempt position that is funded through September 2028. Employment beyond September 2028 is contingent upon future funding. Initial annual salary is $51,000. Annual salary increases will be available based upon job performance. A benefit package that includes a health stipend, retirement contribution, paid time off, flexible work schedule, and cell phone stipend is available.