District Conservation Technician

TITLE: District Conservation Technician – Mancos Conservation District

STATUS: Non-exempt (hourly); Full-time (40 hours/week)

SALARY & BENEFITS: Starting salary is $47,000-$50,000 DOE. Benefits include health insurance reimbursement and paid time off.

LOCATION: Headquartered in the NRCS Cortez Field Office, Cortez CO. Position will serve the Mancos Conservation District area and surrounding areas. This is an in-person position.

START DATE: Preferred start is January or February, 2026

CLOSING DATE: will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply by January 9, 2026 to receive full consideration.

HOW TO APPLY: The Mancos Conservation District is only accepting applications through Indeed. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and references. 

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

The Mancos Conservation District (MCD), a political subdivision of the State of Colorado, provides natural resources technical assistance to private landowners in the Mancos Watershed and surrounding areas. Our mission is to promote the long-term sustainable use and protection of natural resources in the Mancos River Watershed through educational, technical, and financial assistance for residents and landowners. MCD programming and staff are overseen by a volunteer Board of Supervisors. 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The District Conservation Technician will work with MCD and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) staff in natural resource project planning and implementation. Because the MCD and NRCS are partnering closely on this position, many aspects of the work will occur within the context of the NRCS planning process and funding programs. The activities covered by this position will broadly address natural resource goals on private lands, including erosion control, water management and water quality enhancement, forest management, soil health, and grazing management.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Natural resource planning through NRCS (80%)

• Provide technical assistance to agricultural producers and landowners to identify and address resource concerns, including: erosion control, water management and water quality enhancement, soil health, and grazing management.
• Work with landowners/producers to develop individualized conservation and management plans. This includes reviewing and/or developing designs, conducting field surveys, providing quality control services, and other related activities.
• Provide resources to landowners for financial assistance programs through the NRCS and MCD.
• Work closely with and attend relevant meetings with NRCS employees.
• Complete conservation planning courses and trainings through NRCS.
• Follow NRCS planning processes and fill out documentation to identify natural resource concerns, develop conservation plans and practices, conduct surveys for NEPA compliance, and assist landowners in applying for NRCS funding.
• Utilize NRCS software such as Conservation Desktop and Protracts.

Forestry and watershed program support with MCD (20%)

• Conduct technical assistance outreach and education to landowners related to watershed management and infrastructure upgrades
• Conduct watershed monitoring for water quality and aquatic habitat
• Collect and analyze forest inventory data
• Conduct on-the-ground forestry project layout; flag boundaries, mark trees with paint or flagging, use GPS units
• Conduct pre- and post-implementation monitoring using common forest inventory techniques and equipment
• Support wood chipper rentals, including transporting chipper and manually unloading wood chips at various sites

These duties are not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee will perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the MCD and NRCS.

NECESSARY SKILLS

Soft Skills 

• Possess a genuine interest in the conservation of natural resources
• Work collaboratively with people and be a team player
• Highly organized and efficiently manage time, tasks, projects, computer files, etc.
• Self-motivated, self-directed, innovative, and enthusiastic
• Flexible to perform a variety of duties and adaptable to changing situations
• Excellent communication, both verbal and written
• Maintain a positive attitude and enjoy working with people
• Ability to respect and tolerate different personalities and build relationships with different individuals
• Committed high level of work quality and professionalism

Hard Skills 

• Possess a working knowledge of general ecological principles, resource management techniques, Southwestern Colorado ecosystems, and watershed ecology.
• Ability to read and interpret scientific and technical information related to natural resources and the environment
• Technical writing – write effectively and efficiently on topics pertaining to natural resources
• Ability to develop and deliver visual presentations for a variety of groups
• Efficient in basic computer use, and able to learn new technology and software

Required Job Functions

• Work safely outdoors, alone and as a team, during all seasons and weather conditions to complete required fieldwork; walk and hike over steep, uneven terrain all day; use a map, GPS, and other equipment; carry up to 30 pounds
• Ability to safely operate a four-wheel-drive vehicle in rural settings on- and off-road
• Comfortable with towing a trailer and learning how to operate a wood chipper
• Ability to manually unload wood chips from a truck bed or trailer with hand tools
• Employee must provide their own boots, clothing, and other personal gear for fieldwork during all seasons
• Discretion in maintaining confidentiality of official records
• Assures that programs and services are carried out without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or physical or mental handicap.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Able to pass a criminal background check
• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, ecology, natural resources, watershed management, environmental science, botany, biology, or a related field
• Proficient in the following computer software applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience and ability to work outdoors doing the duties described above
• Hold or able to obtain a valid Colorado driver’s license and a clean driving record
• Experience driving a vehicle in the mountains
• Able to work weekend or evening hours (after 6pm) 3-5 times per year

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 12 months of prior job experience in forestry, ecology, natural resources, watershed management, environmental science, botany, biology, or a related field
• Prior experience working with the NRCS and conservation planning process
• Experience operating and maintaining equipment including: wood chipper, no-till seed drill, and cover crop roller crimper
• Experience working with private landowners
• Experience with ESRI ArcGIS Pro