North Central Conservation Planner

North Central Conservation Planner

Anticipated Project is June 2026 – August 2027
Location: Omak, WA
Work Hours and Partial Telework flexibility may be available and considered
Relocation Compensation may be available and considered

Salary: $5,666.00 – $7,622.00 Monthly

Review of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 4/30/26. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

If you value delivering conservation on private lands, working to remove barriers to connect private forest landowners with critical financial resources, or supporting a program with diverse natural resource professionals, then this is the job for you!

Responsibilities:

• Develop new long-lasting partnerships and connections with landowners within the assigned service area with an interest in NRCS technical and financial assistance programs.
• Provide consultation, program guidance, and expertise to division and region staff on federal NRCS programs available to Washington’s non-industrial forest landowners, including recommendations on strategies to best leverage state and federal resources to support technical and financial assistance specific to environmental practices necessary to achieve forest health and resilience goals.
• Provide environmental planning consultative services for DNR or other forest landowner financial assistance or incentive programs, such as Service Forestry, NRCS EQIP/CSP, etc. Coordinate with and provide environmental planning advice to other forest health improvement projects (such as those organized by Planning, Science, and Monitoring or Cross-Boundary Restoration) within the assigned work area as requested.
• In cooperation with Forest Resilience Environmental Planners, identify and engage priority landscapes and forest health and resilience priorities in service areas as defined by DNR and NRCS while fulfilling strategic plan priorities of both agencies.
• Identify and engage landowners interested in participating in NRCS programs but historically hesitant due to program barriers. This includes working one-on-one with landowners to develop land management plans identifying conservation practices and activities to help solve resource issues on their forestland, then advising on qualification for NRCS financial assistance to implement practices ( i.e., EQIP).
• Work with clients, NRCS District Conservationist, and technical staff by preparing and approving conservation plans for clients. Review and submit Forest Stewardship Management Plans (or other management plans) prepared by landowners, DNR staff, and partners to the Service Forestry Planner. Provide environmental planning services such as technical specifications for forest management practices and silvicultural treatment, including advice on pesticides and herbicides for forest use when appropriate.
• Work with clients, NRCS District Conservationist, and technical staff, conducting Conservation Practice Inventory and Evaluations, developing implementation requirements for forest management practices, including conservation practices that address identified resource concerns, and certifying practice completion for clients.
• Provide information to program applicants and participants, such as specific program and eligibility requirements, guidance on completion of required program applications, and verifying Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
• Assist in developing, collecting, and assembling cost data, reviewing program applications and contracts, processing payment application requests after approval from NRCS staff, and reviewing open obligations. This data is used in creating environmental plans and assessing accomplishments towards the objectives in those plans.
• Compile and review the accuracy of environmental contract administration supporting documents from the program application process through to final payments and contract completion.
• Assist in managing NRCS program contracts. This may include, but is not limited to, annual contract reviews, documenting contract compliance, and communicating with program participants.
• Track client eligibility processing with Farm Services Agency and other eligibility requirements, as defined by the program manual.
• Perform data entry to process client contract documents and actions for approved contracts. Monitor and track commencement and expiration of contracts, contracts behind schedule, and contracts that have not completed a practice in the first year, and prepare modification, termination, waiver, and annual practice reminder letters for signature.
• Based on expert analysis of collected data, make recommendations on policy, procedure, guidance, and programmatic planning improvements and changes for the Service Forestry Program in support of potential long-term integration of NRCS technical and financial assistance delivery to non-industrial small forest landowners within the state program.
• Coordinate with other DNR programs and external public and private service providers to develop environmental planning outreach materials for, and make presentations to family forest landowners, natural resource professionals who advise them, loggers, and other audiences to provide information on the services available to them from NRCS.
• Author informational articles for outreach to prospective clients on program-related topics, such as environmental planning, for Forest Stewardship Notes and Landowner News, and other publications.
• In coordination with and at the request of regions, teach forestry-related topics for WSU Extension and other education programs, including Forest Owners Field Days, Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Courses, Family Forest Advisors Workshops, Contract Logger’s Trainings, conservation districts, colleges, and others across the assigned work area.
• Provide certification inspections for the American Tree Farm Program.
• Develop reports as needed and requested based on data from various systems.
• Enter and provide documentation for inquiries and services provided into NRCS systems and processes.
• Participate in training, professional development, and continuing education to maintain credentials such as SAF Certified Forester, Certified Tree Farm Inspector, Public Pest Control Consultant, or others.
• Collaborate with staff to maintain and update knowledge related to technology, data collection, and other job duties.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor of Science in natural resource planning, environmental planning, forestry, forestry education, biology, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or closely related field, AND a minimum of (3) three years of professional, operational, field experience in forest management in the Pacific Northwest;
  OR an equivalent combination of education plus experience.
• Experience in typical silvicultural and forest management practices in the Pacific Northwest, including forest road design and construction, timber management planning, silviculture techniques, reforestation methods, and timber harvest boundaries.
• Experience using forestry tools such as measuring and hand tools.
• Experience responding to and interacting in a positive, responsive, cooperative, and collaborative manner while interacting with the public and other professionals (both inter-organizational and interdisciplinary).
• Proficient with computers and Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including ArcGIS Pro, Survey 123, Field Maps, and other mapping tools to document work and convey information to non-technical audiences.
• Experience with and motivated to achieve program-specific desired outcomes while managing competing deadlines and priorities.

Desired Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in natural resources planning, environmental planning, forestry, natural resources, environmental science, fish and wildlife biology, wildlife management, or a closely related field.
• Experience with Natural Resource Conservation Service programs for landowners, including EQIP and CSP.
• Experience providing technical assistance, education, and educational materials to non-professional audiences, especially forest landowners.
• Experience with Forest Stewardship Plan and Forest Management Plan development.
• Previous experience working with small forest landowners.
• Current knowledge of Forest Practices rules, Forest Practices Board Manual guidance, and DNR Forest Practices policies, procedures, and practices.