Organic Conservation Specialist

Location: Remote, must reside within the NRCS Central National Technology Support Center region, which includes: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin
Compensation: $60,000-$65,000

The Organic Conservation Specialist is a joint position with the Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS), the Organic Trade Association (OTA), and USDA NRCS providing training and technical support for staff of the federal agency across the country and educating organic producers about natural resources and biodiversity. 

The Organic Conservation Specialist serves as a content expert to diverse education audiences, including but not limited to clients, agricultural service providers, farmers, and partners.  The Organic Conservation Specialist’s primary role is to utilize their technical competence in offering training resources for these audiences and to inform OATS’s and OTA’s educational activities.  The Organic Conservation Specialist works with the OATS and OTA team members to implement the goals outlined by the education program and works to ensure a high level of quality and integrity in education delivery.

To Thrive, you should have:

• 5 years of experience in organic agriculture, soil conservation, or a related field (e.g., agronomy, soil science, forestry, agricultural education, agricultural engineering)
• Thorough knowledge of USDA Organic Regulations, organic crop/livestock production, and on-farm conservation practices (e.g., cover crops, rotational grazing)
• Ability to communicate complex information engagingly
• Demonstrated public speaking experience
• Ability to work independently
• Proficiency with technical platforms: Zoom, Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, SharePoint/Teams, PowerPoint), Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Calendar)
• Ability to pass a federal background investigation (required by NRCS)
• Knowledge of NRCS programs and operations
• Established relationships with organic content experts and industry members
• Certified Crop Advisor qualification
• This is a grant-funded position.
• The role requires 5-10% travel.
• Must have legal authorization to work in the U.S.

Your responsibilities as the Organic Conservation Specialist will include:

• Ensure team consistency, integrity, and quality.
• Collaborate with OATS on project deliverables.
• Serve as a technical resource for stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver technical training and resources.
• Create educational materials for NRCS partners and stakeholders.
• Represent OATS and OTA in public forums and leadership roles.
• Evaluate the impact of work with indicators and measures.
• Work with departments to provide educational materials.
• Provide reports and assessments.
• Stay updated on industry trends for proactive support.
• Provide state-specific organic conservation training for NRCS staff.
• Train on new Organic Management CPS 823.
• Support and train NRCS Organic Champions.
• Develop state-specific organic resources.
• Train and support Technical Service Providers (TSPs).
• Increase NRCS assistance for Historically Underserved (HU) organic producers.
• Conduct outreach to organic and transitioning producers.
• Support partner outreach to these producers.
• Coordinate NRCS support with USDA’s TOPP.
• Streamline NRCS and organic certification paperwork.
• Support NRCS conservation assistance for organic producers.

Best-in-Class Benefits and Perks:

OTA values their employees’ time and efforts. Their commitment to your success is enhanced by competitive compensation of $60,000-$65,000 annually, depending on experience, and an extensive benefits package including:

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance provided
• Robust retirement planning: 401(k) plan available with employer matching
• Financial security: Life and disability insurance for added protection
• Flexible financial options: Health savings and flexible spending accounts offered
• Well-being and work-life balance: Paid time off, flexible schedule, and remote work choices provided

Plus, we work to maintain the best environment for our employees, where people can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative, creative environment where everyone feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, decisions, planning, and culture.

OTA is an equal-opportunity employer that welcomes and encourages diversity in the workplace. It does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.