Project Specialist and Conservation Planner

Location: Hybrid – Based at the USDA Service Center in Rutland, VT with travel around Rutland County, VT, and telework as work responsibilities allow

Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week

Ideal Start Date: Approximately 10/30/25 (pass of federal background check required, but can start onboarding process and some job duties with conditional offer of employment)

Position Summary

RNRCD seeks a Project Specialist and Conservation Planner to be based out of our office in Rutland, Vermont who is self-motivated, organized, and excited to build community with local land stewards and conservation organizations. This position will hold a dual role, as a Project Specialist for RNRCD’s watershed and habitat restoration projects, and as a Conservation Planner in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) providing conservation planning assistance to farmers enrolled in Farm Bill and other associated programs. This position will provide technical assistance to local producers, landowners, and other partners by planning for and applying conservation/restoration practices on their land that conserve soil, improve water quality, manage nutrients, and protect and improve wildlife. Both duties will plan educational workshops, help land managers apply for state and federal cost share programs, support community outreach efforts in-person and online, and carry out individual restoration/conservation projects including project budget development, grant writing, contracting, implementation oversight, monitoring, and report writing.

This position is grant-funded and is under the general supervision of the RNRCD District Manager. Management of position duties will be shared: the District Manager will manage Project Specialist responsibilities and the District Conservationist of the NRCS will manage Conservation Planner responsibilities.

This position includes a seasonal mix of computer-based and field work. Computer work may include long periods sitting, typing, and reading from a computer screen. Field work may include extended periods of physical exertion including climbing, balancing, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and bending down. Farm visits will require walking multiple miles and at times through corn, hay, or other production fields. Field work may be performed outside in all seasons including heat, rain, snow, etc. There may be requests to move up to 10 pounds and occasionally life and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Who We Are

The Rutland Natural Resources Conservation District (RNRCD) was established in 1968. RNRCD serves 17 towns on the eastern side of Rutland County, largely within the Upper Otter Creek watershed. RNRCD is an independent, non-regulatory municipal sub-division of state government, governed by a Board of Supervisors. As one of the 14 NRCDs in Vermont, RNRCD is overseen and supported by the overarching statutory body of the State Natural Resources Conservation Council (NRCC) and is a member of the non-profit entity, Vermont Association of Conservation Districts (VACD).

Conservation districts are non-regulatory entities that work on a local level to protect natural resources, provide solutions and resources to address environmental concerns, and coordinate resources to support conservation land use practices. The mission of RNRCD is to foster an awareness of the link between stewardship of the natural environment and the agricultural community as well as other landowners, and encourage and support efforts with partners, to meet the need for natural resource conservation and water quality improvements.

Wages and Benefits

This position is funded for full-time, 40 hours per week. This is an at-will, non-salaried position with a starting wage range $20-$24/hr. Benefits include paid federal holidays, personal and sick time, family and medical leave, and generous flexibility. The District offers a health insurance stipend, totaling $6,000 annually.

As local government entities, conservation districts are eligible employers for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Employees who work 30 or more hours per week and make required payments on eligible student loans can be qualified for this program.

Project/Program Responsibilities

All RNRCD staff share responsibility for completing District work.  An approximate distribution of the anticipated workload for this position is listed below. The exact distribution will change over time in response to available funding and existing staff skills and interests. Below are some of the duties you may have under each program.

Habitat and Clean Water Programming (approximately 50% of the time)

• Identify, design, and carry out restoration work which may include tree plantings, invasive species removal, lakeshore and stream restoration, aquatic organism passage restoration, and stormwater management systems.
• Coordinate with partners and other staff to ensure successful completion of these projects
• Assist partners in completing restoration projects within the region
• Conduct assessments to prioritize restoration priorities
• Participate in regional coordination meetings, collaborate regularly with partner staff, and assist in identifying restoration priorities
• Receive continued training in restoration techniques and design, project identification, and funding
• Secure funding, contractors, and permits for projects
• Conduct outreach to landowners, municipalities, and organizations to gain public support for the implementation of programmatic priorities
• Assist in RNRCD’s annual plant sale fundraiser

Conservation Planning (approximately 50% of the time)

• Provide technical assistance to farmers in the development, planning and implementation of conservation practices for lands enrolled in USDA programs administered by NRCS, to meet Vermont’s Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs) or other initiatives relating to natural resource stewardship and climate smart agriculture and land management (On-the-job training provided)
• Obtain Level I Conservation Planner status within one year of hire date.
• Explain NRCS programs and cost-sharing procedures to farmers and landowners (On-the-job training provided)

• Schedule field visits, complete on-site inspections, conduct preliminary surveys to determine the need and feasibility for application of NRCS conservation practices
• Develop comprehensive plans and provide technical assistance to farmers and landowners to assist them with addressing their natural resource concerns on their working lands.
• Prepare layouts and designs for non-engineering practices that meet NRCS standards
• Provide assistance with planning, designing, implementing, and certifying non-engineering conservation practices for which NRCS has technical responsibility.
• Develop contracts with producers to track conservation practices, operations, and maintenance agreements
• Develop schedules for implementing comprehensive conservation plans
• Assist with maintenance and logging of contract details including maintaining workload registers with information from contracts for follow-up
• Attend NRCS program-related meetings, conferences, field days, and public events to further professional development
• Can effectively communicate via email, phone or in person with staff and producers.

Outreach Coordination

Outreach coordination activities as listed below are included within the responsibilities of this role under all programs. You may:

• Contribute to the District website, social media pages, and quarterly newsletter
• Provide educational materials about District or NRCS programs and conservation topics
• Conduct outreach activities to increase landowner and citizen participation in conservation. This may include presentation to community groups, hosting workshops, writing press releases, and coordinating demonstration projects or tours
• Cooperate with neighboring Districts, VACD communications staff, NRCS and FSA staff, and other partners to amplify outreach efforts

Minimum Qualifications

• Work experience and education in environmental science, natural resources, agriculture, or related discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agricultural engineering
• Strong communication skills in a variety of professional settings
• The ability to understand, communicate, and work within federal and state guidance
• Ability to produce interpret and produce documents and information layers using software including, but not limited to, ArcGIS, and Google Earth
• Fluency in basic computer programs (Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Adobe, video conferencing applications) and ability to quickly learn new software
• Willingness to regularly travel throughout Rutland County
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends
• Willingness to occasionally travel throughout Vermont State as necessary for trainings, workshops, and partner meetings

Some travel will be required in a personal vehicle and will be reimbursed at the federal mileage rate. This position will have an assigned desk, phone, and laptop computer at the USDA Service Center in Rutland, VT, but remote work will be possible when it does not conflict with assigned duties. The District aims to have all staff present in-person at the office or in the field 50% of the time to facilitate collaboration.

It is essential for the person occupying this position to pass a low-level federal security check to be able to access the USDA office. Conservation Planners must complete continuing education training provided by NRCS, at no cost, that will prepare them for obtaining Conservation Planner certifications.

Desired Skills

• Knowledge of watershed management practices to enhance fish and wildlife habitat, clean water, flood resilience, and working lands business viability
• Relevant project management experience including budget and work plan development, deliverables, and cost tracking
• Knowledge of soil properties and characteristics sufficient to interpret land use potential and deficiencies and to advise on erosion control and land use methods to reduce risk of erosion
• Ability to manage many projects and initiatives while maintaining positive working relationships
• Ability to independently set work priorities, manage time efficiently, complete program deliverables on time, anticipate and identify obstacles, and create solutions
• Comfortable with public outreach and skilled at organizing, planning, and presenting to citizen groups, organizations, and committees
• Knowledge of water quality concerns, non-point source pollution, and remediation strategies
• Familiarity with state, federal, and NGO environmental cost share and conservation programs
• Experience raising funds for desired programs
• Experience writing and managing grants
• Valid, unrestricted driver’s license.

Applications are encouraged from all individuals who believe they have the skills and passion to succeed in this role, even if they don’t meet every single qualification listed. Rutland NRCD fosters a culture of learning and growth, and is committed to supporting employees’ professional development.

RUTLAND NRCD IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, protected veteran status, disability, age (40 or older), political affiliation, and genetic information.