Susanville, CA

Position Title: Rangeland Conservationist – North Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Ranges

Organization: Wildlife Management Initiative, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Location: Susanville, CA

Organization Overview: As the USDA’s primary private lands conservation agency, NRCS generates, manage, and shares the data, technology, and standards that enable partners and policymakers to make decisions informed by objective, reliable science.

Through one-on-one, personalized advice, the service works voluntarily with producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their unique conservation and business goals. By doing so, NRCS helps address climate change and ensure the long-term sustainability of American agriculture. They are also focused on the American farmer, especially those underserved by programs as well as those trying to break into new markets.

Position Overview: The Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) are seeking to fill a collaborative position to enhance and conserve working lands, wildlife habitat, and healthy watersheds in the Northern Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Ranges of California. This is a 2-year, full-time position based in the NRCS field office in Susanville, CA with fieldwork in Lassen and Modoc counties.

The Rangeland Conservationist will assist NRCS in identifying, evaluating, and completing conservation plans on farms, ranches, and other private lands to enhance soil, water, plants, wildlife habitat and other natural resources in the Modoc Plateau region. This is a rural and naturally rich landscape characterized by numerous high elevation mountain ranges, expansive sage steppe foothills and productive valleys that provide a diversity of habitat and serve as a stronghold for wildlife.-Provide technical assistance (conservation planning, pasture management, rangeland management, wildlife biology, riparian management, forestry, or other natural resource disciplines) and guidance to landowners, government agencies, non-government organizations and others. Training will be provided by NRCS and other entities.

Duties:

• Coordinate integration and application of biological sciences and production agriculture within the NRCS conservation programs.
• Complete conservation plans and maps, contracts, applications, and other required documentation for implementing Farm Bill conservation programs ((i.e., Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP))
• The position requires expertise in biological sciences, pasture management, rangeland science, and/or forestry in cooperation with private landowners and partners.
• Communicate program requirements to clients, complete site visits to determine eligibility, and develop contracts/plans for applicants enrolling in USDA conservation programs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, including promotion, marketing and outreach activities related to USDA projects.

Qualifications:

• Ability to communicate effectively with private landowners, government agency personnel and conservation partner organizations.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision.
• Ability to work cooperatively with diverse clientele.
• Knowledge of farm and ranch management, wildlife habitat, plant ecology and other natural resources.
• Ability to obtain USDA Security Clearance and NRCS Conservation Planning certification.
  Excellent verbal/written communication and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license.
• A general qualification guideline for this position is an Associate’s Degree, or equivalent, in Natural Resource Planning, Rangeland Science, Pasture Management, Wildlife Biology/Management, Forestry, or Agriculture Technology, and/or experience in working lands management systems is desirable. Funding partners may agree to substitute work experience for education in the aforementioned areas.
• Computer skills are required and applicant should be familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to use/or willingness to learn NRCS Conservation Desktop, NRCS Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool, GIS applications, and GPS systems.
• Physical ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time over rough terrain; lift and move material weighing up to 50 pounds; work in all types of weather conditions.

Start/End Dates: 2-year position

Salary/Pay: $50,000/year + health stipend ($5,000/year)

Application Deadline: December 29

How to Apply: Send a cover letter, resume, and three references with contact information to kasey.bader@iwjv.org with the subject line “Susanville Rangeland Conservationist” by the application deadline.