Conservation Technician jobs in Oklahoma

Beaver County Conservation District is seeking a qualified individual for Soil Conservation Technician (Shared) located in Beaver, OK.

The person in this position works for the Conservation District and is supervised by the Conservation District Board of Directors and the NRCS Team District Conservationist. One board member (generally the Chairman) and the NRCS Team District Conservationist are designated as the day-to-day contacts.

The employee serves as a Shared Soil Conservation Technician (75% NRCS, 25% District) to provide advice and assistance to local landowners and is expected to carry out most duties, programs, and activities under supervision from NRCS and/or the district board, and is expected to keep the district manager, board members, and NRCS supervisor fully informed of activities. Performance standards for each major job duty and other work components will be used in the evaluation of job performance.

The position provides USDA program support and delivers conservation planning to conservation districts, partners and the public. This position works under the direction of the NRCS District Conservationist and other NRCS and Conservation District team members and provides support to USDA programs, state cost-share, and conservation technical assistance by performing the following primary responsibilities.

PRIMARY NRCS JOB DUTIES (75%)

• Perform work under the specific standards, specifications, guidelines, and techniques established in soil and water conservation procedures
• Survey fields and interpret soil survey maps
• Enter data and prepare forms and farm maps from sketches and field notes
• Use computation formulas to compile data concerning physical land features
• Identify appropriate standard conservation practices and determine the type of equipment suited for installing the conservation measure
• Determine needs for updating and/or completing records and documentation packages related to technical work assignments and initiate action to acquire needed information from others as indicated by situations encountered in the work
• Complete checkout on completed practice construction/installation
• Recognize and identify situations when existing soil and water conservation standards or specifications cannot be applied or when significant deviation is necessary and referral those applications to a higher-grade technician or supervisor
• Complete required reporting, including quarterly task worksheet
• Complete required training and maintain certifications related to the position
• Explain conservation practices and applications to land managers
• Provide outreach for conservation planning and Farm Bill programs
• Assist customers with program applications
• Meet with landowners to promote state cost-share programs, farm bill programs, and discuss natural resource concerns and solutions

PRIMARY DISTRICT JOB DUTIES (25%)

• Perform work under the specific standards, specifications, guidelines, and techniques established by the conservation district
• Assist with locally-led state cost-share program implementation, including assisting with applications, rankings, and practice certification and claims
• Assist with district educational outreach activities
• Attend and participate in meetings and training sessions as authorized by the district board
• Provide limited administrative and/or office assistance, including answering phone calls, greeting and assisting customers
• Promote and assist with district programs
• Assist with local service program needs to advance the local conservation effort, such as maintaining inventory, arranging or assisting with repairs to district-owned property or equipment
• Assist district manager with high workload activities that have short deadlines, such as youth contests
• Provide a written monthly report of activities at each conservation district board meeting
• Attend the monthly district board meeting
• If watersheds are present within the district boundaries, assists the district board and other district staff with annual inspections, inspections following significant rainfall events, development of Watershed Dam Actions Needed (WDAN) Report, processing OKIE tickets, and alerts the district board or district manager to maintenance or structural issues on or around the structures
• Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

Knowledge of standard soil and water conservation techniques, measures, and practices and skill in their application and maintenance on predetermined agricultural sites. The incumbent supports the efforts of more seasoned conservationists who are themselves performing standard technical tasks. KSAs include:

• Excellent communication skills, particularly in relation to agricultural production, land use, and conservation planning
• Ability to execute specific rules, regulations, and procedures
• Ability to apply a range of standard soil and water conservation practices, procedures, design methods, and operational criteria to land or farm units
• Ability to provide reliable and acceptable service which affects further complex conservation practices with possible integration into a complete effort such as a waste, wetland, or cropland management system
• Ability to receive, understand, and follow instructions for new tasks and work requirements
• Perform a variety of routine procedural tasks or one or more complex duties related to regular and recurring technical work
• Knowledge of appropriate standard conservation practices and land unit applications and ability to determine the best choice for uncomplicated situations
• Ability to independently execute task sequences associated with recurring and continuing work within established procedures and make adjustments to accommodate minor deviations in work methods

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

High School graduation or equivalent and either one (1) year of general agricultural experience or 12 semester hours of Natural Resources, Agriculture or Engineering related courses or a combination of experience and education sufficient to successfully perform the duties of the job such as those listed above.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Hear normal conversation in person and on the telephone.
• Mobility of arms to reach, and the dexterity of hands to grasp and manipulate small objects, write legibly, and use tools.
• Good peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Use hands to operate equipment.
• Use lower body mobility to climb, balance, stand, walk, stoop, bend, and extend legs, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, push, pull, and lift.
• Walk on uneven ground, rough terrain, and through dense vegetation.
• Work outside in weather extremes of the local climate.
• Exposure to alternating noise levels.
• Possible exposure to herbicide and chemical spray operations, requiring safety precautions and protective gear/clothing, such as a hard hat, boots, and gloves, to minimize risk

Additional Required Qualifications:

Must have a valid Oklahoma Driver’s License.

Successful candidate must be willing to submit to a federal background check to gain access to computer system.

Compensation:

Full-time (40 hours per week) benefitted position with a starting salary of $3235.10 per month.

Employee benefits include four core benefits (health, dental, basic life, and disability), retirement, annual leave, and sick leave.

How to apply:

Interested and qualified applicants should submit a resume and cover letter with daytime phone number and email; at least two professional references should also be provided. Documentation of certifications and trainings should also be included.

Submit Application Materials via Email to:

Beaver County Conservation District at beaverccd at conservation.ok.gov

Deadline to receive applications: June 11, 2024, by 4:30 PM

Questions?

For questions, please contact
Beaver County Conservation District
580-625.3302 ext. 3

Beaver County Conservation District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $3,235.10 per month

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Language:

• English (Required)

License/Certification:

• Oklahoma Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Beaver, OK: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person