BACKGROUND:
The HCRCD is a highly collaborative and dynamic organization; its interdisciplinary team of 14 employees plan for and implement a range of watershed restoration, forest health and wildfire resilience, and agricultural programs and projects. The HCRCD is funded primarily by grants and contracts. HCRCD has a close working relationship with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Eureka Field Office, other north coast Resource Conservation Districts, nonprofits, and private landowners to implement climate-smart agriculture and landscape‐scale ecosystem restoration projects and programs.
Current HCRCD agricultural enhancement projects include developing and implementing conservation farm plans for Humboldt County farms and ranches and providing project management and technical assistance to the local NRCS Eureka Field Office.
More information on HCRCD can be found at http://humboldtrcd.org/.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The HCRCD Agricultural Enhancement program works with landowners and land managers in the dairy, range and row crop industries to promote climate resilience, drought resilience, soil health conservation, and native habitat restoration. The Project Coordinator will work collaboratively with HCRCD staff, partner organizations, agency staff, consultants, and landowners. The Project Coordinator will be primarily developing conservation farm plans under a NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) subaward; essential duties include a combination of technical plan development, technical trainings, fieldwork, technical assistance to NRCS Eureka Field Office, and partner coordination. The position is full-time, hourly working under the supervision of the Program Manager, however part-time employment may be considered.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Works cooperatively and respectfully with HCRCD staff, landowners, contractors, and agency personnel to plan for, implement, and monitor soil conservation, habitat enhancement, and water resource projects
- Develops agricultural plans, including Conservation and Carbon Farm Plans, Soil Health Management System Plans, and others
- Actively engages in the North Coast Soil Hub (www.soilhub.org)
- Provides technical assistance to landowners and land managers
- Conducts soil sampling and testing of water, forage, and other substances as required and in conformance with established testing protocols; conduct additional fieldwork and monitoring as required
- Assists local farmers and ranchers in applying for funding to implement conservation practices through NRCS and CDFA programs, and others as applicable
- Works with the NRCS conservation and planning staff as needed for project planning, development, and implementation.
- Uses GPS and ArcGIS to generate project-site maps and use published soil surveys and other resources for data required in projects and agricultural plan development
- Participates in technical advisory groups on soil health and agriculture projects
- Understands, interprets, applies and explains technical guidance documents, rules, regulations, policies and procedures, as needed.
- Performs a wide range of professional and administrative duties associated with grant management in coordination with Program Manager
- Assists with preparation of reports on project activities for HCRCD staff and federal, state and local agencies, and others as appropriate.
- Assists with grant applications.
- Establishes and maintains complete project files including correspondence, reports, data, etc. to comply with HCRCD systems and program audit requirements.
- Assists in planning education and outreach events, including workshops
- Assists in generating content and posts regularly to social media sites, updates the website, develops e-newsletters, and generally supports other outreach tasks for the organization
- Exercises good judgment and maintain confidentiality in all communications.
- Attends trainings or other meetings as required or directed.
- Completes other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualification requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Eligibility Criteria:
Required Minimum Qualifications
- Possess a Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, agronomy, natural sciences, resource management, watershed science, conservation planning, or related field.
- Three or more years professional experience; advanced education beyond a Bachelor’s degree may be considered as additional work experience.
- Knowledge of and technical expertise in:
- principles and methods of natural resources, rangeland or forest ecology or management, watershed restoration, agronomy and related fields;
- techniques and equipment to conduct resource inventories;
- local working landscapes and associated natural resources (e.g. soils, plants, carbon, air, water, fish, forestry, wildlife); and
- California agricultural production systems, including crops, production methods, and resource concerns, ideally with experience relevant to north coast agricultural products and communities.
- Demonstrated proficiency with ArcGIS; GPS systems; Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and familiarity and experience with a variety of office machines and equipment including computer and printer, calculator, fax, copier and other equipment as assigned.
- Experience and familiarity with field monitoring protocols.
- Excellent communication skills including speaking, listening, and writing. Ability to understand and follow oral and written directions.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain cooperative, respectful, and effective working relationships with a variety of people with diverse interests and temperaments. - Highly organized and motivated self-starter with the ability to prioritize and work independently as well as part of a team.
Physically able to work in the field (hiking across forest lands, lifting, carrying supplies and equipment, planting, etcetera) during all seasons. - Ability to exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality in all communications.
- Ability to drive off‐road vehicles.
- Ability to pass a federal background check.
- Valid California driver’s license, clean driving record, and current auto insurance.
Desired Qualifications
- Conservation and/or agricultural planning experience, specifically utilizing NRCS planning standards.
- Knowledge of local flora and fauna and/or soils.
- Familiarity with local, state, and federal permits required for resource conservation and restoration projects.
- Experience working with other conservation groups and/or agricultural land managers.
- Experience with grant writing.
- Experience writing technical reports.