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Private Land Conservationist

PHEASANTS FOREVER AND QUAIL FOREVER
The Habitat Organization
JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
 
Private Land Conservationist
 
Location: Olympia, Washington
Application Deadline: October 14th, 202              
Anticipated Start Date: December 2022
 
Overview:  This position is part of a collaborative effort among the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Pheasants Forever to further the delivery of the NRCS Farm Bill Programs and assist with the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP), Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Partners For Fish and Wildlife Program and others. This position provides wildlife/range technical assistance for the Farm Bill conservation programs to agriculture producers and landowners. This position will be an employee of, and be supervised by, Pheasants Forever, Inc. with daily instruction and leadership provided by Pheasants Forever & NRCS Area staff.
 
This position is located in Olympia, WA and will require travel throughout NRCS Area boundaries within Washington. The incumbent is expected to work closely with NRCS, USFWS, and WDFW personnel in the region.   

Duties:
  • Provide technical assistance (wildlife biology and range conservation focus) and guidance to landowners, government agencies, non-government organizations (NGO’s) and others. Training will be provided by NRCS, WDFW, USFWS, Pheasants Forever, and other local and state agencies.
  • Complete conservation plans and maps, contracts, applications and other required documentation for Farm Bill conservation programs (i.e. EQIP, ACEP, CRP and WRP) requiring biological and rangeland science expertise in cooperation with the partners.
  • Communicate program requirements, complete site visits to determine eligibility, and develop contracts/plans for applicants enrolling in USDA conservation programs or other state and local conservation programs for the protection, restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat and working lands.
  • Coordinate integration and application of biological sciences within the conservation programs in cooperation with the local NRCS District Conservationist and other partners that are consistent with the Field Office Technical Guide.
  • Participate in, and often lead the local “Team Approach” to identifying habitat improvement potentials with project funding partners. This includes NRCS, WDFW, USFWS-PFW, PF, and others. 
  • Participate in and/or facilitate partner meetings to increase understanding of all the conservation programs available to landowners.
  • Utilize available partnerships and funds from USFWS, WDFW, and others, on all projects, as allowed by individual landowners, directing landowners to the conservation program that best fits the resource need.
  • Conduct outreach, coordination and relationship-building with area ranchers, private landowners, local business-economic interests, NGOs, and local community groups (e.g., soil and water conservation districts). May include workshops, field tours, group presentations and conferences like at Society for Range Management (SRM), county/state fair, etc
  • Perform other related duties as assigned; including marketing and public outreach regarding SGI and WLFW across the region, help partners with biological surveys, such as annual lek counts, and explore other Farm Bill funded conservation projects that benefit wildlife species identified in the Washington State Wildlife Action Plan as workload allows.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner agencies.
  • Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse clientele.
  • Knowledge of wildlife ecology and range science including the ability to develop habitat improvement and prescribed grazing plans that include habitat improvement and management objectives.
  • Able to obtain USDA Security Clearance and NRCS Conservation Planning certification.
  • Excellent verbal/written communication and organizational skills.
  • Valid driver’s license and skillset to drive at high elevation, and often remote locations, on a regular basis and occasionally during inclement weather.
  • A general qualification guideline for this position is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Rangeland Science or Wildlife Biology/Management from an accredited university with an emphasis on developing prescribed grazing systems and course work and/or experience on integrating wildlife management principles into the management systems.
  • Knowledge of computer skills is required, and applicant should be familiar with Word and Excel.
  • Ability to use ArcMap and Toolkit would be beneficial.
  • 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.
  • Strong range background along with a wildlife management degree is preferred
 
Training and Experience Guideline: Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities. A general qualification guideline for this position is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management or closely related natural resources field and/or related field experience.
 
Salary: Up to $55,000 + Benefits depending on experience
               
To Apply: Visit our Recruitment website at www.pheasantsforever.org/jobs
 
ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Please combine your cover letter, resume and 3 references into 1 Word document or PDF file before uploading it to the “Resume” section of your application on the Recruitment website.
               
If you have any questions, please contact: Al Eiden at 602-513-6360 or aeiden@pheasantsforever.org      
 
Pheasants Forever, Inc is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with disability, or any other category that may be protected by law.