The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) is seeking a Land Conservation Specialist to actively provide agricultural conservation assistance to USDA-NRCS in a multi-county region. The primary purposes of the position will be to provide conservation planning, outreach, and mid-contract management assistance to agricultural producers in order to leverage Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) opportunities to achieve wildlife and water quality goals.
The Land Conservation Specialist will be expected to provide conservation assistance to agricultural and private landowners. This specialist will be a technical expert on all aspects of the Conservation Reserve Program, filling key needs to secure and improve conservation acres on the ground. Primary focuses will include data collection and consultation with agricultural producers about conservation plans for new CRP establishments, compiling CRP conservation options for prospective landowners, and providing technical information to landowners about mid-contract management practices necessary to maintain high-quality restorations throughout the duration of their CRP contracts. Land conservation specialists may also assist with annual Wetland Reserve Program/Wetland Reserve Easement (WRP/WRE) monitoring and administration as needed.
This position is one of several positions of the private lands conservation hub coordinated by the National Great Rivers Research & Education Center. Additional professional development through field training, professional conferences and workshops, and online courses is a priority for this position.
The Land Conservation Specialist program currently has multiple positions open that are located all over the state of IL. The Land Conservation Specialist will work within a multi-county region and most positions will be designated 100% remote with opportunities to “touch down” work within NRCS office space (i.e. temporary desk space and conference rooms). NRCS vehicle use to conduct fieldwork and site visits is allowable and personal vehicle mileage is reimbursed at 0.655 cents/mile rate if NRCS vehicles are unavailable.
Work hours are 37.5 hours per week, M-F. Job includes both office and fieldwork. Mandatory drug test and security background check, with fingerprinting, will be required of the selected applicant. This position will be a grant position, which may be extended if funding is available.