Position Website and Application Information
Location: DeKalb, IL, US, 60115-5302
Agency: Department of Agriculture
Closing Date/Time: 01/25/2022
Salary: $4,006-$5,755/anticipated monthly starting salary
Job Type: Salaried Full Time
County: DeKalb
Number of Vacancies: 1
Plan/BU: RC062
Position Overview
The Bureau of Land and Water Resources is looking to hire a Land and Water Resource Specialist I to bring exceptional conservation and technical knowledge, assist in budget allocation tracking and execute efficient operational support. This position will support the Bureau Chief, bureau personnel and the states soil and water conservation districts. The Land and Water Resource Specialist I role offers an opportunity to become a trusted partner and colleague to the bureau, other state agencies and private partners. The ideal candidate will be highly organized and enjoy working on multiple projects and engaging the public on all aspects of conservation. This candidate will work in conjunction with Illinois' Soil and Water I Conservation Districts to help develop and administer programs that provides financial, technical and educational assistance.
Job Responsibilities
- Collaborates with and assists in the Department of Agriculture administration of the soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) programs.
- Organizes, plans, executes and completes assignments of limites scope, involving soil and water conservation district programs/projects.
- Establishes and maintains active and continuing public relations with representatives of state agencies, federal agencies, municipalities, county government, schools and industries to gain their cooperation in planning long-range natural resource programs. Travels in performance of these duties.
- Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.
Minimum Qualifications
- Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college with course work in agriculture, natural resource management, conservation, agricultural economics, land use planning, geography, public/business administration and rural sociology.
- Work-related experience such as local SWCD technician or Natural Resource Conservation Service Technician may be substitutable for college coursework on a year-for-year basis.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Requires elementary knowledge of the organizational structure and functions of SWCDs.
- Requires elementary knowledge of watershed topography as it relates to agriculture, conservation and other potential areas of watershed problems.
- Requires elementary knowledge of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act.
- Requires elementary knowledge of the Natural Resource Conservation Service's conservation practice standards.
- Requires elementary knowledge of Illinois Department of Agriculture's Partners for Conservation fund program.
- Requires elementary knowledge of soil testing, soil typing, fertilization and adaptable crop and pasture plants.
- Requires working knowledge of proper record keeping and reporting procedures.
- Requires ability to analyze activities of SWCDs against written guidelines preparatory to recommending acceptance or rejection of their request for financial aid.
- Requires ability to conduct procedural and routine recordkeeping audits of SWCD operations.
- Requires ability to express self effectively orally and in writing.
- Requires ability to interpret and explain department policies and procedures.
- Requires ability to develop and maintain satisfactory working relationships.
Conditions of Employment
- Pass a background check
- Possess a valid state driver's license
- Ability to travel
- Quarterly overnight travel
Work Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri
Work Location: 2280 Bethany Rd DeKalb, IL 60115-5302
