See Below

Position Project Overview
The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) is seeking three Land Conservation Specialists. Specialists will be hired to actively target and implement relevant conservation programs on private lands—focused on IDNR’s state CREP program—to reduce sediment and nutrient loading and improve wildlife habitat in the Kaskaskia River basin. Under supervision of the Agricultural Conservation Programs Field Manager, staff will also work with county SWCDs, NRCS, FSA, USFWS, and IDNR to actively target conservation practices on private lands, using sound science.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Job Description
Land Conservation Specialists will be employed in county SWCD offices within the Kaskaskia basin. Specialists will split time among 1) CREP outreach, enrollment, and monitoring; 2) Enhancement of new and existing CREP tracts through landowner consultation, forest and wildlife management planning, Farm Bill consultation, and USDA-NRCS Technical Service Provider coordination and consultation; and 3) Other private lands outreach and consultation to improve water quality and wildlife habitat in the Kaskaskia River basin.

Work hours are 40 hours per week, M-F. Job includes both office and field work. Mandatory drug test and security background check, with fingerprinting, will be required of the selected applicant.

Duties
Land Conservation Specialists will be required to successfully demonstrate project goals and milestones are being met.

 

  • Using sound science and available data, work with agency staff to identify strategic sites and conduct outreach to landowners in high priority areas.

 

  • Landowner outreach and one-on-one contact will actively target conservation practice implementation.

 

  • Coordinate and establish working relationships with local agency staff and other stakeholder groups.

 

  • Understand watershed conditions and opportunities to leverage state and federal programs for the purposes of implementing conservation practices and BMPs.

 

  • Evaluate private ground, assess sources of nutrient and sediment loss and recommend the most applicable cost share or grant programs to maximize water quality, habitat benefits, and landowner needs.

 

  • Develop field specific project plans and cost estimates.

 

  • Work with landowners to negotiate practice implementation and provide technical assistance where needed.

 

  • Direct landowners to relevant program support and agency staff and provide assistance on meeting eligibility requirements and completing “paperwork”.

 

  • Develop project specific grant applications and provide administrative and technical assistance.

 

  • Adhere to and meet or exceed established performance measures.

 

https://jobs.lc.edu/postings/361