Agriculture Intern – Summer 2020
Southeast Region – Pasco
Recruitment # 2019-11-9400
One available position
Exempt Position: Non-permanent, Full-time to Part-time
Flexible start date with a 3-6 month duration
SALARY RANGE:
Sophomore and under: $13.75 per hour
Junior: $14.75 per hour
Senior: $15.75 per hour
Graduate student: up to $18.75 per hour
*DNR provides housing in some locations or a $500/month housing stipend if free housing is not available.
Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
Do you want to work in the heart of Washington agriculture, with a team of folks passionate about agriculture and our state lands? Do you want to gain real work experience, an industry network, and get paid to learn? The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for an Agriculture State Lands Intern for the summer of 2020.
The DNR Agriculture Program produces ~$24 million in annual revenue for the state trusts. This revenue, generated from the 1.1 million acres of state trust lands that DNR leases for agriculture and grazing, helps fund public school construction across Washington State. We work with lessees to assure that the lands are productive and sustainably managed while public resources such as water, fish, and wildlife are protected.
This intern will work alongside DNR’s team of field Land Managers to gain knowledge and experience in our management of agricultural trust lands and our land leasing processes. Working with the Agriculture Field Program Manager, the Intern will ensure timely and accurate reporting of lessee compliance through our field inspection process.
Our goal is that your experience and training in this program will lead to possibilities for full-time employment as an Agricultural Land Manager with DNR.
What will we trust you with?
- Travelling and inspecting irrigated, dryland, and grazing leases
- Assisting Land Managers with lease documents
- Weed identification and control
- Standard photo monitoring methods
- Rangeland plant identification
- Forage measurement, utilization, mapping and aerial photo interpretations
- Coordinated Resource Management Plans (CRM’s) and trends of range conditions
- Utilizing ArcGIS
- Promoting positive impactful use of state trust lands Understand and apply laws and regulations
Why work for DNR?
At DNR, we value public service, innovation and creative problem solving, safety and well-being, and leadership and teamwork. At DNR you’ll support the vision of a sustainable future by using your skills to protect and manage the state’s natural resources for both current and future generations. As a DNR employee, you’ll work with the public’s interest in mind as we manage more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural and aquatic lands. But managing lands is only half of our story. We house the Washington Geological Survey, a dynamic program that is the primary source of geological products and services in support of decision making in Washington. We also protect other public resources such as fish, wildlife, water, and provide public access to outdoor recreation. Two of our largest and most important state-wide resource protection responsibilities are fire prevention and suppression, and overseeing forest practices.
We are nearly 1,500 employees strong and dedicated to making DNR a great place to work. Our mission is to serve Washington’s lands and communities; build strong and healthy rural communities; enhance forest health and wildfire management; strengthen the health and resilience of our lands and waters; and increase public engagement and commitment to our public lands and resources. In partnership with citizens and governments, we provide innovative leadership and expertise to ensure environmental protection, public safety, perpetual funding for schools and communities, and a rich quality of life. At DNR we approach our work through the lens of making Washington a better place environmentally, economically and socially for current and future generations.
The Location
One of the world’s most scenic places, Washington State offers breathtaking discoveries for people who love natural beauty and outdoor recreation, from the Pacific Coast shores to the rugged Cascade Mountains to the rolling hills of the Palouse. Your office will be located in Pasco.
Pasco, increasingly recognized as one of the best communities to live in Washington, has something for everyone to enjoy. The city is located in the beautiful Tri Cities, which consists of Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland, Washington. Pasco offers an excellent backdrop for outdoor recreation, as they have over 300 days of sunshine a year. Enjoy the variety of waterways located in and around the Tri Cities by kayak or motorboat or a day of geocaching along the Columbia River. Situated at the confluence of the Columbia, Snake and Yakima Rivers, the Tri Cities offers fishing, boating, water skiing and a host of other water activities. Spend the last weekend of July at the river for the Hydroplane Races that bring adrenaline and speed to the Columbia. Take a walk through the vast amount of beautiful waterfront parks and take in the vibrant greenery. Hike through Horse Heaven Hills or wind your way up Candy Mountain Trail for scenic views of the Tri Cities. Known as the “Heart of Washington Wine Country,” this region houses over 200 wineries in a 50-mile radius. Spend the day sipping award winning wines and taking in breathtaking views of beautiful vineyards. This area has some of the most fertile agriculture ground in the world making it the perfect place to grow grapes, wheat, apples, corn and potatoes. Tee off on one of ten golf courses that offer variety and value for play that appeal to all skill levels. The mild climate allows for year-round golf! The area has a variety of restaurants that offer cuisine from all over the world. This region truly offers a vast amount of opportunities for everyone
What makes DNR a great place to work?
- Transitioning to a modern work environment
- Mobile work
- Infants at work program
- Commitment to organizational health and wellness
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
- Leadership that empowers and supports employees
- Work/life balance
- Leadership development opportunities
- Educational aid and career development stipends
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
- Opportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignments
- Opportunities to stretch your professional skills
- A comprehensive benefit package that includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information.
Why do people choose to work for DNR?
“I enjoy the clients I support and there are a ton of smart, fun, passionate people in this agency that I have the privilege of interacting with and learning from. DNR is a great place because of the people who are here. They are passionate, hard-working, loyal, intelligent, kind, and FUN! The aspects of the agency that speak to me are how diverse the work is that we do; from forests to grass lands, from mountain tops to under water, the composition of the agency made up by various different responsibilities makes it so interesting.”
“I am committed to this agency’s purpose, the Washington Geological Survey is an amazing place full of innovative, creative, and open-minded people, and I get great satisfaction from serving Washington’s residents. I love it here because this place loves me. I like how I am made to feel valued, appreciated, and I feel that my skills are constantly being broadened. I am generally my only limitation.”
“The idea of managing the resources in perpetuity really speaks to me. I like that the work DNR does tries to strike a balance between business and conservation and that I don’t have to compromise one for the other because I am expected to do both. We are expected to be good stewards of the resources and the decisions we make mean something…in perpetuity.”
Who are we looking for?
Required Qualifications:
The right candidate is:
- A full-time student (12+ credits/quarter) majoring in Forestry, Natural Resource Management or related field and will be returning to school in a following quarter/semester.
- Physically able to work alone or as part of a team in undeveloped, remote, forested or back-county landscapes and terrain in all weather conditions
- A licensed driver with two years of driving experience. Employees who drive for state business, whether in a state or privately owned vehicle, are required to possess a valid license and abide by all other driver responsibility requirements.
- At least 18 years of age at the time of hire.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Knowledge of water rights and Washington state water law.
- Knowledge of irrigation practices and agriculture.
- Knowledge of hydrogeology and/or water resources management.
- Practical experience in database design as relates to natural resources.
- Data organization and critical thinking skills.
- Database and basic computer skills including Microsoft Office and Adobe.
- Basic written and oral communication skills
- Candidates should have work or recreational experience driving on logging roads.
WHO MAY APPLY
This recruitment is open to anyone who meets the required qualifications for this position.
Note: Students graduating in or before June 2020 should call or email for information on permanent employment opportunities. You can also find our current job openings at www.dnr.wa.gov/employment and www.careers.wa.gov.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above). You must complete the entire online application to be considered for the position.
- You must attach the following:
- A letter of interest, no more than two pages in length, describing your interest in agriculture and what you would like to gain from this internship.
- Attach your Resume – do not add it into the text of the application, it must be an attachment.
- An unofficial copy of your transcript.
- The names and contact information of three professional references. Professor references will be accepted in lieu of professional – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
- The first screening will be based on information contained in your candidate materials.
- Carefully review your application materials before submitting. If you fail to submit the required documents, you may no longer be considered for the position by the supervisor.
Application Status – once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account. Finalists for the position will be contacted by the hiring managers directly.
Questions? Please contact Nicolas Arnold at (509) 899-9461, nicolas.arnold@dnr.wa.gov, or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.
By submitting the application materials you are indicating that all information is true and correct to the best of your knowledge. You understand that the state may verify information and that untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from applicant pool or dismissal if employed. This announcement is published by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Washington State Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in a fair and impartial manner for all persons without regard to age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, genetic information, military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Persons with a disability who need assistance during the screening process or those needing this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff (360) 902-1350. DNR may be contacted using the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) by dialing 711.
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