Job Posting Title
SOIL HEALTH AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST
Agency
645 CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Supervisory Organization
Conservation Commission
Job Posting End Date (Continuous if Blank)
December 13, 2024
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.
Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)
Full/Part-Time
Full time
Job Type
Regular
Compensation
Annual Salary up to $60,000 based on education and experience. Applicant must attach Cover Letter and Resume
Job Description
Basic Purpose
This position delivers soil health education and related conservation technical assistance to agriculture producers, landowners, partners, and the public. This position works with other soil health team members and partners but also independently to provide outreach and education, conduct conservation planning and complete field work. This position works in the Water Quality Division’s Soil Health Program under the supervision of the Soil Health Program Coordinator.
Typical Functions
The functions performed in this job family will vary by level, unit and organization, but may include the following:
- Working through conservation districts, provides technical assistance to ag producers and landowners to promote implementation of soil health and regenerative agriculture practices in NW Oklahoma; specifically in wheat and row crop production systems;
- Surveys and gathers data related to soil health for producer consults, including obtainment of soil samples and data necessary to support WORMS and other soil health assessments;
- Provides education, training, presentations and related support to conservation districts, including consulting on or assisting with natural resource days, on-farm demonstration field days, legislative tours, and other events as assigned;
- Assists with Soil Health program project implementation, promotions, presentations, booth exhibits, and education events and activities;
- Creates soil health and regenerative agriculture focused content for agency social media feeds, newsletters, website, and reports. This includes taking photos at events with cell phone or camera and sending, posting, or uploading them as applicable for their timely use;
- Maintains detailed records of daily activities;
- Works with other agency divisions as directed to develop, promote, and implement conservation education with an emphasis on soil health;
- Provides staffing, planning, logistical, and technical support to agency-sponsored events as requested;
Level Descriptor
Levels are distinguished based on the complexity of assigned duties, the level of expertise required for completion of work assignments, and the responsibility assigned for the supervision of others.
This is the specialist level where employees are routinely assigned independent responsibility at the advanced level in management of a single or multi-program environmental or health protection area. Employees at this level may have a clear specialization in an environmental discipline and may be recognized as an expert in the specialty. The work is generally performed with a high degree of technical and administrative freedom to plan, develop, organize and conduct all phases of the work necessary for completion within broad program guidelines.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies
This position must have strong knowledge of the principles of soil health and regenerative agriculture, understanding of its measurement, and knowledge of the practices that support soil health improvements. The position requires familiarity and experience with Oklahoma agriculture and its stakeholders, partners, and key contacts in the environmental arena. The position requires knowledge of a wide variety of soil conservation, agronomic, hydrologic, biology, and natural resource concepts, principles, practices, and methodology to independently resolve problems through conservation technical assistance and implementation. Knowledge of cropping systems, rangeland, soils, pasture management, Farm Bill programs, and water quality are preferred. Experience in agronomy and/or crop advising with an emphasis on regenerative production is preferred. Position requires ability to read technical documents including soil surveys, conservation plans, detailed maps, and other tools. Since this position works closely with the public, individuals must be outgoing and have excellent oral communication skills with both adults and children. Individuals should be comfortable working independently but also with team members.Must be detail-oriented and possess strong organizational skills, take the initiative to complete assigned tasks in a timely and effective manner without supervision and be proficient with computers and contemporary software packages.Employees will be provided with training and oversight on conservation planning and NRCS programs. Strong commitment to ongoing self-driven, independent education preferred.
Education and Experience
Completion of the curriculum requirements for a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in soil conservation or related agricultural or natural resource discipline such as agronomy, soil science, agricultural education, or rangeland management is required; a minimum of one year of professional experience in a related agricultural field is preferred. Experience as a commercial regenerative farmer/rancher is preferred.
Special Requirements
- Knowledge of soil science, soil health principles, regenerative agriculture and of management tools and other strategies to address soil health and its impacts on other natural resources;
- Ability to effectively communicate and cooperate with a wide variety of experts, beginners, urban citizens, agricultural producers, agencies, tribes and other to develop and obtain program goals;
- Understanding of and experience with Oklahoma agricultural production statewide;
- Must be a legal resident of the United States and possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license;
- Must be willing to travel to meet program needs – including overnight trips throughout Oklahoma and out of state.
- Requires irregular work weeks involving long workdays and potential weekend work to meet with private citizens/stakeholder groups.
- Residence in northwestern Oklahoma and connections to local producers and agricultural organizations is strongly preferred.
Equal Opportunity Employment
The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.
Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub.
