Working Lands & Nursery Conservation Specialist
Organization: Essex County Natural Resources Conservation District
Location: Hybrid – Based at the Nulhegan Basin Silvio O. Conte Wildlife Refuge in Brunswick, VT with travel around Essex County, VT, and telework as work responsibilities allow
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week
Date Posted: 4/17/24
Ideal Start Date: Approximately 6/1/24 (pass of federal background check required)
How to Apply: Email cover letter and resume as a single PDF to smayne.essexnrcd@gmail.com. All applications submitted before May 8th will be considered, with later applications considered on a rolling basis. Interviews anticipated to be held in May 2024. Only digital applications will be accepted without prior arrangements.
Position Summary
Essex County NRCD seeks a Working Lands & Nursery Conservation Specialist to be based out of our office in Brunswick, Vermont who is self-motivated, organized, creative, and excited to build community with agricultural producers and conservation organizations in Essex County. The position will focus on carrying out Essex County NRCD’s working lands programming and managing the District’s conservation nursery. The ideal candidate will be motivated to take on the strategic and financial planning of these two District programs over time, with support and training from the District Manager.
Half of this position will focus on working lands outreach, education, and technical assistance in Essex County. You will work one-on-one and in group settings with District farmers and foresters to improve natural resource management on their properties. This may include maintaining nutrient management plans (NMPs), collecting soil, manure, and crop samples, planning educational workshops, providing land management advice, and helping land managers apply for state and federal cost share programs. You will also work with partners to implement habitat and watershed restoration work. This position is grant-funded and is under the general supervision of the ECNRCD District Manager. For the right candidate, the expectation is that eventually this position will have broad latitude to direct ECNRCD’s working lands programming in response to available funding and the needs of local producers, with support and input from the District Manager.
The other portion of this position will focus on managing ECNRCD’s conservation nursery. You will work to collect native tree seed, grow seedlings from seed to harvest, maintain nursery facilities, fulfill tree orders, and expand the nursery’s capacity for tree output. You will work with a group of local and statewide organizations to ensure tree production meets restoration and agroforestry needs. Training in nursery management will be available for motivated candidates. This portion of the position is grant funded for several years, with the intention that it will be supported by tree sales after that time. The ideal candidate will be interested in eventually taking on the financial management of the nursery in addition to physical duties of tree production.
This position includes a seasonal mix of computer-based and field work. Computer work may include long periods sitting, typing, and reading from a computer screen, while field work may include extended periods of physical exertion. Candidates should expect to work according to the direction of the District Manager for approximately a year, with additional managerial duties and independence taken on over time.
Wages and Benefits
This position is funded for full-time, 40 hours per week. This is an at-will, non-salaried position starting at $22/hr with an increase to $24/hr after one year of service and additional raises expected over time. Benefits include paid federal holidays, annual, and sick leave, and generous flexibility. ECNRCD provides a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan hosted by Fidelity Investments and contributes a 1:1 match on contributions, up to 3% of annual earnings. The District will explore options for health insurance coverage upon hire of an interested candidate.
Full Job Description:
FINAL_ECNRCD-Specialist-Job-Description-2024.docx