Soil and Water Land Conservation Specialist

Salary: $70,010.64

JOB OVERVIEW

This job is assigned to Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District (Conservation District) and will assist the Board of Supervisors and the Executive Director in delivering technical services in support of land, soil and water conservation practices within the watersheds that flow through Hillsborough County and into Tampa Bay. The incumbent will provide consultations to landowners and operators, assist in identifying and applying for project funding, and track and monitor the performance of land and water conservation projects, with an emphasis on rural working lands and green infrastructure. The incumbent also will serve as the Conservation District’s subject matter expert on programs and best management practices (BMPs), engage with a diverse group of stakeholders and assist the Executive Director and Board in identifying and developing funding sources and delivering educational programs. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in agriculture, expertise in geographic information- or agricultural automation systems, excellent communication skills, and a passion for meeting environmental challenges that are associated with rural-working lands.

An incumbent in this position is an unclassified (at-will) employee as defined in the Hillsborough County Administrator’s Human Resources Policy Manual.

CORE COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR THE JOB

• Customer Commitment - Proactively seeks to understand the needs of customers and provide the highest standards of service.
• Dedication to Professionalism and Integrity - Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional, and ethical behaviors that establishes trust throughout the organization and with the public we serve.
• Organizational Excellence - Takes ownership for excellence through one's personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of our operations.
• Success through Teamwork - Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Note: Listed below are the essential/primary functions of the job. These are only illustrative and not exhaustive, and do not include marginal tasks which are also performed but are incidental to the essential/primary functions. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. Personal characteristics required of all employees, such as honesty, industry, sobriety, and the ability to get along with others, are presumed qualities and may not be listed specifically.

• Build and maintain e f f e c t i v e w o r k i n g relationships with agricultural producers, trade organizations, educational institutions, NGOs, and government agencies involved in rural lands and green space management.
• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise on relevant technologies, policies, regulations and programs related to land, soil and water conservation practices.
• Effectively communicate complex land management concepts in a way that is understandable to the general public.
• Collaborate effectively with team members and partner representatives toward the development and implementation of natural resource conservation programs and projects.
• Assist the Executive Director and Board of Supervisors in developing and managing program funds that align with the District’s mission, values and priorities.
• Assist agricultural producers and rural landowners with preparing applications for external project funds.
• Inspect properties, identify land management opportunities and liabilities, assist landowners in collecting samples, synthesize and report data, and develop supporting documents for funding opportunities and transactions.
• Prepare regular reports on grant program activities, outcomes, and financial status.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation related to grant applications, approvals, and project progress.
• Ensure that assigned projects adhere to grant requirements, regulations, and ethical standards.
• Promote and encourage the adoption of sustainable farming and other land management practices for the protection of natural resource values.
• Advocate for the Conservation District’s policies on behalf of sustainable agriculture, food security, land use and soil and water management.
• May supervise junior-level natural resources conservation workers
• In the absence of the Executive Director, this position may be delegated for predetermined periods of time by the Board Chair, and in a temporary acting capacity, to oversee operations and maintain necessary departmental functions.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Environmental Knowledge: Understanding of agricultural sciences, technologies, policies and practices that support the long-term viability of soil and water resources at the local and regional scales.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills in English, including public speaking, are essential for conveying information to the local agricultural producer and landowner audience. Good communication in Spanish is valuable to the position but is not a substitute for effective communication skills in English.
• Networking: Ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders among trade groups, landowners, educational institutions, government and non-profit entities.
• Project Management: Detail-oriented with excellent workload management skills; Progressive knowledge, skills and abilities in the planning, organizing, and implementation of projects (agricultural industry certifications desirable but not required for hire).
• Research and Data Analysis: Working knowledge of geographic information systems and or agricultural automation systems (such as Artificial Intelligence or remote sensing) is highly desirable. Basic skills in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental data. Ability and willingness to research Federal, State, and Foundational funding opportunities and support the Executive Director in developing grant applications.
• Community Engagement: Ability to engage and involve the community in conservation efforts. Ability to master program and technical information well enough to communicate the purpose, benefits and requirements of cooperative agreements associated with Agricultural Best Management Practices.
• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Ability and skills to address challenges and find practical solutions. Ability to read, comprehend and analyze a variety of complex written communications including legislative documents, policy manuals, operating procedures, rules, and regulations on behalf of the Executive Director and the Board.
• Policy Awareness: Stay informed about relevant environmental policies and regulations and maintain a technical familiarity with relevant laws.
• Passion for Conservation: Dedication to promoting sustainable practices and protecting natural resources.
• Leadership: Sound judgement and leadership skills to best represent the Conservation District and the County while engaging with elected and appointed officials and members of the public.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: At least bachelor's degree in a relevant field of agriculture that addresses the management of land, soil, water, and closely associated ecological systems or in agricultural communications, is typically required to achieve the subject matter expertise. A master’s degree in one of the relevant fields is highly desirable.
• Experience: At least four years of relevant work experience in addition to a college degree with some combination of land management, soil testing, surface water pollution controls, environmental water quality monitoring, or other closely related natural resource management activities is preferred. A master’s degree may substitute.  Technical writing experiences, such as for project planning, grant applications, project or grant performance reporting, or natural resource journalism is preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The job is a combination of fieldwork that includes site visits to conduct ground truthing and data collection with office work (data analysis, report writing, project planning, grant application research and development).
• Stakeholder engagement in public settings, which may involve public or interagency meetings, workshops, trade shows, or community events.