Small Farm Regenerative Agriculture Specialist

Job Posting Title

SMALL FARM REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST

Agency

645 CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Supervisory Organization

Conservation Commission

Job Posting End Date (Continuous if Blank)

June 20, 2025

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

$50,000 annual salary based on Education and Experience. All Applicant must submit cover letter along with transcript and supporting documents verifying qualification for position.

Job Description

Basic Purpose

This is a project term field technician position working as part of a multi-partner pilot effort to support the production and community accessibility of locally grown produce.  This position will be hired as an Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) employee working under immediate supervision of the Small-Scale Farm Planner. The position will work with the local project team to conduct conservation planning, provide outreach and education, and complete field work on small scale and related specialty cropping system producers within the project area. Field duties include designing and helping construct hoop houses, advising on IPM (integrated pest management), crop rotation, composting, soil health for small scale farms, general mentoring, and providing expert technical advice. The position will be located on the extension campus of Murray State College in Ardmore, OK.  

Typical Functions

The functions performed in this job family will vary by level, unit and organization, but may include the following:

• Working through the project partnership, provides technical assistance to small scale/urban ag producers to promote, plan, and verify implementation of soil health and regenerative agriculture practices;

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• 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;

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• Assists with the Urban Ag Center Micro-Grant Program.

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• Assesses the needs of local specialty crop production community.

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• Assists with project implementation, promotions, presentations, booth exhibits, on-farm demonstration field days and education events and activities;

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• Assists Project Planner with soil and regen ag focused content for social media feeds, newsletters, website, and reports. This includes real time photo documentation and posting to directed social media channels;

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• Assists in the creation of a method to gather producer feedback on education, projects and microgrant program.

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• Maintains detailed records of daily activities.

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of the principles and practices of environmental quality and sanitation; of biological, microbiological, radiological and chemical analysis; of environmental problems; of sample collection; of laboratory methodologies; of complaint investigations; of the survey and inspection of environmental and sanitary conditions; of consumer protection; of epidemiology; of water and air quality regulations; of hydrological and geological survey methods; of the principles of ground and surface water geology and hydrology; of the preparation, coordination and review of environmental program applications and of laboratory procedures; and of the causes, impacts and prevention of environmental protection problems.

Ability is required to operate and maintain monitoring and detection equipment; to establish and maintain professional working relationships with others; to write technical reports; to collect samples; to apply research methodologies; to read and interpret plans and specifications of proposed facilities; to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to think analytically and make sound decisions; to read engineering and architectural plans and specifications; to plan and conduct field investigations; to design and interpret engineering plans and specifications; to develop hydrological computer programs or interfacing hydrological studies with existing computer programs; and to function independently and exercise good judgment.

Education and Experience

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 urban and small-scale Oklahoma agriculture, its stakeholders, partners, and key contacts. 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 urban and small-scale cropping systems, rangeland, soils, pasture management, Farm Bill programs, and water quality are 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.

Special Requirements

·Knowledge of soil science, soil health principles, regenerative agriculture and  management tools and other strategies to address soil health and its impacts on ecosystem health and function;

·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, particularly small scale and urban farming;

·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 project area and out of state.

·Requires irregular work weeks involving long workdays and potential weekend work to meet with private citizens/stakeholder groups.

·Residence in south-central Oklahoma (greater Ardmore area) 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.