Soil and Water Conservation Technician

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.  This role relies on collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to promote sustainable land and water management practices.  An incumbent in this position will continuously develop their expertise in land, water and soil conservation practices (Best Management Practices) and deliver technical services to landowners and land operators, with emphasis on rural working lands and green infrastructure.  They will assist the Executive Director and Board in developing technical services/deliverables, monitoring and reporting on project performance, and identifying and pursuing grant or other funding opportunities.  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 a classified 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 effective working 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 members in developing and managing program funds that align with Agency’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.
• 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.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Environmental Knowledge: Understanding of soil and water conservation principles and of agricultural and conservation land management practices.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills in English, including public speaking, are essential for conveying information to the local agricultural production 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.
• Project Management: Detail-oriented with excellent workload management skills; fundamental knowledge, skills and abilities in the planning and implementation of industry practices (industry certifications desirable but not required for hire).
• 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.
• Research and Data Analysis: 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.
• 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: A 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: a master’s degree or relevant post bachelor’s work experiences in some combination of land management, soil testing, surface water pollution controls, environmental water quality monitoring, agricultural communications or other closely related natural resource management activities is preferred.  Technical writing experiences, such as for project planning, grant applications, project or grant performance reporting, or natural resource journalism is preferred.
• Alternative qualifications – An applicant may qualify without a four-year degree if they have appropriate post high school education, technical training certificates and relevant years of experience, which would reasonably equip them to meet the job requirements, essential duties and responsibilities listed above in a satisfactory and professional manner.

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.
• The incumbent in the position will be expected to operate a County-owned vehicle and may be called upon occasionally to work late hours or travel out-of-town and overnight to conduct operations.

PHYSICALDEMANDS

• The job involves a combination of indoor and outdoor activities, and the physical demands can vary based on the specific tasks assigned.
• Must be able to be in the sun for long periods of time when busy or inclement weather when busy. Must be able to tolerate sun, pollen, dust, grass and the standard environment.
• The Capacity for repetitive lifting of weighted objects, up to fifty (50) pounds is required.
• Outdoor Activities: May need to navigate uneven terrain and be physically fit for outdoor tasks in inclement weather. Fieldwork often involves walking, standing, and sometimes digging or operating machinery.
• Driving: A valid driver's license is often required, and the ability to drive to different locations in a single day is common. This may involve sitting for extended periods while traveling.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

Must possess a valid Florida Driver's License at the date of hire and maintain the same while employed in this position.

Technical/professional certifications that are applicable towards the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities requirements (KSA’s) include but are not limited to: Certified Agricultural Consultant; Geomatics Certificate; Geographic Information Systems Certificate; Agricultural Communications Specialist; Agritechnology Specialist; Forestry Specialist; Natural Resources Specialist; and or Unmanned Aircraft Systems.