Resource Conservationist

Resource Conservationist

ID:ACA1-021Location:FresnoProgram:ACE

Wage/Hr:$36.09Hours/Week:16Minimum Age:55

Disclaimer: This is not a federal position. This role is offered through a partnership agreement and does not constitute an NRCS hiring action.

This position is a non-federal role funded through an existing agreement between NRCS and NEW Solutions. The enrollee will provide direct support to farmers and landowners, enabling the implementation of conservation practices on the ground. This role contributes to NRCS's mission by enhancing capacity in field offices and ensuring timely assistance to producers. It is designed to free up NRCS staff for emergency and high-priority responses, not to replace federal staff.

This role helps ensure continued progress on conservation planning, practice implementation, and technical assistance, especially in high-demand or disaster-affected areas. It aligns with the Administration's priorities for farmer-first, field-facing, and partner-enabled capacity expansion.

For over 25 years, National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions) has specialized in connecting experienced workers (ages 55+) with full-time and part-time job opportunities that support the critical missions of Federal Agencies across the United States.

NEW Solutions connects experienced workers (ages 55+) with the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). These are experienced professionals who provide technical and professional assistance to the Department of Agriculture for the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program.

Benefits: Paid Health Insurance Premium for positions budgeted at 60+ hours per pay period, Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Federal Holidays, and optional Vision and Dental Insurance available for positions budgeted at 35+ hours per pay period.

Positions listed here do not guarantee employment for any definite period. Enrollment in the Experienced Worker Programs administered by NEW Solutions is temporary. The enrollment relationship between NEW Solutions and the Enrollee is an ?at-will? relationship. This means that an Enrollee is free to terminate enrollment at any time during the enrollment period, and NEW Solutions and the Agency have the right to terminate the relationship with the Enrollee.

PLEASE NOTE: An ?ACES Enrollee? is not a federal employee, nor an employee of NEW Solutions. An ?ACES Enrollee? is a participant in a grant program established through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the USDA-NRCS and administered by NEW Solutions.

This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the United States.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 year(s) of experience in Natural Resources, Agriculture, or related field of study. OR BA/BS Degree in Agriculture, or related field of study.
• Valid State Driver's License.
• NRCS Certified Conservation Planner.
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS PowerPoint

Duties

• Provide technical assistance support for the delivery of NRCS Farm Bill conservation programs at the Fresno Area Office. The Resource Conservationist shall possess a practical knowledge of agriculture production, landscape natural resource concerns, the NRCS conservation planning process, and NRCS Farm Bill programs. The Resource Conservationist must be able to initiate and complete these responsibilities with limited supervision. The Resource Conservationist must have knowledge of local land ownership and historical knowledge of NRCS programs in Fresno and surrounding counties.
• Assists in providing training on EQIP and CSP program delivery to NRCS field staff. 40%
• Under the direction of the NRCS ASTC-FO; completes tasks required to implement the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP); which may include resource data collection and analysis, decision support documentation, conservation plan and contract development, status reviews of planned practices, collection and organization of practice/enhancement certification documentation, and case file management. These tasks will be conducted for all land uses ? crop, pasture, forest, farmstead, and wildlife. Some of these tasks will be done for complex projects involving multiple landowners/units of government/NGO's, and across county and watersheds in support of Program Initiatives. 30%
• Advise, mentor, guide, and provide training for local supervisors and executive team members working on conservation program delivery. 20%
• Assists in performing quality assurance reviews of EQIP and CSP program delivery at the Field Office level. 10%

Other:

• NRCS mandatory training being offered by NRCS staff.
• Travel

Requirements

• This will be local travel and a government vehicle should be available for these trips.

• Physical requirements: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.