Conservation Technician

The National Older Worker Career Center is hiring a Conservation Technician in Rustburg, VA, offering $20.50 per hour for 24 hours a week. This non-federal role supports farmers and landowners in implementing conservation practices, enhancing NRCS's mission. Applicants should have 10 years of experience in natural resources or an AA degree. Benefits include health insurance, vacation, sick leave, and federal holidays for qualifying hours.
Conservation Technician

ID:AVA1-022Location:RustburgProgram:ACE

Wage/Hr:$20.50Hours/Week:24Minimum Age:55

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

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

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

For over 25 years, National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions) hasspecialized in connecting experienced workers (ages 55+) with full-time andpart-time job opportunities that support the critical missions of FederalAgencies across the United States.

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

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

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

PLEASE NOTE: An ?ACES Enrollee? is not a federal employee, nor an employee ofNEW Solutions. An ?ACES Enrollee? is a participant in a grant programestablished through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the USDA-NRCS andadministered by NEW Solutions.

This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the UnitedStates.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 10 year(s) of experience in Natural resources planning, conservationplanning and engineering designs. OR AA Degree in Agriculture, Chemistry,Biology

Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS ExcelDuties:

Provide assistance to the Rustburg Service Center (USDA NRCS) staff by assistingwith the current CTA General and Farm Bill workload. Support activities withinArea III when there are workload situations that will impact the whole Area.

Help with Farm Bill activities that will support the implementation ofapplications and contracts by using the standard conservation and assessmenttools available in the Field office, i.e., Conservation Planning (I&E)activities, CART, CD, NRCS-CPA-52, develop conservation maps, etc. 30%Engineering design - survey & layout of conservation practices; Conservationpractice inspection / check-out to support Farm Bill programs and contracts;Assist in the training of new USDA NRCS staff. 30%Help develop CTA General conservation plans using the standard conservationand assessment tools available in the Field office, i.e., Conservation Planning(I&E) activities, CART, CD, NRCS-CPA-52, etc. 25%Assist with FSA Compliance Reviews within Area III boundaries; Assist withany emergency programs, i.e., Emergency Conservation Program for site visits,designs, layout and inspections. 15%

Other:Complete annual agency and department training (i.e., any AgLearn trainingthat is assigned to the individual).Travel Requirements: Site visits, fieldwork, will use GOV or ride withanother government employee.Overnight travel: .Physical requirements: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enableindividuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of thisposition.

NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environmentfree from discrimination and harassment in any form administering ExperiencedWorker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEWSolutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equalopportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants inthe federal programs.