Virginia Agricultural Restoration Specialist

Virginia Agricultural Restoration Specialist

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Virginia Agricultural Restoration Specialist in the EPR Department to be field-based in Virginia.

**About the Chesapeake Bay Foundation:** Established in 1966, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally, after decades of failed efforts, be removed from the Clean Water Act's impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.

**About the Hiring Department: Environmental Protection and Restoration (EPR)** CBF's Environmental Protection and Restoration department defends and restores the Chesapeake Bay by protecting the Bay's natural resources from pollution and other harmful activities, fighting for strong and effective laws and regulations, restoring the Bay's essential habitats and filtering mechanisms, and involving citizens in CBF's environmental efforts by recruiting, training, and incorporating them as effective partners and leaders.

**Context of the Position:** The Restoration Specialist will identify and recruit farmers and landowners to deliver cost-share funding in the Shenandoah River watershed. Through one-on-one meetings with farmers and landowners, the Restoration Specialist will work with the community to increase awareness of how land management affects water quality, increase understanding of what practices can reduce nutrient and sediment loss, and connect landowners to sources of technical and financial assistance to implement key conservation practices; forage-based production systems will be a priority.

**Essential Functions:**

• Implement a turn-key Agricultural Best Management Practice (Ag BMP) installation program in the Shenandoah River Watershed.
• Secure contracts with farmers and landowners to implement Ag BMPs through partner programs (e.g., USDA, SWCD, and other NGOs), then arrange for and oversee installation by appropriate contractors.
• Work in cooperation with and assist numerous staff from CBF, NRCS, FSA, SWCD, and others to install Ag BMPs with a focus on sustainable forage-based production systems.
• Conduct meetings with farmers and landowners to encourage adoption of BMPs.
• Provide expertise to farmers on better grazing practices and the benefits of buffers.
• Visit individual properties to assess general eligibility for conservation programs.
• Assist in identifying target audiences for program marketing and preparing news releases.
• Submit bi-weekly accomplishment reports to CBF.

**Professional Experience and Qualifications:**

• Bachelor of Science or Associate degree in Biological Science, Agricultural Science, Forestry, or related field.
• At least 2 years of experience working with landowners.
• Familiarity with the design, installation, and benefits of forage-based production systems.
• Knowledge of farming enterprises, especially in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.
• Experience designing agricultural conservation practices preferred.
• Knowledge of livestock watering systems, livestock exclusion systems, municipal property records, and USDA program requirements preferred.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with the agriculture community.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows.