Livestock Resource Specialist - La Plata, United States - Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Board

Description

POSITION TITLE:
LIVESTOCK RESOURCE SPECIALIST (GS7-1)




SALARY:
$55,924 ANNUAL SALARY (HOURLY RATE OF $26.80)




POSITION TYPE:
FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT




OFFICE LOCATION:
LA PLATA, MARYLAND

COVERAGE REGION:
SOUTHERN MARYLAND**
START DATE:
IMMEDIATELY

ABOUT US:

The Southern Maryland Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Board, Inc. is a nonprofit organization administering projects related to resource conservation, habitat restoration, forestry, agricultural preservation and wetland restoration. We were founded in 1971.


ABOUT THE POSITION:

The RC&D has entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to fund two Livestock Resource Specialists to assist with implementation of conservation programs and provisions included in the Farm Bill.

This position will focus on promoting, designing, and implementing prescribed grazing plans and writing Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP) associated with livestock operations.

The Livestock Resource Specialist will work on farms with all types of livestock, including but not limited to:
dairy, beef, horses, goats, hogs, and sheep.

The Livestock Resource Specialist provides direct technical assistance to landowners and cooperators and works with project partners to accomplish goals and implement conservation practices.

This is a 2-year term position providing direct, in-field support to external customers and NRCS field office staff. The Livestock Resource Specialist will coordinate directly with the NRCS Area Resource Conservationist on projects and activities.


PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop detailed grazing plans documenting the operations forage types and yields, and the producers expected management intensity and practices. Includes gathering data from the field and the producer to describe the operation, resource concerns, pasture condition scores, and producers' goals and objectives.
• Complete Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) to document planning decisions and operation and maintenance on Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs).
• Train field staff how to write grazing plans and CNMPs.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contact and meet with landowners, producers, and conservation planners to discuss opportunities to manage pastures and farmsteads. Operations vary from intensive rotational grazing to total animal confinement.
• The Livestock Resource Specialist will be expected to obtain NRCS job approval authority to design and certify grazing and livestock related conservation practices. Identify plants in crop, hay, and pasture areas.
• Communicate with landowners, farmers, conservation planners, regulatory agencies, and contractors.
• Identify Farm Bill funding activities and evaluate technical eligibility for enrollment in conservation programs for grazing, livestock, and manure management practices.
• Develop technical specifications and designs for implementing prescribed grazing, forage plantings, and other livestock related conservation practices.
• Assist with development of technical materials related to grazing land and animal feeding operations.
• Uses NRCS conservation planning tool such as Conservation Desktop (CD) and Conservation Assessment and Ranking Tool (CART) to develop plans and maps.
• Work independently while effectively managing multiple priorities, projects, and tasks.
• The position will require regular nonovernight travel from La Plata, Maryland to field sites throughout Southern Maryland. A significant portion of the work will be on farms in Southern Maryland.
• Other duties as assigned.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

A Bachelor's degree or higher in a natural resource discipline such as agronomy, agriculture, animal science, biology, livestock management, environmental science or a related field.

Or

The applicant must have a combination of education and experience equivalent to a 4-year degree.

• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

In addition, the following are expected of applicants:

• The ability to communicate orally and in writing about technical issues related to natural resources.
• Knowledge and/or experience with livestock operations.
• Willingness to work outside in rough terrain and inclement weather.
• The ability to work independently while effectively managing multiple priorities.
• A clean criminal record verified by a standard background check with local, state, and national law enforcement agenci