Job Title: Conservation Agriculture Project Implementation Lead
Location: Lacey, WA
Employer: Washington State University Extension
Job Type: Part-time, temporary hourly appointment; 18 hrs/week. Anticipated duration is 3 years.
Base Pay: Starts $19.98 to $22.47hr depending on level of experience
Job Description: The WSU Thurston County Extension program is looking for a temporary, part-time project lead to implement conservation agriculture practices and manage grant budgets, collaborations and deliverables. On-farm projects are centered on conservation grazing practices including rotational grazing infrastructure development and agroforestry planting design and installation.
The successful candidate will coordinate 400 acres of farm improvement projects over three years, including coordinating collaborative design, materials sourcing, subcontracting, project staging and implementation, monitoring, and reporting. The implementation lead works directly with an agriculture faculty supervisor but is expected to work largely independently on a day-to-day basis.
This temporary position is grant funded. Current funding will support 13 weeks and approved funding will cover an additional three years. Funding affords 5-8-hours per day, 2-3 days per week, averaging 18 or fewer hours per week over the course of the project. This is a dynamic position, and the preferred candidate will possess a diverse skillset with capacity in the following areas: project implementation, grazing systems, grant management, grassland ecology, and horticultural installation.
Examples of Work:
• Discuss land management goals and conservation agriculture practices with private farmers
• Organize collaborative prioritization of potential projects
• Coordinate regional experts on project design
• Set project timelines and goals
• Track and ensure timely progress on up to a dozen projects concurrently
• Source materials and labor, completing procurement and subcontracting processes when required
• Physically conduct land management activities including planting, mowing, and infrastructure improvements
• Collect project activities from diverse partners and submit regular and professional progress reports to funders
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Able to work around equipment and in an outdoor environment in agricultural conditions with issued PPE
• Able to work in an office setting utilizing standard office software and GIS tools
• Able to work with little to no direct supervision
• Excellent time management skills to support success on varied and numerous concurrent demands
• Verbal and written communication skills allowing positive working relationship with diverse stakeholders and partners
• Able to move and lift up to 50 lbs safely
• Able to drive vehicles and agricultural equipment
• Writing skills sufficient to create technical project documentation Required
Education/Training/Certification Qualifications:
• High School diploma or GED
• Baccalaureate Degree in the applied, biological, chemical, physical or agricultural sciences AND one year of experience equivalent to an Agricultural Research Technologist; OR Equivalent education/experience Preferred Qualifications
• Knowledge of Western Washington native plants
• Experience with livestock and grazing operations
• Communications experience creating video, photo, and social media outreach
• Experience coordinating collaborative groups and projects
• Experience managing budgets and grant projects
How to Apply:
Applications accepted until August 19, 2024. The successful candidate will begin in early September. To apply send a current resume and cover letter to WSU Thurston County Extension Agriculture Specialist, Sierra Smith: sierra.smith1@wsu.edu. Contact Sierra Smith with questions prior to the application deadline. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by law.