Sustainable Farms and Fields Program Manager (Natural Resource Scientist 3)

This posting is open until filled. The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time. It will be in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.

The first review of applications will occur the week of August 8, 2022.

This position is designated as a hybrid schedule that allows as much or little of home or office location preferred, but must be based in Washington State.

Who we are:

The Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) is a non-regulatory state agency that supports Washington's 45 conservation districts and designs solutions that meet state and local natural resource needs. Our mission is to conserve natural resources on all lands in Washington in collaboration with conservation districts and other partners.

Together, the SCC and conservation districts provide voluntary, incentive-based programs that empower people to practice conservation and ensure healthy natural resources and agriculture for all.

The SCC also administers other high-profile and non-regulatory state programs, including the Voluntary Stewardship Program and the Office of Farmland Preservation(OFP).

What you will be doing:

The SFF program was created in 2020 to help mitigate the impacts of climate change by increasing carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions farmland, rangeland, and aquaculture tidelands. Conservation districts and other public entities apply for SFF funding to provide technical and financial assistance to producers to expand implementation of climate-smart practices.

Some of what you'll enjoy doing includes:

Sustainable Farms and Fields Program Development

* Update and improve Measurement and Estimation Verification (MEV) reporting methods in consultation from partners at WSDA, WSU, NRCS, and others
* Defines the research project, consults with agency management to determine needs, goals and objectives
* Research and collaborate with partners to estimate/quantify carbon sequestration rates in trees, shrubs, forbs, and native tidal vegetation such as eelgrass Zostera Marina
* Research and collaborate with partners to evaluate and quantify the CO2 equivalent benefits gained by using crop residues as a biofuel feedstock
* Research and collaborate with partners to quantify the equivalent benefits gained by installing more anaerobic digesters, incorporating anaerobic digester digestate into soil amendments, and linking with renewable energy opportunities.
* Analyst related research
* Work collaboratively with WSDA's Soil Health Data Scientist to develop analytical tools to help quantify and model carbon dioxide equivalent impacts of climate-smart agricultural practices, including WaCSE dashboard
* Train district staff and others on carbon management on agricultural land, COMET planner, COMET Farm, and other tools and models
* Coordinate with WaSHI on soil sampling needs of SFF projects to improve MEV system
* Develop or oversee development of cost-benefit measurements of climate-smart practices

Sustainable Farms and Fields Program support

* Convene working group (SCC, WSDA, WSU, NRCS, WDFW) to prioritize and select fundable SFF projects
* Update SFF programmatic guidelines as needed and assist in rulemaking process to codify guidelines
* Coordinate with SCC fiscal staff to award SFF funding to successful applicants
* Write annual and biennial progress reports about SFF for Legislature and Governor's Office
* Represent SCC on Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI)

Program Communications Support

* Coordinate with SCC Communications team and potential contracted partner(s) to launch an educational public awareness campaign about SFF and climate-smart agriculture
* Oversee development of SFF outreach materials in multiple languages

REQUIRED:

A Bachelor's degree with major study in agronomy, soil science, plant science, environmental science, or related field

AND

* Four years of professional experience in carbon management in agricultural systems, soil science, environmental science, natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or other closely related field.

NOTE: A Master's degree will substitute for two years and a Ph.D. degree will substitute for all of the required experience, provided the field of major study was in the specific specialty

* A valid WA driver's license free from serious traffic violations
* Willingness to work varied hours, including some evenings and weekends
* Willingness to travel across the state

PREFERRED:

* Working knowledge of carbon management and Co2 equivalent benefits in agricultural systems
* Familiarity with climate-smart agricultural practices as well as regenerative and precision agriculture
* Experience with COMET Farm and COMET Planner
* Familiarity of Measurement, Estimation, and Verification (MEV) and/or Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) methods
* Understanding of carbon cycle science
* Experience working with Washington's agricultural communities and conservation districts
* Knowledge of: statistical theory and techniques; logic and grammar, basic methods of problem solving; research methods; the body of knowledge in specialty field; agency's purposes; objectives of programs and activities
* Ability to: reason logically, draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations; gather and analyze data; participate in conferences and interviews; speak and write effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships

Please provide the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

* Aletter of interest,describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting;
* A current resume, detailing experience, and education; and
* A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

Conditions of Employment:

* COVID Vaccination Requirement:Per Governor Inslee'sProclamation 21-14(Download PDF reader), state employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at leasttwo weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. If you are selected to serve in this position, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination before you are able to begin work. Please note that any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing verification of your vaccine status, having an approved medical accommodation, or having an approved religious accommodation. No start date will be approved until you have either verified your vaccine status or have an approved accommodation.

Please do not attach your vaccination verification to your application as it will be removed. Details on how to proceed with verification or accommodation will be provided once a conditional offer has been made.

Opportunity for All:

SCC celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

Contact Information:

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or email jobs@des.wa.gov.

Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.