Soil Health Specialist

Soil Health Specialist

ID : AIN-009

AIN-009

Location : Indianapolis

Indianapolis

Program : Wage / Hr :

Wage / Hr : $30.80

$30.80

Hours / Week : Minimum Age :

Minimum Age :

Being Age 55 or Older is Good for The Environment! The Agricultural Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program offers unique opportunities in Scientific, Technical, and Agricultural support for individuals aged 55 and over to support the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through a grant administered program awarded to National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions).

This is a unique program where your talents, expertise, and experience will truly be valued. The ACES program provides an opportunity to work side-by-side with NRCS staff that are doing important work every day.

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

Positions listed here do not guarantee employment for any definite period. Enrollment in the Experienced Worker Programs administered by NEW Solutions is temporary.

The enrollment relationship between NEW Solutions and the Enrollee is an "at-will" relationship. This means an Enrollee is free to terminate enrollment at any time during the enrollment period, and NEW Solutions and the Agency have the right to terminate the relationship with the Enrollee.

NOTE : An "ACES Enrollee" is not a federal employee, nor an employee of NEW Solutions. An "ACES Enrollee" is a participant in a grant program established through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the USDA-NRCS and administered by NEW Solutions.

This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the United States. Please Note : Applicants must live in state of IN but if live outside of job location, must be able to work from their current IN location.

Qualifications :

Minimum of 15 year(s) of experience in Knowledge of agricultural operations, Interdisciplinary knowledge of resources management and soil health.

OR MA / MS Degree in Agronomy, Biology, Environment and Natural Resources, Forestry, Soils.

• Valid State Driver?s license required.
• Experience working with NRCS, understanding of soil dynamics (organic matter, infiltration, soil biology).
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel
• Apple, PowerPoint, MS Teams, Zoom

Duties :

Supporting CSP, EQIP, RCPP, CTA, all programs promotion and conservation education. In addition, soil health practice implementation assistance, soil health trailer operation and maintenance, soil health promotion, and outreach support.

Knowledge of NRCS programs, NRCS technical tools such as in-field soil health assessments, and NRCS soil health demonstrations and soil health trailers is highly needed to be able to train others and / or perform the tasks independently without any training and minimal supervision.

• Provide support to field staff conducting soil health field assessments and providing guidance and training to field staff for soil health field assessments. 30%
• Operate, transport, and maintain soil health trailer(s). Includes : road readiness and replacement of supplies for demonstrations (soil samples, water). 70%

Other :

• Annual information system security, anti-harassment, and civil rights training.
• Travel Requirements : Travel to the field using government vehicles will be required on a routine basis. Valid state driver's license required.
• Overnight travel : 6 days / month.
• Health and Safety Considerations : Potential for outdoor work; therefore, hazards associated with rough terrain and changing weather conditions.

Enrollee should prepare / dress accordingly.

NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies.

It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.