Conservation Planner I

Job Title - Conservation Planner I

FT / PT Status – Full-time
Benefits Eligibility – Yes
Salary – $18.36 - $30.47
Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid

Recruiter – Christa Rowland | crowlan@utah.gov | 801-915-2317
Application Deadline – 10-4-26

*This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Job Description

This is an entry level job. Under close supervision, incumbents are responsible to design and assist with implementation of soil and water conservation projects. Incumbents assist landowners and local cooperators with funding sources and technical assistance to accomplish conservation improvement projects. Working for UDAF Conservation department in efforts to successfully put conservation practices on the ground to help the environment and the producers of Utah. This position will work closely with NRCS and other partners in conservation efforts. You will be working with many programs built to help agriculture succeed and improve conservation practices. A list of those programs but not limited to includes: UDAF Programs; AG VIP, Water Optimization, Pollinator
Program, ARDL, Soil Health, ISM and Leray Mcallister, NRCS programs; EQIP and CSP along with many other partners and programs to help fund conservation efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides technical assistance to landowners in developing and revising conservation plans.
• Coordinates and/or acts as a liaison between agency or work unit and other agencies, work
  units, organizations, suppliers, etc. to implement best practices and stewardship measures
  to improve conservation efficiency, and resource effectiveness.
• Writes and reviews grants, contracts, agreements, or Agriculture Resource Development
  Loans (ARDL). UDAF Programs you will work with Water Optimization Grants, and Ag VIP
• Coordinates with other agencies, local governments, and interested groups by attending
  meetings, making presentations, and by providing technical assistance.
• Analyzes, summarizes, and reviews data; reports findings, interprets results and makes
  recommendations.
• Provides technical assistance at conservation improvement sites.

Qualifications

Technical/Subject Matter Expertise:

• An understanding of natural resource issues, grant writing, water management, and agriculture practices.

• Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Knowledge of applications and programming.
  

Personal Attributes/Work Ethic:

• Have a high degree of self-motivation and work with minimal supervision.

• Interpersonal/Team Skills:
  
• Excel with interpersonal communication and team member contributions.
  
• Creative/Problem-Solving Skills:
  

• The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  
• Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  

Customer Service:

• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  
  

Communication:

• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Supplemental Information

• Best qualified individuals for this job will have obtained a bachelor's degree in Agronomy,
  Soil Science, Botany, Horticulture, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Engineering, or other
  natural resource management degree.
• Equivalent experience and/or a combination of education and experience.
• Risks requiring special safety precautions and/or equipment, e.g., working around operating
  machines, contagious diseases, hazardous chemicals, etc.; risks found in potentially
  dangerous/unusual situations, e.g. being subject to possible physical attack.
• The work may require overnight travel.
• Valid driver license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per UCA
  53-3-202(1)(a) ...granted the privilege to operate a motor vehicle by being licensed as a
  driver by the division under this chapter.
• Work may require some physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking over
  rough terrain or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching
  or similar activities.

About the Role

Location – Ogden
Background Check Required – No
Drug Test Required – No
Schedule Code – B

Why You Should Join Our Team
In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah, click here. Other benefits may include:

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

The Agency
For more information about working for the Department of Agriculture and Food please click here.

EEO Statement
The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.