Salary: See Position Description
Location : Farmington, MN
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: SWCD55415.24.001
Department: Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District
Opening Date: 09/12/2024
Closing Date: 10/1/2024 4:30 PM Central
General Description POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive Recruitment posted on behalf of the Soil & Water Conservation District Open competitive
DEPARTMENT: Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
HOURS: Full Time, 40 hours/week
HIRING RANGE: $67,643 - $84,554/year
SALARY RANGE: $67,643 - $105,693/year (108 grade level)
LOCATION: Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, Farmington, MN
UNION: None
CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2024
What You'll DoThe Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is seeking candidates to fill a Resources Conservationist position The primary objective of this progressively responsible, professional position is to plan, design and implement projects for water quality improvements within urban and rural landscapes. The Resource Conservationist will take projects from the inventory and assessment phase through project installation and certification. Projects include but are not limited to water retention and infiltration, erosion prevention, as well as wetland and streambank restorations.
The Resource Conservationist will report to the Project Management Supervisor but will work in a team environment with staff from the SWCD, County Departments, Natural Resources Conservation Service, cities and various other organizations including watershed management authorities. The position will coordinate work with landowners, residents, stakeholders and contractors. Creativity and organizational skills will be required to simultaneously manage a range of activities and multiple projects.
Minimum Qualifications- Bachelor's Degree in natural resource management, agricultural engineering, civil engineering, water resources, hydrology, or related field; Or
- An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience totaling at least six (6) years. Education and work experience must be directly related to planning, designing, and implementing projects in order to be considered; AND
- Valid driver's license.
Preferred Experience:- Master's degree in natural resource management, agricultural engineering, civil engineering, water resources, or hydrology
- Four (4) years or more of direct work experience with contractors and communicating with the public,
- Job Approval Authority for engineering principles through USDA including Stormwater Runoff Control, Streambank and Shoreline Protection, Grassed Waterways, and Water and Sediment Control Basins.
- Certified Professional in Sediment and Erosion Control (CPESC) and Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ).
Duties & Responsibilities These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required.
- Provide field assessment, survey, planning, and design of structural conservation projects.
- Oversee construction and certification of agricultural and stormwater best management practices.
- Prepare sub-watershed assessments to identify, determine cost effectiveness, and prioritize water quality improvement projects.
- Conduct monitoring and compliance inspections on existing conservation practices.
- Conduct educational workshops and assist with research or demonstration projects.
- Set, manage, and communicate project expectations with landowners, contractors, and other project stakeholders.
- Coordinate with various agencies, local units of government and watershed management organizations to conduct feasibility studies, watershed assessments or capital improvement projects.
- Provide technical assistance to implement state and local easement programs.
- Provide information necessary to develop annual work plans, Board meeting documents, project fact sheets or budget documents.
- Serve on technical advisory groups as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
Essential Job Functions:Duties 1-11 are essential functions.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Work Environment - Technical knowledge with interpreting soil data, hydrology concepts, designing agricultural and stormwater best management practices.
- Knowledge of the USDA Field Office Technical Guide and Minnesota Stormwater Manual.
- Ability to conduct field surveys using GPS survey equipment, laser levels, or other instruments and use software programs such as CAD and GIS to develop conservation plans, reports, and project designs.
- Ability to use pollution reduction calculators and models including WinSLAMM, PTMapp, P8, RUSLE2, or spreadsheet-based tools.
- Ability to interpret data from various hydrologic and hydraulic models and tools.
- Strong project management skills with ability to manage projects from beginning to completion.
- Knowledge of soil mechanics for construction planning and oversight.
- Knowledge of Federal, State and local laws pertaining to the position.
- Strong communication skills and an ability to communicate technical information effectively, both verbally and in writing, with courtesy and tact.
- Ability to work effectively with local and regional government officials and employees, state agencies, consultants, contractors, public officials, property owners, volunteers and residents.
- Proficient in personal computer programs, including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams (or their equivalents).
- Ability to use innovation and creativity for problem solving.
- Ability to ensure safety of self, co-workers and clients.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:Work is performed in a County office building and outdoors. Driving is required. Employee will be frequently required to work in outside weather conditions, being exposed to cold and hot temperatures, precipitation, direct sunlight, wind, dust, and pollen. Work involves uncleared areas, standing/walking on uneven or slippery terrain and working near construction equipment. Limited weekend and evening work is expected. Lifting requirement (team lift to 50 pounds), on an occasional basis. Types of equipment used include telephone, computer, printer, copier, projector, survey or monitoring equipment and GPS devices.
Benefits- Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits offered by the Soil & Water Conservation District
- Excellent work-life balance
- Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year)
- Eleven paid holidays and one floating holiday each year
- Pension with a generous employer contribution
Selection Process- You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
- We assign you a score based on your qualifications
- Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
- We conduct interviews and reference checks before extending an offer
- Soil & Water extends an offer and Dakota County conducts the background check
This position reports directly to the Soil and Water Conservation Manager:
Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District
4100 220th Street West, Suite 102
Farmington, Minnesota 55024
Visit our Benefits site for more information.
01
*******Applicants for this recruitment will be rated based on their answers to the supplemental questions listed below and application materials.
It is IMPERATIVE that information provided on the application and resume are detailed and clearly outline your work experience & skills. They must also support and/or match answers to the supplemental questions.Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Falsification may result in disqualification from consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Dakota County for up to three years.
02
Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that you understand that a background check including
but not limited to criminal, employment, driving, and educational check may be conducted upon acceptance of a position.
03
Do you have a valid driver's license?
04
Please select the highest level of education completed or Degree held. (Degree must be held by the closing date of this recruitment)
- High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalent
- Professional/Technical Certificate equivalent to 1 year of full-time post secondary education
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or higher
05
Identify your years of full-time progressively responsible
natural resources experience planning, designing, and/or implementing projects?
Convert any part-time experience to full years (i.e. 20 hours week for 2 years equals 1-year full time). Do not round up years of experience (i.e. 2 yrs. 9 mos. would equal 2 years).
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
- 6 years
- 7 years
- 8 years
- 9 years
- 10+ years
- No experience
06
Do you have direct work experience with the planning, design and/or implementation of projects related to water quality improvements within
urban landscapes?
07
Do you have direct work experience with the planning, design and/or implementation of projects related to water quality improvements within
rural landscapes?
08
Do you have any training specifically related to water retention and infiltration, erosion prevention, or wetland and streambank restorations?
09
Are you a Certified Professional in Sediment and Erosion Control (CPESC) or Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ)?
10
Do you have Job Approval Authority (JAA) for engineering principles through United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)?
11
Identify your years of work experience working with ArcMap or other GIS programs.
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- No experience
12
Identify your years of work experience with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software.
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3+ years
- No experience
13
Identify your years of work experience overseeing and/or leading staff and/or contractors.
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3+ years
- No experience
14
The full salary range for this position is $67,643 - $105,693 and preferred hiring range is $67,643 - $84,554 annually. The amount that is offered is depended on the candidates' overall skills education, experience and internal equity.
Taking that information into consideration, what would be the minimum salary you'd accept if selected for the position? 15
Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the
one source that most closely describes how you
first learned about this opportunity.
- Facebook
- Friend, Family or Colleague
- InDeed
- Job Fair or Dakota County Event
- Job Interest e-mails from Dakota County
- JobsInMinneapolis/StPaul
- League of Minnesota Cities
- LinkedIn
- Minneapolis Diversity.com
- Minnesota Diversity.com
- Minnesota Works Website
- Minnesota Jobs Network.com
- Minnesota Association of Counties
- Monster
- Professional Association Website
- Referred by a Dakota County Employee
- St Paul Diversity.com
- College Website, Instructor, Career Services
- Dakota County Website
- Other
16
If you selected Other, please indicate where you heard about this opportunity with Dakota County.
Required Question