Position: The Southern Rhode Island Conservation District is looking for a Resource Conservationist (EQIP Oyster Manager)

Supervisor: SRICD District Manager

Please submit resume and cover letter and (3) professional references by September 27, 2024 to Gina Fuller @ gfuller@sricd.org.  

Pay: Pay negotiable $51,332 to $58,760 annually, plus paid time off and other benefits.

Hours: 40 hours per week
Location:  60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI

SUMMARY
This position is located U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Warwick Service Center assigned to support the Assistant State Conservationist Programs the State Resources Conservationist and Field Office Staff to implement the Rhode Island Oyster Reef Restoration as well as other coastal aquatic restoration programs. The incumbent will be supervised within the administrative areas of Programs and Ecological Science. The incumbent will provide technical assistance within the administrative areas Programs, Ecological Science and Field Operations to include administrative, technical, and programmatic implementation of the initiatives.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent provides leadership in completing conservation of the Oyster Restoration Program workload within and across Rhode Island. They will organize, facilitate, and execute activities to meet the needs of the state’s Oyster Reef and Aquatic Programs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provides leadership in completing Oyster Reef Implementation workload across the State to include inspecting oyster bags prior to hatchery, inspecting leases after setting, completing field and dockside inspections during grow out, documenting eligibility for deployment, scheduling oyster deployments, overseeing deployments, documenting proper deployment, and obtaining records for certification of practices.
• Ensuring consistent reporting requirements are met by obtaining hatchery records, weekly and bi-weekly reports from participants.
• Provide leadership in reviewing, evaluation, and collection of yearly monitoring reports. Coordinating final approval with the State Biologist.
• Evaluate the yearly monitoring report and input data into internal databases for analysis.
• Provides and participates in training clients, through meetings, training conferences, and on-the-job.
• Assists in development of job sheets, guide sheets, training materials, and information materials on as needed for distribution to field offices and partner staff.
• Monitors and tracks workload using tracking database to ensure timely response to requests.
• Works within a team concept to develop and implement ways to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of the products and/or services provided to internal and external customers.
• Provide GIS assistance to NRCS and Partners related to the implementation of aquatic programs.
• Prepares new apps to streamline staff fieldwork.
Provides support deploying, archiving, and analyzing in situ loggers recording parameters such as salinity, temp, dissolved oxygen, and water levels.
• Responsible for clear communication and timely reminders about paperwork, recording, and data needs from growers as well as hatcheries, remote setting facilities, RIDEM personnel, and others.
• Works with NRCS and State Partners perform scouting reconnaissance for natural beds/source populations of species of restoration/conservation interest such as: oysters (C. virginica), scallops (A. irradians), seagrasses (Z. marina/R. maritima), and to Identify new locations for restoration efforts.
• Supports NRCS with some maintenance of tow vehicle, boats, trailers, and equipment for optimal use throughout the year.
• Assist the State Assistance Soil Scientist with data collection for subaqueous soil services as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR THE POSITION
• Knowledge of survey design and sampling procedures, data for quality assurance and quality control of sampling procedures.
• Knowledge of oyster life cycles/disease/stressors common to Rhode Island Oyster populations and waterbodies.
• Must possess restoration and marine ecology background for species like eelgrass, scallops, clams, oysters and marsh grasses.
• Knowledge of data management, collaborative scientific/evidence-based research, and geospatial skills.
• Knowledge of bioinformatics and the genetic basis of oyster disease and stress resistance for natural and commercial lineages typical in Rhode Island.
• Knowledge of modern coastal, aquatic, or marine restoration planning approaches.
• Knowledge of marine aquaculture cultivation best management and practices.
• Must possess or obtain RI Boater Safety Certification or Equivalent

EEO RESPONSIBILITIES
• The incumbent is responsible for knowing and supporting equal opportunity and civil rights policies, performing assigned duties in full compliance with the letter and spirit of equal opportunity and civil rights laws and regulations; assuring bias free written and oral communications; respecting and valuing differences of other employees and clients; and as appropriate, preparing for career advancement opportunities.

OTHER CONDITIONS
Safety and Health - Performs duties in a supportive manner of a safe and healthy work environment. The employee exercises caution and maintains all safety requirements when exposed to dangerous objects, chemicals, and extreme temperatures.
• Condition of Employment - Must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license and a RI DEM boater license for the type of vehicle(s) operated to perform the duties of this position. This will require the operation of a motor vehicle on both public and private roads during daylight hours and occasionally after dark.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
The position is an employee of the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District. The employee with work with the NRCS lead to outline overall objectives and available resources. The SRICD employee and NRCS lead, in consultation, discuss timeframes and scope of the assignment including possible stages and approaches. The employee plans and carries out the assignment, resolves most conflicts that arise, coordinates work with others as necessary, interprets policy and regulatory requirements, keeps the NRCS lead informed of progress and potentially controversial problems, concerns, issues, or other matters, develops changes to plans and/or methodology and recommends improvements to meet program objectives. The NRCS lead reviews completed work for soundness of overall approach, effectiveness in meeting requirements or producing expected results, the feasibility of recommendations, and adherence to requirements.
GUIDELINES
The guidelines are primarily agency policy and regulation, Federal environmental laws and regulations, State environmental laws and regulations, and scientific reference literature. The incumbent must use judgment in interpreting guidelines and in adapting the appropriate procedures for each situation. Incumbent may need to devise methods and techniques for the support of natural resource management activities in a diversity of practices to meet stated resource management goals often requiring a departure from established practices.
COMPLEXITY
Work involves performing natural resources management functions and duties that require interpreting complex policies, rules, manuals, laws and technical information and providing technical expertise in applying natural resources and conservation theories including application of the concepts of related disciplines such as biology, land use planning, hydrology, and water chemistry to assist in the planning and design of complex systems to obtain appropriate balance in the functions of all-natural systems within a watershed by evaluating problems or issues association with conservation easements and reconciling conflicting environmental issues that may not be clearly addressed with established policy, guidance, criteria, etc. The employee uses considerable judgment to plan the steps, direction and progress of the workload, modify or adapt existing standards, practices or guides to address problems or issues associated with aquatic restoration and coastal systems.
SCOPE AND EFFECT
The purposes of these initiatives are to restore and enhance Oyster Reefs and other Coastal Habitats on eligible land; to protect the viability, and related conservation values by implementation of prescribed practices to NRCS Standards and Specifications using our Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
 

NATURE AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS
Personal contacts are with individual landowners, groups, agri-business representatives, management level representatives of state and local agencies and units of government, other USDA and federal agencies, other NRCS employees, and regional environmental groups.
The purpose of the contacts is primarily to work with landowners that are interested in permanent protection of the land in a conservation easement. The incumbent will recommend alternative solutions and motivate individuals and groups to pursue wise land use decisions.
 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work requires some physical exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. In addition to terrestrial activities the job also requires periodic snorkeling, wading, and the possibility of SCUBA assisted research diving in support of job goals. The work requires moderate physical ability and average agility and dexterity.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in an office, and the field. The office is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered in the performance of the outdoor work. Field duties may require the use of special protective gear. The incumbent is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow workers, or property with which entrusted.

What are the Rhode Island Conservation Districts?
Rhode Island’s Conservation Districts are not for profit, quasi-public organizations that serve local communities, and work on various projects to ensure natural resource conservation and sustainability. Rhode Island has three Districts located in the Northern, Southern and Eastern parts of the state, and these Districts work intimately and cooperatively on statewide projects. Many of the projects that the Conservation Districts work on are in partnership with local governments, land trusts, conservation commissions, RI Department of Environmental Management and the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service.
Rhode Island’s Conservation Districts are governed by RI State Laws, and the work accomplished by the organizations are directed by locally elected boards of directors and associate directors. The mission of the Conservation Districts are to promote and achieve a healthy environment and sustainable use of natural resources for the people of the state of Rhode Island, now and for the future, by coordinating partners to provide technical, educational and financial resources.

The Southern Rhode Island Conservation District (SRICD) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, SRICD does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.