Employment

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Current Vacancy Announcements for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Maine:

Soil Conservationist

Natural Resource Conservation Service soil conservationists spend most of their time in the field working with farmers, and other land users. They offer conservation planning and technical help to everyone from family farmers to local government officials. They suggest ways to conserve the soil, improve water quality, manage nutrients, and protect and improve wildlife habitat.

They help teachers start outdoor laboratories for students. They give talks and present conservation demonstrations to clubs and organizations. They help people set local conservation priorities. They also provide outreach for Natural Resource Conservation Service programs, and plan, layout, design, and implement conservation practices.

Qualifications: A degree in a soil conservation, or a related discipline such as natural resources, agriculture, agronomy, soil, plant or crop science. Coursework must have included 30 semester hours in agriculture or the natural sciences.  Additionally, you must have at least 12 semester hours in soil, crop or plant science. Of those 12 hours, at least 3 must have been in soil science. 

Soil Conservation Technician

Soil conservation technicians (SCT) work on the land with farmers to show them how to install conservation practices and oversee the quality of those practices. SCTs perform engineering surveys and design standard conservation practices such as waterways, terraces, and agricultural waste management systems. 

Qualifications: Knowledge of farm operations. Coursework or
experience that involved designing and implementing conservation
practices. 

Soil Scientists

Soil scientists map and classify soils. They identify problems such as wetness and erosion. They use aerial photographs to map soils and
write soil descriptions. They sample soils and evaluate quality, analyze watershed information and record changes in land use patterns. 

Qualifications: A degree in a soil science or a closely related discipline.  Coursework must have included 30 semester hours in biological, physical, or earth science. Additionally, you must have at least 15 semester hours in courses such as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics or soil fertility.

Engineers

Natural Resources Conservation Service engineers develop and utilize specialized skills in erosion control, water management, structural design, construction, hydraulics, soil mechanics, and environmental protection. They develop and implement stream bank and erosion control measures and water supply systems. They design waste management systems and concrete and earthen dams. The Natural Resource Conservation Service  typically employs agricultural, civil, or environmental engineers. 

Qualifications: At bachelor's degree in agricultural, civil, or environmental engineering.

Civil Engineering Technician

Civil engineering technicians (CET) plan, design structures used in conservation practices. They survey the land and lay out the construction measures. CETs gather data, make computations, prepare maps and cross sections of profiles serve as on site inspector during construction. 

Qualifications: Coursework or experience in the engineering field.

Other Careers:

Accounting, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Aquatic Biology, Business Administration, Cartography, Communications, Computer Technology, Forestry, Geology, Hydrology, Plant Sciences, Watershed Management, Wetland Science, Wildlife Biology.

Last Modified:  7/17/2008

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