|
|
Challenging Careers in the Natural Resources Conservation ServiceUpdated 10/09/2008 A lot of people talk about protecting our Nation’s natural resources.
|
"One of the most rewarding things I’ve done was working with kids to plant shrubs for wildlife winter and foraging cover. (This) will make an impression lasting their lifetime."
|
Soil Conservation Technician
NRCS conservation technicians work directly with farmers, ranchers, and
foresters. You’ll survey and design conservation practices, oversee their
installation, and ensure they meet our quality standards. The conservation
technician is key to the success of NRCS, because most everything you do results
in on-the-ground practices that directly improve, conserve, or restore our
natural resources.
Qualifications: Knowledge of farm or ranch operations, or work experience that
makes you familiar with conservation practices is desirable.
Soil Scientist
As an NRCS soil scientist, you’ll map and classify soils. You’ll identify
problems such as soil moisture and erosion. You’ll use digital and satellite
imagery to map soils and write descriptions. You’ll sample soils and evaluate
their quality, and work with information on watersheds, water quality, and
changes in land land-use patterns.
Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree or higher in soil science or a closely
related discipline that includes 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological,
physical, or earth science with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects
as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility.
Rangeland
Management Specialist
NRCS rangeland management specialists help plan grazing systems that improve
the quality of forage and other grazing land functions. You’ll suggest ways to
use grazing animals as tools to improve and sustain natural resources. You’ll
offer advice on water management, invasive species control, and sustainable
forage production. Whether landowners want to use their rangeland to support
livestock, wildlife, recreation, or a combination of these, you’ll tailor
conservation plans that will help landowners meet their goals.
Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree or higher in range management or a related
discipline that includes at least 42 semester hours in a combination of the
plant, animal, and soil sciences and natural resource management, with at least
18 semester hours in range management; at least 15 semester hours of directly
related courses in the plant, animal, and soil sciences, including at least one
1 hour in each of these three scientific areas; and at least nine 9 semester
hours of course work in related resource management subjects.
“Being a public affairs specialist allows me to celebrate conservation – highlighting the profound contributions of our land stewards while raising awareness in the community." |
Biologist
As an NRCS biologist, you’ll spend most of your time onsite working with
private landowners, other agencies, and units of government. You’ll provide
technical support and advice on fish and wildlife habitat development or
restoration. You’ll suggest ways to manage fish and wildlife populations,
restore streams and wetlands, and improve habitat.
Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree or higher in the biological sciences,
agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or other related
disciplines.
Engineer
NRCS employs a large number of engineers who have specialized skills in
erosion control, water management, structural design, construction, hydraulics,
soil mechanics, and environmental protection. We also employ those with general
engineering skills. Your job assignments may include restoring streams,
controlling erosion, developing water systems for livestock, improving and
conserving irrigation water, or restoring wetlands. As an NRCS engineer, you
will help solve a host of natural resource problems, and you may also become
involved in helping communities recover from natural disasters.
Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering. Specialties
include agricultural, environment, and civil engineering.
Engineering Technician
As an NRCS engineering technician, you’ll be involved in planning, design,
and construction work. You’ll help with surveying the land, plotting survey
information, and laying out construction measures. You’ll gather data, make
computations, and prepare maps and cross sections of profiles. You may serve as
a construction inspector on a wide variety of projects.
Qualifications: Experience on a survey crew running levels and transits or on
construction layout and inspection (see Note).
Note: Qualifications for many jobs may be met with a combination of education
and experience. Please contact your local NRCS Human Resources Office for
details.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service also offers careers for people trained in the following areas:
Accounting
Agronomy
Business Administration
Cartography
Communications
Contracting
Ecology
Forestry
Geographic Information Systems
Geology
Human Resources
Hydrology
Information Technology
Landscape Architecture
Legislative Affairs
Plant Sciences
Program and Administrative Assistance
Public Affairs and Communications
"My greatest reward with NRCS is to see the smiles on producers’ faces when they get approved for conservation practices ...I believe this is the true meaning of the NRCS Mission Statement—Helping People, Help the Land." |
Purchasing
Sociology
Watershed Management
Wetlands Science
At NRCS, we know that natural resource issues are often complex, and sometimes require a variety of skills to address a problem. That’s why NRCS believes in an inter-disciplinary team approach. If you encounter a tough problem, you won’t be alone. Regardless of your job title, you will have access to, and back-up from, NRCS specialists in all our disciplines. We believe that by working together – each of us contributing our skills – we can tackle the toughest natural resource challenges.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, politics, disability, sexual orientation, maritial, or family status.
"I may be a ‘background’ player in the conservation game, but I have no doubt about the importance of my role...." |
The NRCS has more than 2,500 field locations throughout the United States.
Regardless of your location, there may be opportunities where you want to work.
Starting salaries are competitive with those of other government agencies and
the private sector.
"Working with farmers is a rewarding experience. They are hardworking,
family-oriented people who love their land and heritage...We truly are helping
people help the land.” |
You will get many chances for on-the-job and formal training. You’ll set
career goals, and NRCS will help you achieve them.
There are promotion opportunities. How fast and how far you advance depends on
you. Advancement opportunities broaden as you gain experience with varied work
assignments in different locations.
During your first three 3 years of service, you’ll earn 13 days of vacation
leave each year. After three 3 years, you’ll earn 20 days. After 15 years,
you’ll earn 26 days.
Each year, you will also earn 13 days of sick leave. You may accumulate sick
leave without limit to cover serious illnesses. Sick leave may also be used to
care for family members.
Special benefits are available if you are disabled or injured while working.
"...(NRCS) was the perfect solution... I could accelerate my education as a soil
scientist in a real-life, hands-on experience...I would not change any part of
this. These experiences have helped me grow personally and professionally." |
NRCS offers flexible work schedules and programs to help employees balance the demands of work with personal and family responsibilities. These may include various alternative work schedules, job sharing, and telecommuting. Employee assistance programs are also available.
NRCS pays a portion (approximately 80 percent) of your health insurance
costs, and there are a variety of medical plans offered under this voluntary
program. NRCS also offers new employees the opportunity to sign up for both
long-term care insurance and tax-advantage savings accounts for dependent care
and healthcare-related expenses.
Another voluntary program provides life insurance. The amount of insurance
available to you depends on your salary, and again, NRCS pays part of the cost.
"I know we are helping people today, providing hope for tomorrow's generations,
and building on what many other employees have done in the past to give people
and communities the opportunities to preserve precious natural resources." |
Federal employees hired today are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). This system has three components: Social Security, a basic annuity, and a tax-deferred Thrift Saving Plan. FERS employees may contribute any percent of their salary (up to the limits established by the Internal Revenue Service) to the Thrift Savings Program, and NRCS will match up to five 5 percent of that amount. Depending on your investment goals, you can invest in any combination of government securities, stock, and bond funds.
For information on how to apply, contact your local NRCS office, or visit us
online at http://www.nrcs.usda/gov. See
job opportunities at
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9nrcshqp.asp.
"My work is never boring. I get to evaluate grasses, look at plant diversity and production, and talk with ranchers about range management opportunities.” |
Each year, NRCS hires students under its Student Career Experience Program.
If you are still attending college or graduate school, you may qualify.
You can alternate periods of work and study, or work on a part-time schedule
while attending school. You’ll work for, and learn from, NRCS professionals in
your field of study. You’ll learn by doing and earn while you learn.
NRCS also offers students other options, such as internships and temporary
employment opportunities. Participation in these programs could lead to a job
offer and a full-time career when you graduate. For more information, contact
your school’s placement office or cooperative education department.
NRCS also provides volunteer opportunities. The Earth Team – the volunteer
workforce of NRCS – expands conservation work across America with volunteer
time, talent, and energy. The Earth Team is continually looking for volunteers
who want to help conserve, protect, and maintain our natural resources. Stop in
and visit a local NRCS office, call 1-888-LANDCARE, or
click here to learn more about
becoming an Earth Team Volunteer.
Every day, NRCS keeps its commitment to protecting and conserving natural
resources on America’s private lands.
Helping People Help the Land
|