Regional Field Specialist (Administrator III)

Organizational Purpose:
The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s jobshiringnearme.org Board program provides technical expertise and administrative functions necessary to promote natural resources conservation on private lands. It offers administrative, financial, and technical support to the state’s 72 local conservation districts as they implement their local plans of work conserving the natural resources of Colorado’s working landscapes. It also coordinates various programs with state and federal agencies on natural resource issues and assists districts on water, soil and energy programs. This position works directly out of our partner USDA-field offices within the region, learning and assisting in the Federal, State and Local conservation target of locally led conservation.

Major Objectives of the Position:
Serve as program liaison and resource to district employees and supervisors for southeastern Colorado conservation districts in the completion and timely submission of annual plans of work, general fund budgets, and audits. Connecting them to the appropriate state agencies that can assist the completion of those forms. Travel constantly to attend conservation district board meetings, annual meetings and watershed events. Advise and clarify procedures for accurate completion of these various reports. Identify problem areas in the operation of individual conservation districts and devise appropriate solutions or suggestions to improve. Provide guidance to district managers and supervisors for the districts on various aspects of daily and long term conservation district operations. Connect the conservation districts to the appropriate subject matter expert at CDA as a resource for them. This position is truly the connector of State and Federal opportunities for producers as well as resources to the districts.

Primary Duties

Program Liaison:

• Serve as program liaison and resource to district employees and supervisors for southeastern Colorado conservation districts in the completion and timely submission of annual plans of work, general fund budgets, and audits.
• Connecting them to the appropriate state agencies that can assist the completion of those forms.
• Travel constantly to attend conservation district board meetings, annual meetings and watershed events. Advise and clarify procedures for accurate completion of these various reports.
• Identify problem areas in the operation of individual conservation districts and devise appropriate solutions or suggestions to improve.
• Provide guidance to district managers and supervisors for the districts on various aspects of daily and long term conservation district operations.
• Connect the conservation districts to the appropriate subject matter expert at CDA as a resource for them.
• This position is truly the connector of State and Federal opportunities for producers as well as resources to the districts.

Leadership Trainer:

• Develop training and leadership expansion programs for conservation districts that will build their proficiency in grant writing and administration, employee supervision, equipment safety, special district operation, etc.
• Coordinate and conduct “New District Manager/Supervisor Training” for conservation districts assigned to the position.
• Travel throughout southeastern Colorado to conduct formal training sessions for district employees, supervisors, and partners.
• Watershed Coordination
• Provide support for meetings sponsored by the program as well as working with various partners in cooperative events and meetings to represent the program.
• Work with watershed leadership to organize Watershed Association meetings in the region of the state that is delegated to this position.
• Help further watershed planning efforts throughout eastern Colorado.

Outreach/Communications

• Plan, develop, and manage strategic communication efforts for CSCB;
• Write, design, and publish external communication outreach materials, including program fact sheets and brochures, monthly e-newsletters and publish CSCB’s Annual Report.
• Assist conservation districts with communications/ marketing needs, including with promotional material design;
• Assist NRCS in outreach and communications needs as described in the CDA/NRCS contribution agreement.
• Graphic design and creative communication are encouraged in addition to advanced writing skills.

This position is advertised in line with the Governor’s executive order focused on skills-based hiring practices that focuses on the knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to the job and aligns the hiring process accordingly. Skills-based hiring reduces potential barriers for applicants and allows for reduced bias in the hiring process by providing a direct description of skills that are unique to the duties assigned to the position with a recognition that the applicant may have developed these skills through education, training, or past experiences. 

Minimum Qualification:Proven experience, Knowledge, Skills:

• Six (6) years of relevant experience in administrative roles supporting agriculture and/or conservation efforts

OR

Education and Experience:

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupational role supporting agriculture and/or conservation efforts equal to six years

Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in common fields include agriculture, forestry, natural resources, environmental science, agronomy, soil science, biology, or animal science.
• Previous experience working as an employee of the state of colorado

Conditions of Employment:

• Must have an active Colorado driver’s license.
• Must be able to pass an employment and criminal background investigation
• Must be a resident of the state of Colorado.
• Be willing to travel for frequent single-day trips to work sites throughout assigned area and be willing to have overnight travel to other areas of Colorado
• Must be willing to work outside of normal business hours
• Will need to work outdoors in adverse conditions such as rain, heat, and snow.

Required Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

• Excellent communication skills; able to communicate effectively and articulately in writing and orally with diverse communities in all corners of the state.
• Knowledge of conservation
• Knowledge of agricultural practices.
• Effective communication skills with diverse populations
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple priorities, and able to react and adjust quickly to changing conditions.
• Detail oriented.
• Work well under pressure.
• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.
• Strong relationship management skills and excellent representation of the department in community interactions.
• A proven track record for developing and maintaining trusted relationships with stakeholders and industry experts.
• Excellent negotiation and consensus building skills.