Conservation Specialist - Lafayette, LA

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Position will be located in the DU South Louisiana Field Station, Lafayette, LA.  Primary work area will be Acadia, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Saint Landry, and Vermillion Parishes.  Infrequent travel to other Parishes may be required.

 

Position Overview:

 

The Conservation Specialist will work with Parish NRCS offices to promote USDA conservation programs and provide both programmatic and natural resource technical assistance to private landowners, primarily related to rice agriculture and improvement of irrigation systems.  This is a part-time, hourly paid position, co-funded by the USDA-NRCS, DU and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).  Part-time workload anticipated to be 24-32 hours per week.  Successful applicant will be employee of DU’s Southern Regional Office in Jackson, MS, but will work in accordance with and will receive primary supervision from DU’s South Louisiana Field Station. 

 

Duties:

• Provide programmatic and natural resource technical assistance for USDA conservation programs to private landowners, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, primarily related to rice agriculture and irrigation systems; 
  
  
• Serve as primary technical leader on DU’s rice irrigation pump efficiency testing team (hereafter pump team), and as such, perform pump efficiency tests on various diesel powered and electric systems.    
  
  
• Assist pump team with providing improvement solutions to private landowners for their irrigation systems.    
  
  
• Assist landowners in executing such solutions.
  
  
• Assist with other pump team duties, as needed.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

 

• Working knowledge of rice agriculture in south Louisiana;
• Knowledge of irrigation systems, pump configurations, and testing of efficiencies in these systems;
• Ability to provide recommendations on improving irrigation system efficiencies and capability of helping landowners follow through with such recommendations;
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a conservation field team;
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and prioritize work activities and complete tasks to meet deadlines;
• Possess a valid driver’s license and be willing to drive personal vehicle for federal mileage reimbursement rate.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

 

• 4-yr. Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource conservation, agriculture, or wildlife management, or a closely related natural resources field and at least 5-years of experience;

 

Comments:  Duties may require infrequent overnight travel, both in and out of state.  Duties may require field work in extreme weather conditions.

 

To apply:  Fill out the application forms provided at www.ducks.org/jobs; attach cover letter with two references with daytime telephone numbers; andsubmit by November 9, 2012 to address below.  For more information regarding this position, contact Bob Dew at Ducks Unlimited at (337) 408-3288 or bdew@ducks.org.

 

Send application by mail or e-mail (e-mail preferred) to:

Michelle Dunbar – Administrative Assistant

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

South Louisiana Field Station

218 Rue Beauregard

Lafayette, LA 70508

Email: mdunbar@ducks.org

Phone: 337-408-3288

Posting: www.ducks.org/jobs