Manager of Conservation Programs – Agronomy

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

 

Manager of Conservation Programs – Agronomy
Bismarck, ND

Ducks Unlimited’s Great Plains Regional Office in Bismarck, North Dakota is seeking an accomplished Agronomist to lead a nationally recognized program to promote winter cereals and build stronger relationships between DU and crop producers within the Prairie Pothole Region. This salaried position will be stationed at the Great Plains Regional Office in Bismarck, ND and will report to the Director of Conservation Programs for the Dakotas and Montana.

The Manager of Conservation Programs—Agronomy will lead a team of  professional agronomists who foster the planting of winter cereals using diversified crop rotations and no-till/minimum-till cropping systems by offering educational programs, research and demonstration trials and crop production (technical) assistance to growers, Conservation Districts, Extension Service, NRCS and private industry representatives.

Primary Duties: 

• Partner with universities, USDA, agricultural corporations, and other public agencies and non-governmental conservation organizations to fund, plan, and deliver DU’s winter cereals program in North and South Dakota
• Work cooperatively with and provide assistance to the Extension Service, state and federal agencies, private industry and others to promote the seeding of winter cereals
• Work with regional communications staff to compose articles for newsletters, ag publications and the general media promoting winter cereals and DU’s work with agricultural producers in the Prairie Pothole Region
• Work with regional public policy staff to promote state and federal public policy that supports increased production of winter cereals and increased cooperation between conservation and agriculture in the Prairie Pothole Region
• Work with regional conservation planning staff to ensure regional agronomy program is well-aligned with current regional habitat conservation strategy
• Manage regional agronomy budget
• Supervise and manage 2 – 3 full-time agronomy field staff
• Design, coordinate, and implement research and demonstration trials promoting winter cereals
• Identify, develop and coordinate the crop production, soils management, winter cereals management educational materials, meetings, tours, and other educational activities to address grower needs
• Provide technical assistance on crop production, pest control and soils management

Minimum qualifications:

Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent in agronomy or a related discipline is required. At least 5 years of related experience is required. A qualifying advanced degree will substitute for 1 (M.S.) or 2 (Ph.D.) years of the required experience. Must possess a valid driver’s license and pass a pre-employment drug screen.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Comprehensive knowledge of modern agronomic principles and practices as they relate to crop production in the Northern Great Plains
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and coalitions of diverse partners
• Demonstrated ability to develop working relationships with crop producers
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team of professional colleagues
• Self-motivated and driven to make a conservation impact
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and prioritize work activities and complete tasks to meet deadlines
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office software
• Ability to travel and spend multiple days away from primary duty location

To apply:  Complete the electronic application at www.ducks.org/jobs; attach letter of interest, resume and daytime contact information (email & phone numbers) for three professional references; and submit. Application deadline is June 1st, 2014.

For more information regarding this position or to request application materials, please contact Candace Miller at (701) 355-3511 or cmiller@ducks.org.