Agriculture and Water Outreach AmeriCorps Member

Position Summary: The AmeriCorps Agriculture and Water Outreach Specialist is based at Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District in Windom, Minn. The position serves alongside natural resource professionals with the Cottonwood and other area Soil and Water Conservation Districts supporting the work of The Minnesota Department of Agriculture with local implementation of the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP), learning hands-on skills in assessing and managing soil and water resources. The Agriculture and Water Outreach Specialist provides assistance to the MAWQCP certification process which may include farm water quality assessments, field visits and data collection, producer and/or landowner interviews service and groundwater monitoring programs, wetland and watercourse inventories and assessments; prepare documents for cost-share and easement programs; conduct field surveys and site inspections and prepare reports; and coordinate and conduct educational programs and activities. The Agriculture and Water Outreach Specialist will communicate with local landowners to develop management plans, gather input on best practices and provide education materials on soil and water resources. Members are directly supervised by Conservation Corps Assistant Program Manager and MDA site supervisor. Members serve in a single placement setting with a partnering nonprofit/government organization. Members complete service projects with direction provided by partnering agencies and representatives of those agencies.

Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in a related field OR a combination of college level coursework and equivalent professional experience in related fields. • Strong planning, organization, communication and creative thinking skills. • Familiarity with Microsoft (Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) required. • Ability to communicate effectively in electronic, written and oral media. • Effective time management and project oversight skills. • Knowledge of GIS software and GPS use preferred. • Work well in team settings and exhibit respectful assertiveness to contribute to projects and products. • Ability to work hard in an indoor/outdoor setting for a minimum of 40 hours/week. • Desire to work with diverse youth, adults and other volunteers in conservation, education and recreation settings. • Positive attitude, interest in community service and desire to make a difference. • Training will be provided in these areas as needed; no more than 20% of the service term is dedicated to technical and personal skills training. • Must pass a criminal history check consisting of a National Sex Offender Public Website check, a state criminal history check, and a fingerprint-based FBI check. Passing the criminal history check is defined as no positive hits on the NSOPW and no history of violent offenses on the state or FBI checks. • Member will certify that they have or will obtain the diploma/GED to be in accordance with program requirements