Job Description: The Iowa Water Center at Iowa State University invites applications for a full-time Program & Outreach Specialist for the newly established National Hub for the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework. The National Hub for the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) will serve a national audience of federal agencies and partners to provide access to geospatial conservation data and coordinate the adoption of the ACPF into multi-scale conservation goal setting and conservation planning processes. This new position will be the point of contact for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state offices and state partners from multiple states to coordinate ACPF with state conservation priorities and ACPF delivery to priority watersheds. This position will coordinate and communicate across multidisciplinary teams to ensure goals and objectives are met. Additional administrative responsibilities include coordinating a national communication network for researchers conducting research on targeted conservation planning and developing information dissemination products that are published to online platforms managed by the National Hub. This position is regular with term appointment (fixed-term) with the opportunity for renewal.

The successful candidate will have a background in conservation planning, previous experience working with Geographic Information Systems and ArcGIS, excellent communication skills (speaking and writing), along with the ability to communicate and interact with a wide variety of agricultural conservation stakeholders. The candidate will be a motivated, self-starter who can work semi-independently as well as with a team of professionals who develop and provide ACPF resources. This position requires some travel within Iowa and to other states.

Closing date: 11/29/21
Job Group: Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Special Required Qualifications
• Driver's License
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Natural Sciences, Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering, Agriculture Education, or a closely aligned discipline by the appointment start date.
• Experience that demonstrates excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Experience with project management, including grants management related to following guidelines, working with multiple stakeholders and partners, and meeting deliverables.
• Experience and/or familiarity with GIS and tools for conservation planning and agricultural landscape assessment.
• Specific experience desired with running and/or interpreting results from the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF).
• Demonstrated knowledge of field and areawide conservation planning processes, particularly those used by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as the day-to-day point person for information requests and program coordination
• Contribute to identifying critical needs for the program as it is being established
• Coordinate efforts with state NRCS offices and other partners to develop conservation goals and contribute to deploying the ACPF for conservation planning at multiple scales within participating states
• Collaborate with multiple ACPF support teams to deliver ACPF data and training resources to participating states and partners
• Develop relationships and work closely with various external agencies such as those within the USDA and state-based agencies and partners
• Continue to develop professional expertise
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned

This position will be housed within the Iowa Water Center on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa Water Center is a federally funded Water Resources Research Institute established under the Water Resources Research Act of 1964. The Iowa Water Center focuses on the mission of advancing water science to meet Iowa's water resource needs.

Level Guidelines:

• Individual contributor position with developing professional and/or technical skills working under immediate to general supervision
• Grasps professional-level knowledge and concepts of field while working in a progressive learning mode
• Works on problems and issues of somewhat limited scope
• Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data for which answers are available or can be obtained
• Responds to inquiries and issues, escalating to manager or higher level workers as appropriate
• May lead projects of limited scope and complexity
• May provide guidance to students

Appointment Type: Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)
Proposed End Date or Length of Term: September 30, 2024
Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12 Month Work Period
Time Type: Full time

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or toll-free: 1-877-477-7485.