Conservation Technician

Conservation Technician ID: AVA1-020 Location: Bedford Program: ACE Wage/Hr: $20.50 Hours/Week: 24 Minimum Age: 55 Disclaimer: This is not a federal position. This role is offered through a partnership agreement and does not constitute an NRCS hiring action. This position is a non-federal role funded through an existing agreement between NRCS and NEW Solutions. The enrollee will provide direct support to farmers and landowners, enabling the implementation of conservation practices on the ground. This role contributes to NRCS's mission by enhancing capacity in field offices and ensuring timely assistance to producers. It is designed to free up NRCS staff for emergency and high-priority responses, not to replace federal staff. This role helps ensure continued progress on conservation planning, practice implementation, and technical assistance, especially in high-demand or disaster-affected areas. It aligns with the Administration's priorities for farmer-first, field-facing, and partner-enabled capacity expansion. For over 25 years, National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions) has specialized in connecting experienced workers (ages 55+) with full-time and part-time job opportunities that support the critical missions of Federal Agencies across the United States. NEW Solutions connects experienced workers (ages 55+) with the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). These are experienced professionals who provide technical and professional assistance to the Department of Agriculture for the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program. Benefits: Paid Health Insurance Premium for positions budgeted at 60+ hours per pay period, Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Federal Holidays, and optional Vision and Dental Insurance available for positions budgeted at 35+ hours per pay period. Positions listed here do not guarantee employment for any definite period. Enrollment in the Experienced Worker Programs administered by NEW Solutions is temporary. The enrollment relationship between NEW Solutions and the Enrollee is an ?at-will? relationship. This means that an Enrollee is free to terminate enrollment at any time during the enrollment period, and NEW Solutions and the Agency have the right to terminate the relationship with the Enrollee. PLEASE NOTE: An ?ACES Enrollee? is not a federal employee, nor an employee of NEW Solutions. An ?ACES Enrollee? is a participant in a grant program established through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the USDA-NRCS and administered by NEW Solutions. This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the United States. Qualifications: Minimum of 10 year(s) of experience in Natural resources planning, conservation planning and engineering designs. OR AA Degree in Agriculture, Chemistry, Biology Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel Duties: Provide assistance to the Rustburg Service Center (USDA NRCS) staff by assisting with the current CTA General and Farm Bill workload. Support activities within Area II when there are workload situations that will impact the whole Area. Help with Farm Bill activities that will support the implementation of applications and contracts by using the standard conservation and assessment tools available in the Field office, i.e., Conservation Planning (I&E) activities, CART, CD, NRCS-CPA-52, develop conservation maps, etc. 30% Engineering design - survey & layout of conservation practices; Conservation practice inspection / check-out to support Farm Bill programs and contracts; Assist in the training of new USDA NRCS staff. 30% Help develop CTA General conservation plans using the standard conservation and assessment tools available in the Field office, i.e., Conservation Planning (I&E) activities, CART, CD, NRCS-CPA-52, etc. 25% Assist with FSA Compliance Reviews within Area II boundaries; Assist with any emergency programs, i.e., Emergency Conservation Program for site visits, designs, layout and inspections. 15% Other: Complete annual agency and department training (i.e., any AgLearn training that is assigned to the individual). Overnight travel: . Physical requirements: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.