Forester

Job Description

Job Description

Forester ID: AIN1-015 Location: Indianapolis Program: ACE
Wage/Hr: $30.80 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.

Statewide field work locations will be variable based on workload needs. Current, significant field workload includes Northeast and Southeast Indiana. Applicants will be expected to work most days in Indiana doing field work, in-person with clients and staff.

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 15 year(s) of experience in Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resources, Biology, or related field of study OR BA/BS Degree in Forestry

• Forestry experience, Conservation Planning experience, Project Implementation.
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel

Duties:

*Statewide field work locations will be variable based on workload needs. Current, significant field workload includes Northeast and Southeast Indiana. Applicants will be expected to work most days in Indiana doing field work, in-person with clients and staff. Provides forestry technical assistance and forestry conservation planning guidance. Forestry assistance associated with conservation programs implementation. To be performed individually and in conjunction with NRCS staff. Serves the entire state as needed remaining in close communication and coordination with the Indiana NRCS State Forester.

• Provides forestry conservation planning help and guidance to forest clients and staff. Develops forest conservation plans to implement farm bill programs such as EQIP/CSP. Perform forest practice checkouts.   70%
• Provide oversight and technical review of conservation practice specifications on forest land.   30%

• Travel Requirements: This position will require travel to various locations in Indiana: landowner site visits, USDA office visits, use of POV, GOV if trained and availability exists.
• Health and Safety Considerations: Forestry duties come with inherent risks associated with most outdoors work and overland mobility by foot is necessary. It is important to be mindful of these factors when considering this position, for example: physical fitness, ticks, mosquitos, unlevel footing, weather.
• Required Safety Gear: Proper footwear and outerwear for forestry work.
• 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.