Biological Resources/Agricultural Specialist - Western Region
Rancho Cordova, California
The Western Regional Office of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) has an immediate opening for an experienced Biological Resources/Agricultural Specialist to help deliver DU's agricultural conservation programs in California. The position will be stationed in DU's Western Regional Office in Rancho Cordova, California, and be part of a team of biologists, engineers, and support staff responsible for implementing DU's mission by conserving, restoring, and managing wetlands and associated habitats.
Qualifications
Candidates must have at a minimum, a Bachelor of Science degree in a natural resources field. An advanced degree is desirable. Applicants must have at least one year of relevant experience. Applicants must have a working knowledge of agricultural practices (i.e., rice production) in the Central Valley. Knowledge of NRCS conservation programs and their benefit to rice producers is a plus. Demonstrated experience with various state and federal regulatory requirements (e.g., California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act) as they relate to construction of water conveyance infrastructure improvements needed to improve water use efficiency and water conveyance for agricultural operations is beneficial. Excellent written and oral communication, organizational and problem-solving skills, and the ability to use personal computers are required. Proven proposal/grant writing skills, project management capabilities, organization skill, and demonstrated ability to prioritize, plan, and execute agricultural strategies and objectives is desirable. Familiarity with the program area's biological resources, environmental issues, and private and public stakeholders is beneficial.
Duties and Responsibilities
This position will be part of a team of biologists, land specialists, environmental compliance specialists, and engineers working on land protection projects, DU's western region agricultural strategic plan, and DU's Rice Stewardship Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities. This position will also serve as a member of the Rice Stewardship Partnership between DU and USA Rice. Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for delivering the Climate-Smart Commodities grant, a cooperative grant in partnership between USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited. Specific job duties include,
Climate-Smart Commodities Project job duties:

• Conduct outreach and develop project flyers.
• Develop a funding application template.
• Develop project screening criteria to identify eligible projects.
• Develop project ranking criteria to identify priority projects and select successful projects.
• Develop monitoring plans for funded projects.
• Develop and execute landowner agreements.
• Process landowner invoices and payments.
• Conduct on-the-ground monitoring for funded projects.
• Provide project and monitoring data to the Rice Stewardship Partnership Team.

The incumbent will also work with a project team on all tasks related to DU's western region agricultural strategic plan. This could include development of new agriculture programs in areas of high priority to waterfowl including California's Central Valley, Oregon's Willamette Valley, Washington's Puget Sound, and Idaho's Snake River Plain.
Other duties will include:
Project Initiation - identifying potential projects, developing/maintaining relationships with private stakeholders that may partner with DU, and writing and submitting funding proposals to various sources to secure funding for waterfowl friendly agricultural projects.
Project Management/Delivery - coordinating with landowners and other stakeholders, DU science and policy staff, consultants, and permitting agencies to ensure timely and on-budget delivery of projects; negotiating project agreements; writing reports; managing budgets; providing biological technical assistance; and entering project tracking data in DU's business information system.
Salary and Benefits Package: Salary range is $58,000 to $87,000 commensurate with experience and education. DU offers an exceptional benefits package that includes comprehensive group medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance, including spouse and dependent coverage; minimum three weeks paid vacation to start; paid sick leave and 10 paid holidays; 401(k) plan (including partial employer match); and tuition reimbursement.
Application Instructions: To apply, submit a cover letter indicating why you are interested in the position and a resume highlighting your qualifications. For external candidates, visit www.ducks.org/jobs, select the job title and follow the prompts to APPLY.
For internal candidates, log into https://workforcenow.adp.com with your employee credentials, click MYSELF, TALENT, CAREER CENTER and follow the prompts to APPLY. This position will remain open until filled.
DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, military status, disability, age, or genetic information except where age or gender is a bona fide occupational qualification as allowed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 or over), disability (physical, mental or visual), genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), military and veteran status, immigration status, or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.