Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator
: Job Details :

Wahkiakum Conservation District

Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator — Employment Opportunity Announcement Type: Regular, benefits, FLSA Eligible

Full-time, 40 hours per week

Note: This position is supported by and is contingent upon available state grant funding.

Opening Date: August 15, 2025

Closing Date: September 5, 2025, or until filled.

Vacancy Announcement: Voluntary Stewardship Coordinator

About the Wahkiakum Conservation District

The Wahkiakum Conservation District was established in 1940 and is a locally led, special purpose district that administers programs to conserve natural resources in Wahkiakum County. Conservation Districts serve as a non-regulatory political subdivision of state government created to bridge the gap between local landowners and state and federal government. Our work improves both rural and urban communities to benefit the health and well-being of our residents. Wahkiakum CD consists of a small and collaborative team of dedicated staff focused on providing technical assistance, cost share, and building programs that serve our community and the natural resources in Wahkiakum County. We are governed by a five-member volunteer Board of Supervisors.

Nature & Purpose of the Position

The Conservation District Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator exists to assist with the implementation of a recent valuable program within Wahkiakum County. The Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) was recently opted into by Wahkiakum County and exists to protect and enhance critical areas while maintaining agricultural viability in the County. There are several supporting programs that the district can access to help implement projects to advance the Voluntary Stewardship Program including the Riparian Grant Fund, the Natural Resources Investment Cost Share program, the VSP Capital Project funds, Salmon Recovery funding, and Centennial Clean Water funding.

Through these programs, the successful candidate will work directly with landowners to solve natural resource concerns using creativity, best practices, and long-term relationships with clients. This is an exciting opportunity to work on some of the most pressing natural resource challenges related to water quality, soil health, and endangered species recovery in a growing region.

This is a professional position responsible for assessing and responding to landowner and land manager needs and requests. The Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator also collaborates with Washington State University (WSU) Cooperative Extension, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), Wahkiakum County, and other conservation districts to develop and deliver educational programs and materials for agricultural producers and soil health enthusiasts. On a regular basis, it is expected that this position will proactively coordinate with the other district VSP coordinators, farm planners, and other technical experts in SW Washington and statewide. The Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator is independently responsible for program implementation throughout Wahkiakum County. This individual also works directly with the District Manager and other Natural Resource Specialists.

Primary Job Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of the Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator will evolve with time. Initially, the primary responsibility is to work with stakeholders within Wahkiakum County to prepare a Voluntary Stewardship Program workplan. As the program grows, the coordinator will work directly with agricultural producers (both small-scale and large-scale) within Wahkiakum Conservation District to plan, design, and implement projects that will address critical areas. The measurement of success is conservation practices applied on the land to protect and improve critical areas including fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands, frequently flooded areas, critical aquifer recharge areas, and geologic unstable areas. Duties include the following:

• Form and coordinate regular meetings of a Wahkiakum County Voluntary Stewardship Work Group responsible for development of a Wahkiakum County Work Plan.
• Work with district staff to develop, implement, and adapt as necessary a successful outreach program about agriculture conservation in critical
• Develop stewardship plans for landowners with agricultural activities that intersect critical
• Secure additional funding to further implement program activities to meet goals and benchmarks identified within the Wahkiakum County VSP Work Plan.
• Develop and implement a monitoring plan that demonstrates program
• Maintain accurate records of implemented projects that meet the criteria of the Wahkiakum County VSP Work Plan.
• Plan and design conservation practices and work with landowners to implement projects in accordance with design
• Serves as project manager to implement farm plans designed to maintain or improve critical areas. Project management includes designing projects in cooperation with landowners, securing funding to assist in project implementation, acquiring permits necessary to implement projects, and working with landowners to maintain project practices.
• Assist staff and contractors with critical area conservation planning and practice design developed from a wide range of funding sources.
• Assist with grant research, writing, and progress
• Assist staff with maintaining conservation project
• Manage an equipment rental
• Provide customer service in-person, by phone, and email as appropriate to ensure they are directed to appropriate information or
• Perform other duties as assigned by District
• All Duties and actions taken by the successful candidate while on official duty will be performed in a safe and healthful manner and will be of a nature to reflect favorably on the Wahkiakum Conservation

Minimum Qualifications

• BA or BS in agriculture, natural resources, or environmental engineering from an accredited program, or other related field with at least 1 year of field experience. 5 years of relevant experience may substitute for
• Proficient with all Microsoft Office suite of programs, ArcGIS, and CADD software.
• Organizational, report and informational writing and research
• Knowledge of a broad range of soil and water conservation principles, techniques, and best practices to apply and install conservation systems, which involve complex and diverse land uses and
• Strong ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with diverse groups of landowners, farmers, community organizers, and government
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects and timelines with flexible scheduling.
• Ability to maintain accurate records regarding time-keeping and authorized
• Ability to organize and plan your own schedule of activities related to work goals set by the District
• Possess, or be able to obtain, a valid Washington State driver's

Preferred Qualifications

This is a broad description of the qualifications for the Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator position. We do not expect any single candidate to possess all the qualifications listed. Our experience is that some individuals will only apply if they meet all the listed qualifications, but we will train you and we expect you to learn in the role. We are looking for team members who round out our current skill base. If this is you, we encourage you to apply.

• Knowledge of and experience in common agricultural practices and customs as practiced in Wahkiakum County, Washington, and the greater Southwest Washington
• Knowledge and skill in water quality standards and criteria for watershed health, riparian restoration, and ecosystem
• Knowledge of western Washington plant communities and
• Understanding and skill in regenerative agricultural practices as applied to Southwest Washington Agriculture.
• Understanding salmon recovery goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Proficiency in using Arc GIS mapping software and global positioning system (GPS) devices & software to collect point, line, and area information and downloading data to a computer system for further
• Experience developing, writing, and administering applications and projects funded by
• Positive demeanor and ability to interact effectively with
• Attention to detail and willingness to learn new skills (computer mapping techniques, soil sampling protocol, )
• Patience and diligence with monotonous work
• The ability to work independently and communicate needed support from the manager.
• Ability to maintain accurate records regarding time keeping.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

This position involves office work (50%) and fieldwork (50%). Regular office work includes long periods of stationary computer work, typing, and reading from a screen. It is necessary to have adequate vision and motor skills to perform the duties of the position, including hearing voice conversation and the manual dexterity to operate a computer.

Fieldwork may occur outside in inclement weather conditions and may require you to traverse uneven terrain. You may occasionally lift and carry materials weighing up to 50 pounds. You must be able to operate a motor vehicle safely. Occasional non-overnight and overnight travel may be required. The position will require occasional work on weekends or after regularly scheduled work hours. This position description describes the functions and qualifications for the position. It does not exclude an opportunity for modifications consistent with providing reasonable accommodation.

Location

The position is based in Skamokawa, Washington within Wahkiakum County. Staff work a maxi-flex schedule; this allows for accrual and use of either compensatory time or exchange time.

Compensation

$60,000 - $75,000 annual salary (dependent upon qualifications and experience). There will be a 6-month probationary period. At the end of the probationary period, a salary adjustment is anticipated.

Benefits

The district offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Vacation accrual begins at eight (8) hours per month, and increases based on years of
• The district recognizes ten (10) holidays per
• Sick leave accrues eight (8) hours per
• The district and its employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Depending on program choice, contributions include both employer and employee.
• The district offers medical and dental insurance premiums through the Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB). Health care premiums are covered for the employee. Coverage is available for family members at the employee's expense.

WCD is an Equal Opportunity Employer

WCD is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, marital status, veteran status or the presence of any sensory, physical or mental disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a disabled person. Please let us know if you need any accommodation to participate in the application process.

To Apply

Applicants must submit the following:

• A cover letter that specifically expresses the candidate's interest in the position and demonstrates how the applicant meets the minimum and preferred qualifications for this position,
• A detailed resume that shows all work/volunteer experience and education in enough detail to demonstrate how the applicant meets qualifications, and
• The names and phone numbers of three professional

All applications must be submitted electronically in PDF format to ...@ccdandwcd.com. Failure to submit all required materials will remove an applicant from consideration.

For further information, contact Darin Houpt, District Manager at 360-###-#### x5 or by email at: ...@ccdandwcd.com.

Salary/Compensation: $60,000 - $75,000 per year

recblid 196v73gh67urfasb7kjkn5qdpkovsb