The Agriculture Conservation Practitioner works with the Ohio/Western Lake Erie Basin Agriculture team to develop, manage, influence, and advance conservation programs, on-the-ground projects, diverse partnerships, and science-based agriculture conservation methods; She/He/They supports The Nature Conservancy in Ohio’s Agriculture Strategy to help producers achieve whole farm success by implementing practices that keep farmers farming, reduces climate change risks, and protect our soil and water resources now and into the future. The strategy centers on: Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, Soil Health and Nutrient Management, and Water Management for all producers. The Agriculture Conservation Practitioner will report to the Ohio Agriculture Director and operates throughout Ohio River and Western Lake Erie Basin watersheds. Strong preference for this position is to report to our main office in Dublin, Ohio but we will consider other locations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Agriculture Conservation Practitioner implements, tracks, and reports on activities to promote and increase public awareness and communicate TNC’s agriculture conservation message and goals. She/He/They provides project/data management, administrative tasks, and communication of outcomes to support current soil health and nutrient management programs focused on peer-to peer farmer led initiatives and elevated phosphorus fields with nutrient service providers in the Western Lake Erie Basin watershed. She/He/They identifies partners and opportunities to scale successful programs and bring new programs to other watersheds in Ohio. She/He/They contributes actively to the strategic direction of the Ohio Agriculture team. Work will include direct engagement with agriculture producers and nutrient service providers as primary audiences. Frequent travel to field sites and for event planning is required.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Work on multiple, trans-disciplinary projects to advance soil health and nutrient management, water management, and climate adaptation strategies in Ohio and the Western Lake Erie Basin.
- Plan and execute farmer education outreach, individual farmer meetings; manage and develop databases for project tracking, reporting and communication of results.
- Assist in development of a program for nutrient service providers to align nutrient management planning and edge of field conservation for whole farm success.
- Demonstrated ability to establish new and steward existing relationships within the agriculture community.
- Collaboratively engage and cooperate with TNC staff, as well as diverse external partners such as public agencies, universities, agribusinesses, commodity groups, individual farmers and non-governmental organizations.
- Must be willing to travel statewide, work in variable weather conditions, and at remote locations.