CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (CREP) TECHNICIAN

Application Deadline:  The job announcement will remain open until filled. Applications received by 5:00 p.m. on November 14, 2025 will be evaluated for the first round of interviews. 

Estimated Start Date: December 1 and preferably no later than December 8, 2025.

Curry Soil and Water Conservation District (Curry SWCD) is a member of Curry Watershed Partners, a group of non-regulatory organizations working together to help local landowners and communities keep our shared lands and rivers healthy and sustainable. The Curry Watersheds Partnership includes Curry SWCD, the South Coast and Lower Rogue Watershed Councils, and the Curry Watersheds Nonprofit. We offer reliable information, technical expertise, and on-the-ground assistance to:

• Support landowners and public agencies to care for their land in ways that sustain clean rivers and streams, foster abundant fish and wildlife, and keep local farms, ranches, and forest lands productive.
• Create opportunities for local students and community members to learn about healthy rivers, streams, and forests, and about sustainable local agriculture.
• Monitor the health of our watersheds and share information with leaders and local communities.
• Bring public and private funding from outside our county.

Find out more about us at www.currywatersheds.org

About Oregon Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Technical Assistance in Coos and Curry Counties

The Oregon CREP restores riparian buffers on agricultural land as a state-specific enhancement to Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This important State-Federal program provides technical assistance, financial incentives, and cost shares to agricultural landowners who elect to protect surface water quality and improve wildlife habitat through individual US Department of Agriculture contracts. Our CREP Technician works closely with USDA staff to support all phases of individual CREP project development, implementation, and monitoring.

CWP’s CREP Technical Assistance position is based in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Coquille, Oregon, and supports projects located throughout Coos and Curry Counties using NRCS procedures and planning tools. Office space, technical oversight, training, and review of work products are provided by NRCS staff in Coquille. The CREP Technician is supervised by the Curry SWCD District Manager in Gold Beach.

The CREP TA position has been funded through Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Technical Assistance grants for more than 20 years in cooperation with NRCS. The CREP Technician is responsible for submitting scheduled reports for the current OWEB grant, which will provide funding through December 2027, and for applying for future grants as they become available.  

Position Details

Status: At-will, hourly, non-exempt, 1.0 FTE (~38 hrs/week) through December 2027. Funding beyond this time is dependent on securing future grants. Additional grant opportunities are occasionally available, and the CREP Technician is expected to sustain the position over time through grant writing and other forms of fundraising.

Starting Wage Range: $26.47 - $28.14/hour, DOE

About this Position:

This work is largely independent and self-motivated within the framework of NRCS protocols and procedures.  Initiative, a positive attitude, and the ability to initiate contact with farmers, ranchers, and partner agencies by phone, in person, and via written contacts are essential. Strong written and verbal communication skills are required. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Providing outreach and education about the CREP program and agricultural water quality protection
• Outreach articles, phone calls, and mailings
• Responding to individual and agency or partner inquiries
• Presenting water quality and program information at workshops and events
• Coordinating riparian restoration projects from project identification through completion, including:
• Conducting site visits to help landowners understand resource concerns on their property
• Determining the need and feasibility of water quality protection measures on individual properties
• Conducting site assessments and inventories using NRCS protocols
• Discussing economic implications of riparian restoration: costs and benefits
• Developing Conservation Plans to guide landowners in project implementation
• Developing practice implementation requirements and job sheets for the landowner to follow
• Providing budgetary guidance for individual projects
• Inspecting and certifying installed work
• Monitoring established contracts and conducting Farm Service Agency status reviews
• Securing and managing grants and other sources of funding for the program, including:
• Writing and submitting grant applications
• Time keeping and invoices in cooperation with supervisor
• Procurement of contracted services (archaeology)
• Writing and submitting required reports
• Serving as the main point of contact for the CREP program in Coos and Curry Counties
• Contributing to partner strategies and meetings
• Daily contact and communication with USDA partners
• Identifying opportunities to leverage state or federal investment in voluntary resource protection
• Securing and maintaining the required NRCS certifications and authorizations
• Attending NRCS training sessions offered within Oregon
• Working toward NRCS Oregon Planner certification
• Attaining NRCS Job Approval Authority for frequently used practices including Fence, Access Control, Vegetation management, Riparian Forest Buffer, Structures for Wildlife, Upland Wildlife Habitat Improvement, others
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with agencies and other organizations and groups that conduct or support agricultural water quality protection and riparian restoration
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills/Experience:  

• Bachelor of Science in a Natural Resource field – preferably with an emphasis that relates to resource management (e.g. Agribusiness, Water Quality, Agronomy, NR planning, Soils, Forestry, etc.)
• A minimum of 2 years’ professional work experience that demonstrates independent judgment and customer service, or advanced degree pertinent to resource management.
• Experience initiating contact with people and handling sensitive or proprietary information
• Experience communicating with a variety of audiences (customers, grantors, agencies, general public)
• Working knowledge of ArcGIS or other GIS software and use of GPS devices
• Competency in office software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, etc.)

 Preferred Skills/Experience:  

• NRCS Certified Conservation planner or familiarity with NRCS planning procedures
• Agricultural, forestry, or other natural resources management experience
• Familiarity with agricultural concerns, farming practices, and economic constraints
• Knowledge of regional ecology including salmonid life histories and habitat needs, watershed processes, water quality issues, and native and introduced vegetation
• Experience with voluntary habitat conservation and restoration practices on private lands
• Familiarity with environmental regulatory requirements including wetland permitting, floodplain management
• Experience working on the southern Oregon coast or similar watershed systems
• Grant writing and project management experience

 Additional Requirements:

• Must pass a federal background investigation for access to USDA computers, equipment, and offices
• Must hold a valid driver’s license recognized by Oregon, with driving record and skills sufficient to obtain approval to drive government vehicles
• Must interact respectfully with members of the public with differing political, religious, and social views
• As a tenant in a federal office, must comply with the Hatch Act and other federal workplace regulations
• Willingness to become an NRCS Certified Conservation Planner
• Ability to traverse rough ground in all types of weather while carrying field gear
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to acquire and maintain NRCS Job Approval Authority for riparian and wildlife restoration practices through on-the-job and in-classroom trainings

People who thrive in our organization function both independently and as a member of a diverse team in a collaborative work environment, and are self-directed, organized, and detail oriented.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The position includes both office and field-based activities. The ability to flex around a work schedule involving long field days (seasonally) and/or attendance at evening meetings and occasional weekend events is essential.

Office work will take place at the NRCS office at 382 North Central Blvd, Coquille, Oregon. Occasional remote work access is also available. Field assignments will occur primarily on private lands throughout Curry County and Coos County. Work will take place in all weather on mountainous terrain, within stream corridors, and on ranchland. The Technician must have the ability and willingness to work in all weather conditions. Field work may include, but is not limited to, bending, climbing, crawling, kneeling, lifting up to 40 pounds, digging, pulling, reaching, sitting, standing, stooping, walking in rough terrain, wading and/or paddling in water bodies, and occasionally contending with adverse weather conditions requiring special clothing and safety precautions. Regular, sometimes daily, travel to sites throughout both counties is required. Field work will include occasional visits to Douglas County to support additional CREP projects if Coos-Curry workload permits. Training opportunities are typically within Oregon and may entail overnight hotel stays.

Curry SWCD is committed to creating a workplace culture that understands and appreciates differences among people and is welcoming and inclusive to all. By fostering fairness and equity in its work culture, Curry Watershed Partners strive to improve services for our constituents. We recognize that not all people have equitable opportunities or experiences and education, and value all of the professional and lived experiences shared with us. The CWP welcomes the unique contributions that you bring in terms of your education, cultural background, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, Veteran’s status, and beliefs. Individuals of underrepresented and marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Please contact us if needed during the application or interview process.

 Benefits

• Paid Time Off accrued at a rate of 6% for every hour worked
• Eligible for enrollment in the District’s retirement program upon successful completion of the 90-day introductory period
• Six paid holidays
• Flexible Schedule
• Occasional remote work access