The Southern Rhode Island Conservation District is looking for one full time entry level Environmental Field Technician to assist landowners manage their agricultural and forest lands.

Position Summary:

This job posting is for an Environmental Field Technician, whose primary focus will include the USDA Farm Bill, Conservation Planning & Implementation projects.

USDA Farm Bill, Conservation Planning & Implementation projects allow Districts to work directly with RI agricultural producers and woodlot owners to increase the installation and implementation of conservation best management practices. This includes conservation planning through field assessments and GIS evaluations, landowner conversations, contract development and plan management.

Applicants should have exceptional communication skills, enjoy working outdoors in various weather conditions, and must be able to work as an individual and as part of a team.

Educational Requirement(s):

Bachelor’s Degree preferred.  Associate’s degree or equivalent experience acceptable. Applicants should have a strong background in environmental sciences (including agriculture, plant and soil science, natural resources, conservation, field biology).  Applied experiences in field settings strongly preferred. Applicants must be proficient in ArcGIS 10/ArcGIS Pro.  Computer literacy is a requirement, and should include database management and word processing.

Scope of Work:

40 hours of work/week; daytime hours required, along with some weekend availability.  Regular work times & hours will be determined at start of employment.  Mileage will be compensated at federal rates for field work.

Location of work:

Base location: 9 East Ave Unit F, Westerly, RI 02891. Field visits will be required throughout the state, but primarily be within the Washington and Kent Counties. Mileage will be reimbursed to/from site visit locations.  Valid driver’s license, a good driving record and reliable transportation a must.

Hourly pay rate & benefits:

Starts at $24.00 or commensurate with experience.  Health and retirement benefits available. A $300/month QSEHRA health benefit, paid time off (vacation and sick) and access to a Simple IRA with 3% employer match are available after a 90 day probationary period.

Responsibilities:

• Field Tech will be expected to walk through woodlots and agricultural properties to observe and assess/evaluate natural resource concerns;
• Field Tech will respect natural resources, owners, and livestock;
• Field Tech will work to understand landowner goals / objectives for land use and utilize various tools to determine and plan appropriate conservation activities;
• Field Tech will be expected to utilize a GPS in the field, as well as produce necessary maps using ArcGIS systems;
• Field Tech will accept training on, and learn new software programs specific to assigned projects;
• Field Tech will be required to enter sensitive data into a federal database;
• Field Tech will work in cooperation with the District Manager, other technicians, and the Board of Directors;
• Field Tech will be expected to attend bimonthly employee meetings (2x/month) with the District Manager and USDA NRCS District Conservationists;
• Field Tech will be required to obtain a background check, and is required to obtain Level 2 Federal Clearance.
• Field Tech will be willing to provide any other duties necessary for the functioning and/or benefit of the Conservation Districts, i.e. representing the Districts at public events.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position is under the direct supervision of the District Manager, with workload status reported to the Project Manager. The position may also be supervised by the NRCS District Conservationist for coordination of daily work and client load when working with the NRCS Field Office.  

Resumes Due by:

Please send a cover letter and resume to klemoine@sricd.org by September 1st, 2025 12:00 PM EST. If selected to interview, candidates will be requested to provide three (3) professional references prior to said interview.

Start Date:       Immediate

What are the Rhode Island Conservation Districts?

Rhode Island’s Conservation Districts are not for profit, quasi-public organizations that serve local communities, and work on various projects to ensure natural resource conservation and sustainability. Rhode Island has three Districts located in the Northern, Southern and Eastern parts of the state, and these Districts work intimately and cooperatively on statewide projects. Many of the projects that the Conservation Districts work on are in partnership with local governments, land trusts, conservation commissions, RI Department of Environmental Management and the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Rhode Island’s Conservation Districts are governed by RI State Laws, and the work accomplished by the organizations are directed by locally elected boards of directors and associate directors. The mission of the Conservation Districts are to promote and achieve a healthy environment and sustainable use of natural resources for the people of the state of Rhode Island, now and for the future, by coordinating partners to provide technical, educational and financial resources.

Southern RI Conservation District is an equal-opportunity organization. Applicants of all racial, ethnic, religious, gender identities, disability, veteran, and marital statuses are strongly encouraged to apply.