Employer: Sonoma Resource Conservation District

Work Location: Main office in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, with option for partial remote work; field work throughout Sonoma County. 

Status: Non-Exempt/ 1.0 FTE (40 hours/week) including some evening and weekend hours.

Starting Compensation: $24.53 - $28.21/hour, depending on experience.

Posting Date: August 20, 2025

Estimated Start: Start date flexible, depending on availability.

Organizational Background

The Sonoma RCD (RCD) is a non-regulatory, local government entity empowered to manage soil, water, fish, and wildlife resources for conservation. In existence since the 1940s, RCDs are local grassroots conservation delivery systems that identify local conservation problems and guide solutions on a voluntary basis. The RCD covers 85% of Sonoma County and includes portions of the Russian River, Petaluma River, Sonoma Creek, Stemple Creek, and Gualala River Watersheds. The RCD has a budget of $4.5MM and is almost exclusively grant and contract funded. Our mission is carried out by a governing board of seven directors (Board) and an interdisciplinary team of 19 professionals through four program areas: agriculture, community engagement, forestry, and water resources carried out via LandSmart® Planning, On-the-Ground, and Education. For more information visit our website at sonomarcd.org

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 

The RCD is committed to incorporating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to evaluate, enhance, and expand our programming, deepen our connections with community partners, and strive to better serve our entire District. We recognize the importance of working to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable culture within our organization to effectively serve our District, improve access to economic opportunity, and create landscape-scale resilience for our current and future generations. We strive to ensure that water, soil, working lands, and wildlife habitats are conserved for all as we promote collaboration, employ innovative solutions based on science, respect our diverse communities and their connections to land, and empower members of our community to be active stewards of our natural and cultural resources. 

Position Summary

The Program Assistant position offers an incredible opportunity to gain valuable experience working with innovative land managers and partners to address Sonoma County’s most pressing natural resource concerns. The Program Assistant will work alongside staff to provide support for all RCD program areas, in pursuit of multiple resource goals such as water quality, drought and fire resilience, soil health, and climate-beneficial farming. Reporting to the Agricultural Program Director, this unique position allows for a diverse workload both in the office and field.  The individual must be highly motivated, enjoy working in a team environment, have strong attention to detail and organizational skills, be flexible to changing workload priorities, have strong written and verbal communication skills, and have an ability to execute assignments efficiently and in a timely manner.

Essential Functions

• Assist in preparing LandSmart farm conservation plans, including field data collection, research, writing, and mapping.
• Complete property inventories or project mapping using ArcGIS Pro.
• Assist with field work, including but not limited to soil sampling, groundwater monitoring, native plant installation, pollinator habitat development, irrigation system evaluations, project monitoring, field and biological surveys, and technical assistance site visits.
• Prepare permit applications, CEQA documentation, and support staff throughout implementation of LandSmart On-the-Ground projects.
• Support drafting landowner agreements.
• Attend community/partner meetings and events on behalf of the RCD.
• Support the delivery of youth on-farm field trips and community education programs.
• Support technical workshops related to climate-smart agriculture, vegetation management, water conservation, process-based restoration, and more.
• Collaborate with partner organizations and land managers to maintain trusting relationships.
• Conduct outreach to build landowner/manager participation in the Sonoma RCD’s programs.
• In collaboration with other staff, assist with grant proposals and administration.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in soil science, rangeland management, agriculture, forestry, physical, biological, or environmental sciences, or related field and or a combination of education and experience, typically equivalent to possession of a Bachelor’s degree in one of these fields.
• Familiarity with production agriculture and natural resource conservation principles and science, specifically soil erosion processes, water quality, stormwater runoff, and native plant communities.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Pro and effective mapping design principles.
• Proficiency with Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with field work, including conservation/restoration projects.
• Eagerness in educating youth and attending community events.
• Highly motivated to take on new projects with the flexibility to work independently or as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in written form, sufficient to convey information and instructions to the public, colleagues, and Board members.
• Competency in establishing cooperative working relationships and exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Flexible hours required, including some weekday nights and weekends, to attend community events, meetings, and conferences.
• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of employment.
• A valid driver’s license, vehicle, and proof of auto insurance are required at the time of hire.

Desired But Not Required Qualifications, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Familiarity with North Coast ecosystems and environmental issues and natural resource conservation practices and principles.
• Experience working with dairy and or rangeland agricultural systems.
• Familiarity with carbon farm/regenerative agricultural practices and their significance to reaching climate goals.
• Contractor oversight of conservation implementation projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish, both verbally and in written form, sufficient to convey information and instructions to the public.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 applications.
• Experience using Airtable.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an indoor/outdoor setting to include:

• Field settings that include various terrains, dense vegetation (with possible exposure to poison oak, ticks, snakes, and mosquitos), and hot, cold, and wet conditions. Varies seasonally with an average split of 70% office and 30% field work.
• A professional office environment that includes the operation of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, calculators, and filing cabinets.

Physical Requirements

Work in the field requires prolonged standing, walking long distances across rugged or uneven terrain in all weather conditions, climbing, jumping, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and recurring bending, lifting, reaching, and carrying of items weighing up to 30 pounds. Changes in lighting such as alternating bright sunlight and dark shade are encountered. Noise levels constantly vary.

Work in the office requires frequently remaining in a stationary position, operating a computer and other standard office equipment, and conversing by telephone and in person. Work in the field and in the office requires near and far visual acuity for expansive reading, computer operation, editing of documents, map interpretation, and data collection. Driving is required for local travel.

Compensation/Benefits

The starting compensation for this position is $24.53 - $28.21 per hour, depending on experience. Benefits for this position include employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% coverage for employee; dependent coverage available at 100% cost to the employee); $50,000 employer-sponsored life insurance policy; a 401(a) retirement plan with a non-matching employer contribution of 5.00% and the option to make voluntary pre-tax contributions into a 457(b) plan; paid time off and holiday leave; and an employee assistance program. No relocation assistance will be provided.