County Conservationist

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of the County Conservationist position is to plan, manage, and monitor land and water
resource management programs and practices for Adams County. Performs complex skilled technical
work educating the public and public organizations on the importance of conservation policies and
practices, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work involves setting policies and goals under the
direction of the Zoning and Land Conservation Director.
JOB DUTIES:
1. Leads the planning, administration and monitoring of cost-sharing programs and all other
conservation programming under the direction of the Zoning and Land Conservation Director;
prepares recommendations to landowners and inspections for design or compliance.
2. Responsible for the oversight of the conservation programs to ensure staff and resources are being
directed to areas of high program concern.
3. Plan, design, layout and inspect Soil and Water Conservation Practices according to Adams
County, Wisconsin Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources standards and specifications.
4. Assist in working with Land and Water Conservation staff to implement the County Land and
Water Resource Management Plan.
5. Conducts educational and outreach to the public; prepares public presentations; conducts
classroom teaching; leads field days.
6. Implement the Adams County Land and Water Resource Management Plan under the direction
of the Zoning and Land Conservation Director.
7. Researches and attends training opportunities; attends meetings on the newest conservation
practices, laws, and regulations; ensures compliance, and provides guidance to appropriate parties.
8. Under the direction of the Zoning and Land Conservation Director, takes a lead role in the
administration of the Non-metallic mining, Storm Water Runoff, Animal Waste Management,
and Manure Spray Irrigation; provides recommendations and approves plans for nonmetallic
mining reclamation and other projects.

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9. Manages, inspects, maintains, and operates nine county-owned dams; ensures removes trees and
large debris from the structures; approves contracting fixes when large issues arise.
10. Operates and maintains equipment used in surveying, design, and construction of soil and water
practices; equipment includes vehicles, boat motor, electronic survey equipment, and tools.
11. Attend committee and County Board meetings as required.
12. Maintains and prepares appropriate manual and computerized documentation including data,
files, reports, correspondence, ongoing progress updates, and other records as required.
13. Assists in the application for state, federal, and other grant and funding sources as needed or
available.
14. Takes lead role in the administration of the County Forest program under the direction of the
County Forest Administrator.
15. Performs other related functions and duties as assigned or required.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function
satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability
required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform
the essential functions.
It is unlikely an employee will perform all the duties listed on a regular basis, nor is the list exhaustive in
the sense it covers all the duties that an employee may be required to perform. The examples are merely
indicative, not restrictive.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in soil and water conservation, environmental policy, natural resources management,
or related field and considerable experience in conservation design and planning, soil and water
conservation, engineering, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Valid driver’s
license in the State of Wisconsin.
OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Thorough knowledge of County and department policies and procedures to include emergency and
inclement weather policies; ability to prioritize and manage multiple, concurrent projects; attention to
detail and ability to effectively organize time and anticipate, plan and successfully respond to changing
circumstances; thorough knowledge of budget preparation; ability to prepare public presentations;
thorough knowledge of conservation practices and procedures; ability to operate and maintain
equipment operated by the Department; ability to make arithmetic computations using whole
numbers, fractions and decimals; ability to operate and use standard office equipment; knowledge and
ability to use standard office and position-specific software; ability to effectively communicate both

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verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with
co-workers, supervisors, other departments and the general public.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking
or hearing, frequently requires sitting and lifting and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing
or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or
pulling and repetitive motions; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is
required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or
important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive
information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral
communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing
written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of
measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general
surroundings and activities; work frequently requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and
occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts,
working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic
chemicals and exposure to vibration; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business
office, light traffic).
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Exposure to bloodborne pathogens is considered low for this position.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/adamscountywi

Deadline Note: Continuous posting; until filled.