Farm Bill Support

ID:AIN-004Location:Fort WayneProgram:ACE

Wage/Hr:$30.80Hours/Week:24Minimum Age:55

Being Age 55 or Older is Good for The Environment! The Agricultural Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program offers unique opportunities in Scientific, Technical, and Agricultural support for individuals aged 55 and over to support the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through a grant administered program awarded to National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions). This is a unique program where your talents, expertise, and experience will truly be valued. The ACES program provides an opportunity to work side-by-side with NRCS staff that are doing important work every day.Benefits: Paid Health Insurance Premium for positions budgeted at 60 hours per pay period, Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Federal Holidays, and optional Vision and Dental Insurance available for positions budgeted at 35 hours per pay period.Positions listed here do not guarantee employment for any definite period. Enrollment in the Experienced Worker Programs administered by NEW Solutions is temporary. The enrollment relationship between NEW Solutions and the Enrollee is an "at-will" relationship. This means an Enrollee is free to terminate enrollment at any time during the enrollment period, and NEW Solutions and the Agency have the right to terminate the relationship with the Enrollee.NOTE: An "ACES Enrollee" is not a federal employee, nor an employee of NEW Solutions. An "ACES Enrollee" is a participant in a grant program established through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the USDA-NRCS and administered by NEW Solutions. This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the United States. Please Note: Applicants must live in state of IN but if live outside of job location, must be able to work from their current IN location.

Qualifications

Minimum of 15 year(s) of experience in Knowledge of agricultural operations, Interdisciplinary knowledge of resources management, Knowledge of Farm Bill Programs and contract administration. OR MA/MS Degree in Agronomy, Biology, Environment and Natural Resources, Forestry

• Valid State Driver?s license.
• Experience working with NRCS Practice User Guide.
• Experience mentoring and/or training conservation staff.
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel
• Apple, PowerPoint, MS Teams, Zoom
• NRCS Software (if applicable): Protracts, Conservation Desktop
  
  

Duties

Assist field office staff with CSP/EQIP contract related items such as contract modifications, contract violations and waivers.

• Assist field office staff with CSP/EQIP contract related items such as contract modifications, contract violations, waivers and other tasks that will aid the current NRCS staff with contract management.Support Quality Assurance efforts such as: Reviewing required conservation program documents submitted by the field staff to Preapprove and obligate program dollars. Ensure selected practices meet Practice User Guide requirements, vendor information is submitted correctly, conservation planning job sheets are completed, planning acreage, contract acreage, practices match and ranking are all done correctly. 100%
  
  

Other

• Annual information system security, anti-harassment, and civil rights training.
• Travel Requirements: Travel to the field using government vehicles will be required on a routine basis. Valid state driver's license required.
• Overnight travel: 4 days/month.
• Health and Safety Considerations: Potential for outdoor work; therefore, hazards associated with rough terrain and changing weather conditions. Enrollee should prepare/dress accordingly.
  
  

NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.