State of Maryland

A Soil Conservation Associate III is the full performance level of technical soil and water conservation work.  Employees in this classification independently review technical aspects of soil and water conservation practices and engineering tasks which follow prescribed methods and procedures.  Employees in this classification work use their advanced level of proficiency to assist farmers and land owners in the planning and installation of soil and water conservation projects such as terraces, diversions, waterways, impoundments, and subsurface drainage systems.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision professional employees in the Soil Conservation Districts. This work requires considerable time to be spent out-of-doors under varying climatic conditions, often in isolated areas requiring arduous physical activity.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Soil Conservation Associate Trainee, Soil Conservation Associate I, Soil Conservation Associate II and Social Conservation Associate III are differentiated on the basis of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Soil Conservation Associate Trainee trains to perform the duties under direct supervision.  The Soil Conservation Associate I learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Soil Conservation Associate II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending upon the complexity of the specific duties being performed.  The Soil Conservation Associate III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Serves on a survey crew using various instruments (rods, transits, chains, stakes) for the planning and construction of conservation measures such as terraces, ponds, waterways, and drainage ditches;

Records, verifies, and plots survey data, property boundaries, drainage areas, and other topographical information on maps, charts, and aerial photos;

Selects and applies designs for conservation engineering projects;

Measures maps and aerial photos with a planimeter and scale and makes computations;

Estimates soil runoff and erosion losses;

Interprets and applies engineering and soil conservation standards, specifications, policies, cost sharing programs, and laws;

Assists in the gathering of data for the development of conservation plans;

Meets with and advises farmers and landowners to discuss specific conservation needs;

Provides training and guidance to lower level associates and technicians;

Inspects and supervises soil and water conservation construction projects to insure compliance with plans, specifications, and maintenance requirements;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the elementary use of algebra, geometry, and business English usage;

Knowledge of soil and water conservation principles and practices, methods, and procedures;

Knowledge of the techniques of surveying;

Knowledge of methods relative to the planning and installation of soil and water conservation projects;

Knowledge of basic agricultural terminology, practices, crops, and cropping systems;

Ability to compute engineering data; applying surveying methods, soil and water conservation principles and practices, and agricultural terminology and principles;

Ability to work from engineering and United States Department of Agriculture plans and specifications;

Ability to make drawings, tracings, and notes;

Ability to make recommendations;

Ability to train lower-level Soil Conservation Associates;

Ability to communicate clearly;

Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with others.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Two years of experience related to soil and water conservation is such areas as surveying, drafting, construction or agricultural work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute one year of additional experience as defined above for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute education at an accredited college or university at a rate of 30 credit hours per year with at least nine credit hours of course work in engineering, construction, drafting, surveying, science, agronomy, or mathematics or any combination above for one year of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in soil conservation classification or soil conservation specialty codes in the natural resources management and biological sciences field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit B, Administrative, Technical and Clerical classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.