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CONTRACTUAL HOURLY - Healthy Soils Program

*REPOST* Agroforestry Specialist

Recruitment #25-008998-0018

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Introduction


The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland's Executive Branch.  Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include marketing and lab services, plant and pest management and resource conservation.  As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continue to expand and grow.

The Office of Resource Conservation works with Maryland farmers to plan and implement conservation practices and programs that balance crop and livestock production with the need to protect natural resources. The Office provides a range of educational, financial, technical assistance, and regulatory programs to support Maryland agriculture and protect natural resources and water quality for future generations. 

THIS POSITION HAS BEEN REPOSTED TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL APPLICANTS
*Previous applicants do not need to re-apply*

GRADE

9998

LOCATION OF POSITION

This recruitment will be used to fill one (1) position.
The position may be located at Annapolis Headquarters, Patuxent Regional Office (Waldorf) or the Frederick Regional Office.

Main Purpose of Job

The main purpose of this contractual position is to advance the State's climate mitigation efforts through increased agroforestry practice adoption and enhanced natural carbon sequestration across the state, consistent with EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant awarded to the department. The position will support the delivery of the Maryland Healthy Soils Program which involves a working knowledge of soil health principles and methods related to the planning and implementation of conservation practices that achieve soil health benefits. Emphasis is placed on facilitating technical assistance and program outreach in support of agroforestry practice adoption in the state. Work is done in conjunction with Soil Conservation Districts (SCD) and regional partner organizations. Position assists in the administration of program procedures to receive, evaluate, and process applications for grant assistance, communicate status with private landowners/operators, SCD personnel and representatives from other state and federal agencies, and process claims for payment.

POSITION DUTIES

Job Duties include but are not limited to the following:
  • Provides program information and explains eligibility requirements to potential Healthy Soils Competitive Fund applicants, with focus on potential applicants interested in installing agroforestry practices. Reviews and ranks competitive fund applications. Assembles grant agreement and Claim for Payment packages and arranges distribution. Deals tactfully and responsively with farmers and local, state, and federal employees. 
  • Assists in coordinating technical assistance and program outreach with emphasis on support of agroforestry practice adoption. Coordinates with grant awardees to schedule site visits for soil health sample collection and project verification. Collects soil health samples and checks and records project progress during benchmarking and verification site visits.
  • Collaborates with Competitive Fund awardees to plan, advertise, and schedule field days focused on healthy soils project demonstration and results sharing. Coordinates with regional partners and SCDs to plan, advertise, and schedule agroforestry tours and soil health events for Maryland farmers and district staff.  
  • Attends state and regional events as a representative of the Healthy Soils Program to promote program opportunities and interface with potential applicants. Attends state and regional agroforestry events to promote program opportunities and expand technical assistance networks. 
  • Works with regional partners to compile grant accomplishments within the Healthy Soils network and required reporting to funding partners.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in natural resources, forestry, agriculture or a related field.

Notes: 
  1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in urban or regional planning, engineering, physical geography, or the physical, chemical, and biological sciences, including 3 credit hours in soils or forestry and one year of experience in forestry, agricultural, or soil and water conservation work for the required education.
  2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in urban or regional planning, engineering, physical geography, or the physical, chemical, and biological sciences, including 3 credit hours in forestry or soils for the required education.
  3. Candidates may substitute the possession of an Associate of Arts degree from an accredited college or university in natural resources, agriculture, forestry, or a related field and one year of experience in forestry, agriculture or soil and water conservation work for the required education.
  4. Candidates may substitute graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and two additional years of experience in agriculture, forestry, or soil and water conservation for the required education.
  5. Candidates may substitute planning, engineering or program administration experience in a soil conservation, water quality protection or related agricultural, forestry, or natural resource program on a year-for-year basis for the required education.
  6. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in natural resources management and biological science classification or natural resources management and biological science specialty codes in the soil conservation field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education. 

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with the design and implementation of Agroforestry systems. 
  • Experience with and working knowledge of soil health principles as they relate to agricultural conservation.
  • Experience with the planning and logistics of hosting agricultural field days, or similar public events.
  • Experience with grant management including, preparing, processing, issuing, and tracking grant awards and compliance with reporting requirements.  

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification will be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

This position may conduct field work that requires employees to be exposed to varying weather conditions. This position requires lifting of equipment, display boards, manuals, etc. 

EXAMINATION PROCESS

Your application is part of the examination process. The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of this position. The rating will be based on the information provided on your application. Therefore, it is important you detail all experience and education related to this position completely and accurately. For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must be provided prior to hire. 

BENEFITS

Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.

Leave may be granted to a contractual employee at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application is strongly preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may submit a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to: Maryland Department of Agriculture  Human Resource Office, Room 304, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway,  Annapolis, MD  21401. The Human Resources unit is not responsible for applications sent to any other address. Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the application. If you are submitting additional information, such as diplomas or transcripts, the preferred method is to upload them online with your application. If you are unable to upload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax # 443-602-9831). All paper applications must be received by the closing date, no exceptions. (Postmarks not accepted.)

If you are having difficulty with your user account, need to make adjustments to a submitted application or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management at Application.Help@maryland.gov ; ATTN: Recruitment and Examination Division 

Inquiries regarding this recruitment can be directed to Courtney Blackistone at courtney.blackistone1@maryland.gov. 

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay Candidates with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. 

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply. 

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.  


Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online
View and print the Supplemental Questionnaire. This recruitment requires completion of a supplemental questionnaire. You may view and print the supplemental questionnaire here.
Apply via Paper Application. You may also download and complete the Paper Application here.

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