Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager

~ The Napa County Resource Conservation District (RCD) is a non‐regulatory special district that facilitates natural resource conservation through community involvement, education, technical expertise, and scientific research. ~

Since its founding in 1945, the RCD has been committed to using voluntary, cooperative, and scientifically sound methods to ensure that the natural resources of Napa County are conserved, protected, and restored in a landscape that supports agriculture, urban areas and wild spaces. Learn more about us at our website.

Position Overview

The Napa County Resource Conservation District is seeking a talented and experienced Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager (Program Manager) to apply their scientific thinking and farming experience to advance sustainable agricultural practices and environmental outcomes in Napa County, California. The Program Manager will work directly with farmers and a range of partners to develop and implement a program focused on soil health, water use efficiency, water quality, animal-crop integration, and other topics pertinent to the winegrape industry.

The Program Manager will provide on-farm technical assistance and planning (particularly related to soil health, erosion control, and irrigation), design and deliver education programs, oversee the RCD’s Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Vineyard, and support the North Coast Soil Health Hub. The Program Manager will foster and maintain positive working relationships within our agricultural community and with the representatives of local, state and federal resource agencies, and will represent the RCD at public meetings and events. The Program Manager will report to the Executive Director and will work closely with other RCD staff.

Work Environment:

Work hours are generally 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. from Monday through Friday, however, some work on weekday nights and weekends will be required. The primary place of work is the RCD office in Napa, California, but local travel will be required, primarily within Napa County and the Bay Area / Sacramento Valley region. Work is performed in indoor and outdoor settings including:

• A professional office environment that includes operation of standard office equipment such as computers, tablet devices, phones, copiers and printers, calculators, and filing cabinets.
• Field settings that include various terrains, and hot, cold, and wet conditions.

Responsibilities

Soil Health:

• Implement and oversee the RCD’s soil health assistance services. Support vineyard producers by conducting soil health assessments and making site-specific recommendations for conservation practices to improve soil health.
• Identify opportunities to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on vineyards using conservation practices and farm energy reduction strategies and develop Carbon Farm Plans.
• Conduct winterization inspections of new hillside vineyard developments to ensure compliance with the Erosion Control Plan specifications that were approved by Napa County PBES.
• Provide technical and administrative support to the North Coast Soil Health Hub.

Water Use Efficiency & Water Quality:

• Implement and oversee the RCD’s irrigation assistance services. Perform irrigation system evaluations, including determining system pressure, system uniformity, flow-rates, and application rates. Assist vineyard producers with irrigation scheduling decisions that lead to improved irrigation efficiency and water conservation.
• Develop LandSmart® Water Quality Farm Plans for vineyard producers complying with state (e.g., California Regional Water Quality Control Board’s General Waste Discharge Requirements for Vineyard Properties) and local (e.g., Napa County Conservation Regulations) regulations, or seeking Napa Green Land Certification.

Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Vineyard:

• Oversee the RCD’s Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Vineyard (Huichica Creek Vineyard), including its agricultural operations, farm and habitat improvements, research and demonstration projects, and education programs.
• Common tasks include: supervising contracted vineyard management company, coordinating with vintner regarding wine quality and harvest, coordinating with academic researchers regarding on-farm projects, managing the operations budget, grant-writing and other fund development activities, and marketing and outreach.

Other:

• Design and deliver education programs on critical sustainable agriculture topics, including soil health and water use efficiency.
• Assist in the preparation of grant applications and manage resulting projects, including associated budgets and deliverables as necessary.
• Assist with other RCD events, projects, and programs as necessary.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in crop science, soil science, horticulture, agronomy, viticulture, or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of work experience in the agriculture or natural resource management fields, with at least 2 years of farming experience.
• A practical understanding of: Principles and practices of sustainable agriculture, including principles of soil health, water conservation, and integrated pest management; Common farm equipment, including tractors, tillage implements (including in-row tillers), mowers, herbicide sprayers, seeders, and amendment spreaders; Irrigation scheduling methods and technologies, as well as best practices for water-use efficiency; and Soil management practices, including conservation tillage, cover cropping, and soil sampling and interpretation of soil test results.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to set priorities, manage time, work under pressure and manage multiple projects effectively.
• Strong map-reading skills, including ability to interpret topographic maps and aerial photographs.
• Strong computer skills, including ability to navigate the internet, use Outlook, and create Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.
• Knowledge of government programs serving the agricultural community.
• Desire to embrace the mission of the RCD to promote responsible natural resource management through voluntary community stewardship and technical assistance.
• Must be willing to travel locally within Napa County, and regionally within the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley region.
• Must be willing to maintain a flexible work schedule, with occasional work on weekday nights and weekends being required.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and proof of insurance at the time of hire.
• Must successfully complete a background check.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in crop science, soil science, horticulture, agronomy, viticulture, or a closely related field.
• Professional license as a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS), Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist (CAIS), USDA-NRCS Certified Conservation Planner, or equivalent within relevant field.
• 5+ years of experience with vineyard development and management.
• Experience conducting applied agricultural research or scientific monitoring.
• Spanish fluency or proficiency.
• Experience with public outreach, community engagement, and communications.
• Experience with developing educational resources and creating and delivering training programs.
• Experience with writing, managing, and reporting on grants.
• Experience with assessing unpaved roads and stream crossings from an erosion/water quality standpoint.
• Ability to use GIS software to visualize, manage, and analyze geospatial data.
• Familiarity with state and federal regulations impacting vineyards, including California Regional Water Quality Control Board’s General Waste Discharge Requirements for Vineyard Properties.
• Familiarity with Napa County’s geography, ecology, and environmental issues.

Physical Requirements:

• The work requires the ability to talk, listen, observe, stoop, reach, sit, stand, and use repetitive motions.
• The visual capacity to review and edit documents, and the ability to frequently remain in a stationary position, operate a computer and other standard office equipment, and converse by telephone and in person.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work outside on uneven terrain in all weather conditions.
• Driving required for local travel.

Compensation

• Salary will range between $71,926- $87,484 annually and will be commensurate with applicable experience and professional qualifications.
• RCD full-time employees receive paid holiday, sick, and vacation leave, CalPERS retirement benefits, an employer-paid health insurance plan, dental insurance, and access to a voluntary deferred compensation program.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to upload a complete application to the attention of Anna Mattinson, Napa County Resource Conservation District. Your application should include:

• Resume: Your most recently updated resume.
• Professional references: A list of names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three people familiar with your professional contributions and qualifications.
• University transcripts: All undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Unofficial transcript copies will be accepted for the application, and official transcript copies may be requested as the application review process moves forward.
• Supplemental questions: Written responses to the following questions:
  • Describe why you are interested in this position. (150 words maximum)
  • Describe your experience using sustainable practices on a farm. What sustainable agriculture practices do you believe California’s vineyard producers could most benefit from and why? (300 words maximum)
  • Describe any involvement you have had with the agricultural community outside of direct farming experience. For instance, participation in workshops and conferences, involvement with agricultural organizations, volunteering at events. (150 words maximum)
  • A one-acre no-till block of 20-year-old winegrape vines on the RCD’s Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Vineyard is virus-infested and performing poorly. The RCD would like to replant this block with new vines to better demonstrate crop performance under long-term no-till management. Describe how you would plan and execute the replanting over the course of one year. (300 words maximum)
  • A producer on the valley floor requests your help in investigating why the old drip irrigation system in her vineyard is not functioning well. What steps would you undertake to evaluate the system and provide recommendations for improvement? (300 words maximum)

The position is open until filled. However, the first screening deadline is September 28, 2018. The selection process may consist of but is not limited to an evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications, one or more interviews, and a written exam. Any part of the selection process, including a decision to hire, may be modified or canceled to meet the needs of the RCD.

~ The RCD is an Equal Opportunity Employer ~