Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission: careers

Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission
P.O. Box 8024 Athens, GA 30603 706.552.4470 gaswcc.org
Careers
When you pursue a career in conservation, there are many directions to choose from. Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission is a state agency that provides soil and water resource information; education; technical, financial, and planning assistance; and program oversight to help state landowners and agencies maintain, conserve, and wisely use the soil and water resources. Here are some examples of the careers within GSWCC. While these careers are not currently hiring, internships are periodically made available dependent on funding, and career opportunities and more information are posted at gaswcc.org.
Entry-Level Careers
If you earn a college degree in agricultural engineering, environmental science, or a related field, you may start off as an Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist who reviews plans, inspects sites, resolves complaints, and coordinates workshops on erosion laws and best management practices.
An Agricultural Meter Technician helps set up and operate meters that measure water use for conservation purposes. The technician uses his or her experience with agricultural irrigation production and technology, along with an understanding of GPS technology, to retrieve data and evaluate data from the meters to produce reports that others can use to make decisions about water use and conservation. A two-year college degree or previous agricultural experience is required.
A Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician creates, operates, and maintains the State's agricultural water conservation geodatabase to provide solid data for water conservation. The GIS Analyst gets to work with cool software to develop digital base maps and projects, usually from within an office. This is a very technical position requiring an appropriate B.S. degree and experience with various software.
Engineering Technicians help support soil & water conservation districts by planning and designing irrigation systems and conservation practices, and then inspecting and monitoring agricultural water contract measures. A college degree is preferred.
Mid-Level Careers
A Contract / Program Specialist writes, reviews, and submits grants to support conservation efforts, and then helps landowners apply for funding. S/he also serves on various state committees to discuss conservation policy. This position provides an excellent overview of the financial and logistical sides of conservation work, and a college degree is required.
The Technical Specialist is the point person for all technical issues related to the Urban Program and erosion and sediment control, including plan review and complaint resolution.The Technical Specialist works closely with local, state and federal agencies and represents the Agency on various technical committees. A college degree and some experience are required.
Erosion and Sediment Control Specialists review plans, inspect sites, resolve complaints and provide technical assistance to GSWCC staff, Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) supervisors and the public. A college degree and some experience are required.

Irrigation Specialists set up and evaluate center pivot irrigation processes in the Mobile Irrigation Lab (MIL), and then collect data and develop reports on them. Through this work, they help producers track their water use and employ methods for conserving water. These specialists work very closely with farmers and also help prepare contracts and track funding for certain irrigation cost-share programs. A B.S. and some experience with irrigation are required.
Resource Specialists work closely with the Regional Representative for the assigned region to support overall soil and water conservation district activities such as education and pollution control. Resource Specialists respond to technical resource needs, helping farmers overcome problems with animal waste and water quality protection, assisting with design and installation of approved practices, providing technical support on modern erosion control and water quality protection methods, and responding to public complaints of erosion and sediment control issues. A big part of the Resource Specialist's job is education-- training farmers on best management practices (BMP) and explaining and demonstrating conservation methods to concerned groups and the public.A college degree in the appropriate field is required.
A Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst I creates, operates, and maintains the State's agricultural water conservation geodatabase to provide solid data for water conservation. The GIS Analyst gets to work with cool software to develop digital base maps and projects, usually from within an office. This is a very technical position requiring an appropriate B.S. degree and experience with various software.

Senior-Level Careers
Regional Representatives are the conservation ambassadors and overall experts for a designated region (there are 6 regions within GA).Working with SWCD supervisors within the region, the Regional Representative helps to develop conservation policies and programs, coordinates conservation activities, and provides technical and administrative assistance within the region to district supervisors, local government, and residents.The Regional Rep. does have a staff to help him or her with these responsibilities, but is often in the field meeting with supervisors, farmers, landowners, and residents of the region and surveying properties to identify opportunities for conservation. Because this is a highly technical and knowledge-based career, a B.S. in Agriculture, Forest Resources, Ecological Sciences or other related science field is required.

Upper-Level Careers

The Rural Water Resources Program Manager is the point person for all

rural water issues and is responsible for managing the State's Agricultural Nonpoint

Source Pollution Control Program, managing compliance work for all the watershed

dams in the state. As such, s/he develops policies and procedures for the rural water

The six regions of Georgia: each has a Regional Representative administering to its conservation needs.

program, prepares budgets, offers technical guidance to the public on rural issues, oversees the development of educational materials, and deals with grant applications and contracts related to Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The Program Manager must have at least a 4-year college degree in engineering or physical/natural sciences

and 5 years of well-documented experience in agricultural water conservation issues and construction and maintenance of

watershed structures.

The Urban Program Manager is the point person for all urban issues specifically related to erosion and sediment control and is responsible for managing the State's Education and Certification Program.As such, s/he develops policies and procedures for the Urban Program, prepares budgets, oversees the development of certification materials and represents the agency in public forums and meetings. The Urban Program Manager must have at least a 4-year college degree in engineering or physical/ natural sciences and 5 years of well-documented experience in the field.