08/08/2025
Job Vacancy Announcement
Position Title: Cedar Creek Watershed Project Coordinator, Wapello County
(A full-time, at-will, grant-funded position)
Location: Ottumwa, Iowa
Contact: Wapello County Soil and Water Conservation District
2938 Oak Meadow Dr. STE 2
Ottumwa, IA 52501
Phone: 641-682-0752 Ext 3
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week (No Overtime) M-F
Method of Application: Submit a resume and cover letter to the Wapello County SWCD.
Summary: The Wapello County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), in collaboration with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is looking for a dynamic, highly motivated individual to implement the vision of the Wapello Soil and Water Conservation District. This will be done by building trust and understanding with key stakeholders, landowners, and farm operators. The selected individual will help coordinate and drive forward implementation of systems-based water quality infrastructure improvements and soil health best management practices in the Cedar Creek Watershed.
The Watershed Coordinator position promotes, identifies, and follows the conservation planning process to implement conservation practices in order to reduce nitrate and phosphate pollution within the Cedar Creek Watershed. Priority conservation practices of this watershed target nitrate reduction to point and non-point sources. The Watershed Coordinator will also develop relationships with ag partners, local school programs, media outlets, to educate and advance conservation implementation.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or other natural resources related field. However, a combination of any other relevant education and/or experience that demonstrate the required knowledge and abilities for the position will be considered
Wage: The wage range is $28.12 - $40.88 per hour and commensurate with experience. The commissioners may grant performance-based pay raises in line with their salary schedule.
Benefits: IPERS retirement contributions, paid state holidays, and compensated time off are provided. No health insurance provided. 80 hours of Paid Time Off. 24 hours accruable credit leave. No overtime pay.
Working Conditions: Job will require walking through rough terrain and/or inclement weather conditions along with carrying moderate to heavy equipment.
Successful Candidate:
• Prepares administrative budgets and spreadsheets (monthly and annual) Cost-share applications and estimates (State, EQIP, RCPP)
• Performs education activities per requirements (field days, workshops, field day newsletters, landowner letters, press releases, elementary Ag Days)
• Will create press releases about the project goals and objectives and use various media to convey progress of the project.
• Will collaborate with partners to expand on opportunities and potential projects (i.e., County Secondary Roads, ag service cooperatives, etc.)
• Will collect water samples, create water monitoring reports, and send to producers for discussion on water quality improvement opportunities.
• Will identify potential practice sites using the Watershed Management Plan, GIS, and other tools.
• Will develop a list of landowners, contact, and meet in the field with them to verify and ground truth site-specific practice locations identified with off-site tools, as well as identifying other resource concerns and discuss these with the landowners.
• Will use innovative planning methods to explain project practices in achieving reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients entering streams.
• Will use drainage tile tools to identify, locate, survey edge-of-field practices, and design edge-of-field practices.
• Will assist and collaborate with technicians in surveying and laying out projects as needed.
• Will maintain primary focus on edge-of-field practices as well as secondary focus on in-field practices in reducing targeted nutrients entering streams.
• Will assist landowners with application process for program opportunities (State, EQIP, RCPP) and coordinate with IDALS, NRCS staff and private engineering companies in developing cost estimates and practice designs for current and future funding potential.
• Will update SWCD commissioners monthly on project progress, conduct an annual review meeting, and complete quarterly reports and a final report at the conclusion of the projects for the IDALS-DSCWQ.
• Will assist the SWCD with management and tracking of project funds in compliance with IDALS-DSCWQ guidelines and regulations.
• Ability to drive a truck, pull a trailer, and operate a UTV.
• Need to possess a valid driver’s license.
• Successful candidate will need to undergo a federal background investigation and fingerprint check.
