Agricultural Engineering Technician

This position has responsibilities in several district programs, including:

1. Providing agricultural conservation services under the district's Ag Conservation programs;
2. The coordination and implementation of MCCD's DGLVR Low Volume Roads (LVR) grant program for road improvement projects with an environmental focus on low volume roads in Montgomery County.

This position reports directly to the Conservation District's District Manager.

GOAL

The Ag Engineering Technician's goal is to conserve soil and water resources within Montgomery County by effectively carrying out the responsibilities of the aforementioned programs.

Agricultural Conservation:

• Inventory & evaluation of environmental resource concerns;
• Survey of project sites;
• Agricultural Best Management Practice (BMP) engineering design and cost estimating;
• Conservation Plan Writing / Ag E&S plan writing as necessary;
• Construction oversight of agricultural BMP projects ;
• Coordination of permit requirements / coordination with other involved project entities and agencies such as NRCS and PA DEP;
• Ensure that all agricultural BMPs are designed and installed to meet NRCS standards and specifications;
• Complete bid packages and host contractor site showings for contracted projects;
• ACAP grant contract/paperwork management and quarterly reporting;
• Grant financial management.

Dirt, Gravel, and Low-Volume Paved Roads Program:

MCCD currently holds a delegation to administer the LVR grant program in Montgomery County.

1. Administer the Low Volume grant program in Montgomery County in accordance with the District's agreement with the SCC and programmatic guidance.

1. Schedule, attend and host monthly DGLVR QAB Meetings.
2. Perform outreach to municipalities across Montgomery County to promote grant funding and attendance to Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance trainings, for municipal eligibility.
3. Conduct site visits to evaluate potential project sites and provide technical assistance before, during and after construction.
4. Assist applicants through the application process.
5. Hold pre-construction meetings and perform construction oversight.
6. Manage all LVR grant contracts, paperwork, payments and quarterly reporting in the state's GIS system and MCCD's internal tracking system.
7. Manage loaner program of MCCD's LVR equipment.
8. Manage the District's LVR grant financial tracking and reporting.
9. Coordinate and lead the SCC's routine QAQC visits.
10. Publicly advertise all public QAB meetings annually.
11. Coordinate the Quality Assurance Board (QAB).

Bachelor's degree in environmental science, agronomy, agriculture sciences, or a related field required.

• PA Certified Conservation Plan Writer certification preferred.
• NRCS engineering job approval authority (ENGJAA), or an equivalent state engineering job approval authority to evaluate, design and oversee construction for various agricultural engineering practices. ENGJAA grants authority to engineering technicians to evaluate, design and certify engineering practices under the permission and approval of a Professional Engineer (PE). The level of ENGJAA maintained in this position should be appropriate to the common engineering practices installed in the area and will be re-evaluated on a regular basis as appropriate.
• Knowledge of soil and water conservation practices, soil science and hydrology.
• Knowledge of agricultural production & agronomy.
• Knowledge of PA environmental regulations.
• Knowledge of technical standards relating to agricultural E&S control and stormwater management.
• Knowledge of USDA NRCS Pennsylvania Field Office Technical Guide for Agricultural Best Management Practices.
• Basic survey and layout knowledge.
• Proficiency in reading maps and plan drawings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft suite programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
• Proficiency in use of NRCS software, including conservation planning programs, RUSLE, grazing calculators, etc.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others and work with minimal supervision.
• Occasional weekend and overnight travel for training, conferences and outreach efforts required.
• Ability to traverse large tracts of land on foot in all weather conditions, year-round.
• Valid Pennsylvania driver's license required.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.