Sand County Foundation (SCF) is a national nonprofit working at the intersection of agricultural and environmental improvement. We research and demonstrate conservation strategies that make economic sense for landowners, and advance conservation policy improvements. More than 50 years ago, SCF was built on the core ideas encouraged by Aldo Leopold, America’s foremost conservation thinker. Leopold inspired private landowners to adopt what he called a land ethic—a responsibility to treat land, water, and wildlife with respect. 

The person hired for this challenging and rewarding new position will provide technical support—both in the field and at the computer—for SCF’s Agricultural Conservation team’s projects. We manage a diverse project portfolio with efforts supported by both private and public grants, which supports an energizing and dynamic work experience. Our on-farm projects that have kicked-off over the past couple years have generated a rich dataset, ready to be explored by someone driven by a curiosity for learning. An emphasis of this position includes modeling scenarios and running statistical analyses to evaluate the environmental and economic benefits of conservation adoption, setting up in-field demonstrations to collect relevant agronomic data, and developing publications to share outcomes with a diverse audience. This person will have the opportunity to coordinate and implement innovative research and demonstration projects by working with watershed or conservation coordinators, farmers or ranchers, local agencies, and non-governmental partners.

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, and details on how to apply, please visit:

https://sandcountyfoundation.org/uploads/AgSoilWaterData-Spcialist-1222.pdf

1. Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in an agricultural or soil and water resources related field.
2. Thorough knowledge of and experience in agriculture and conservation, including applied field sampling and data collection techniques.
3. Proven analytical experience, beyond the classroom, applying software for geospatial assessments and mapping (e.g., ArcGIS), modeling agricultural sediment and nutrient loss, and conducting field sampling and data assessment.
4. Proficient oral and written communication and presentation skills; able to effectively disseminate project goals and outcomes with a variety of stakeholders and audiences.
5. Ability to plan and achieve goals, think analytically and solve problems, along with a strong drive for achieving measurable land and water outcomes.
6. Devoted team-player and ability to work in a collaborative environment, cooperating on multiple projects while meeting goals and producing high-quality, timely deliverables.
7. Independent and driven researcher exemplified by attention to detail, a high level of integrity, and constant perseverance.
8. Enthusiasm and passion for the mission, goals, and core values of SCF.
9. Willingness to travel to project sites and meetings, with approximately 10% overnight travel. Valid driver’s license required.
10. Candidates must be authorized to work lawfully in the US.

About Sand County Foundation

In 1967, Sand County Foundation created a successful partnership among a group of private landowners to protect the land surrounding the famous “Shack” property of Aldo Leopold, America’s foremost conservation thinker. This pioneering cooperative venture led landowners to commit to voluntary conservation while raising awareness of Leopold’s land ethic, which inspires thousands of other owners of working land. When Leopold wrote his visionary A Sand County Almanac, published in 1949, he introduced conservation ideas that penetrated the public’s conscience just as much then as they do today. Leopold advanced individual responsibility for private land management, and recognized that a landowner’s profitability and economic growth are tied to conservation success. Since its publication, A Sand County Almanac has been described as the most influential conservation book. It remains a best selling environmental book, demonstrating how relevant these ideas are today. We’ve come a long way since mobilizing our first landowner partners to conserve Leopold’s sandy farmland in Wisconsin. Today, our impact spans the U.S., and is a direct reflection of what our donors and partners can achi...eve when landowners are encouraged to lead the way to improving our nation’s natural resources. Fulfilling our mission: Sand County Foundation's mission is to inspire and enable a growing number of private landowners to ethically manage natural resources in their care so that future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil to support agriculture and forestry, plentiful habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Our work: -Supports private individuals and communities as primary agents of conservation and land management -Rewards responsible stewards and provides public recognition for outstanding private land leadership -Facilitates the exchange of information between private individuals, scientists, funders and policy makers -Removes barriers and creates meaningful incentives for landowners who enhance the environment -Creates on-the-land examples of environmental improvement suitable for replication

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Connections working at Sand County Foundation