The Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District (GCSWCD) is accepting applications for the following positions:

Executive Director

Conservation District Program Engineer

Executive Director

The Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District is seeking qualified applicants for the provisional appointment to the position of Executive Director.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This position involves management planning for the execution of environmental and conservation programs involving both private and public properties, and private and public entities, such as, Planning Boards, Watershed Associations, Nature Conservancies, etc., in various aspects of natural resources management including both administrative and technical phases. Employees in this class assumed the administrative responsibilities for the organization and execution of the application phase of a resource conservation program. Work is performed under administrative direction of the Board of Directors of the County Soil & Water Conservation District. General supervision is exercised over other District employees. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative Only)

• Provides technical assistance including the design, cost estimation, contract preparation, and supervision of environmental conservation projects;
• Provides local governing bodies with information needed for decision-making relative to soil and water conservation issues;
• Prepares analyses of agency workload and makes recommendations as to allocations of personnel and equipment, negotiates contracts, prepares budget and cost estimates, prepares annual reports, and assembles statistical data as needed by the District Board of Directors and State Conservation Committee;
• Coordinates District activities with the cooperating agencies assisting the district;
• Acts as the representative for the District Board of Directors in its contacts with other local units of government;
• Works with administrators of other county, town, and village departments and private organizations in coordination of programs directed towards the conservation of the county soil and water resources;
• Acts as liaison between the District Board of Directors and the State Conservation Committee. Keeps both boards informed of activities and facilitates interchange of information and cooperation;
• Makes recommendations to the District Board of Directors on the development or modification of policies and directs the implementation of District programs in accordance with approved policy guidelines;
• Counsels legislative and executive bodies at both state and county levels regarding proposed and current legislation and programs;
• Develops funding proposals for programs which would further the goals of the Conservation District or negotiates contractual arrangements with cooperating agencies in such programs;
• Supervises the purchase of District equipment, supplies, maintenance, and accurate accounting of inventory;
• Explains the purposes, functions, and programs of the Soil and Water Conservation District to other agencies, public bodies, landowners, etc., on behalf of the board;
• Serves as the Coordinator of the County’s Water Quality Coordinating Committee.

FULL PERFORMANCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thorough knowledge of the materials, procedures, and estimates used in the construction and maintenance of conservation practices such as retention ponds, watercourse diversions, forests, waterways, subsurface and surface drainage systems, and erosion control practices; Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of natural resource conservation with emphasis on soil and water conservation; Good knowledge of public and/or business administration; Skill in estimating costs and equipment used in soil and water conservation projects; Ability to interpret maps, charts, and graphs; Ability to perform basic land surveying; Ability to plan and supervise the work of others; Ability to deal with the public and to represent the conservation program to interested parties; Ability to compile and prepare reports; Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Either:

A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Technology and Business, Stream Geomorphology, Agricultural Land & Water Resource Conservation, Agronomy & Horticulture, Soil & Water Resources Engineering, Natural Resource Administration, Natural Science, Civil Engineering, Public or Business Administration or related field; and four years of supervisory experience in a program involving soil & water conservation management activities;

OR

B. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in any field and with advanced certification in soil resource or water quality management (i.e. Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control, Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality, Certified Soils Scientist, etc.) and a minimum of five years experience in the management of resource management of which at least three (3) years must be specifically related to soil & water conservation district activities.

OR

C. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two year college with an Associate’s Degree in one of the fields mention in (A) above, and six years of experience as outlined in (A) above;

OR

D. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (C) above.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a valid New York State driver’s license at the time of appointment.

Starting salary will be commensurate with experience; additional benefits include health insurance and New York State Retirement. Questions regarding the position shall be directed to Greene County SWCD executive director at (518) 622-3620 or via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Resumes may be submitted in person or by mail to: Greene County SWCD, 907 County Office Building, Cairo, NY 12413, or via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Resumes must be received by December 5, 2019.

Conservation District Program Engineer

The Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District is seeking qualified applicants for the provisional appointment to the position of District Engineer. This position involves management planning for the execution of environmental and conservation programs involving both private and public properties, and private and public entities throughout Greene County.

 DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The Conservation District Program Engineer works as a member of a team responsible for the implementation and administration of the County Soil and Water Conservation District Program. This is an important technical position with primary responsibilities for assisting the Soil and Water Conservation District Executive Director with all aspects of County Soil and Water Conservation programs with special emphasis on the Schoharie Watershed Stream Management Program. The duties include, but are not limited to overseeing data collection, design and implementation of conservation projects including stream restoration projects, assisting with program development, development of technical material and information for the benefit of all soil and water conservation programs and promotion of the program with the public. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Executive Director with wide leeway for independent judgment. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative Only) The typical work activities listed below are illustrative only and, while providing representative examples of the variety of work assignments in the title, do not describe any individual position. Incumbents in this title may perform some or all of the following, as well as other related activities not described:

• Develop and prepare, or oversee, soil erosion and sediment control and pollution transport analysis;
• Coordinate and oversee construction activities during implementation of stream restoration designs, including construction staging, regulatory compliance, survey control and project layout, maintenance and construction records, and contract management;
• Coordinate, and participate in if necessary, the collection of fluvial geomorphic stream assessment data, including development of study design and data collection protocol;
• Oversee or design geomorphic appropriate stream restoration projects, including sediment transport analyses, flood discharge estimates, hydraulic modeling, earthwork volume estimates, material estimates, and construction cost estimates;
• Oversee preparation of or prepare application materials for required federal, state, and local permits, including design drawings, engineering reports, and coordination of regulatory site visits;
• Plan and design various natural resource projects meeting a variety of objectives, constraints and technical standards, such as storm water and natural channel design;
• Oversee the review and reporting of existing watershed conditions as part of developing a comprehensive stream management strategy relative to fluvial geomorphic assessments, hydraulic studies and digital floodplain mapping, stream restoration, natural channel design and community concerns;
• Incorporate stream and ecological assessments, GIS and GPS based information, and general water quality “Best Management Practices” (BMP) into overall stream management plans, as needed;
• Oversee design, layout, and construction of BMPs;
• Lead the management and engineering oversight of the District’s construction projects;
• Measure, analyze, interpret and report (or review this as prepared by others) on data utilizing a variety of engineering survey techniques and standards, mathematical methods, modeling and professional judgment and experience;
• Oversee and assist as necessary with the organization and conversion of field-collected data into usable format and for archival and/or reporting;
• Write and edit reports and assist in the preparation of presentations, permit applications and grant proposals;
• Provide technical assistance to landowners and units of local government in planning, designing, and maintaining BMPs on public and private lands;
• Assist with a public information program including the preparation of workshops, announcements, brochures, maps, power point slides and presentations, newsletter and articles, and press releases related to stream management programs;
• With the Executive Director, develop staffing work plans and budgets for the Schoharie Watershed Stream Management Program.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thorough knowledge of the overall SWCD programs, goals, policies and procedures; Thorough knowledge of and understanding of watershed “Best Management Practices” and their application; Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of conservation with an emphasis on stream management; Good knowledge of local environmental conditions and groundwater; Good knowledge of research methods and the techniques of data collection and management and hydraulic modeling; Good knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations governing water resource management (knowledge regarding the NFIP and its local implementation a plus); Good knowledge of desktop publishing and computer software sufficient to complete complex projects and create professional reports; Good knowledge of surveying, and ability to conduct, review and evaluate level topographic surveys with basis surveying equipment; Good knowledge of drafting and design, and ability to read and interpret engineering and technical drawings; Good knowledge of HEC-RAS and related hydraulic modeling software and thorough knowledge of Civil Design and/or other computer-aided design programs; Ability to read multiple types of natural resource maps and aerial photo interpretations; Ability to supervise subordinate staff conducting the work tasks described above; Ability to communicate effectively on technical subjects, both orally and in writing with a range of audiences; Ability to deal with the public and to present the conservation program to interested parties;

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and:

Possession of a valid New York State License as a Professional Engineer with three (3) years of work experience in natural resources, watershed management, stream restoration, environmental management, contract management, construction, engineering or related field, which shall include three (3) years of experience in the management or supervision of others.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a valid New York State driver’s license at the time of appointment, which, must be maintained throughout employment.

Starting salary will be commensurate with experience; additional benefits include health insurance and New York State Retirement. Questions regarding the position shall be directed to Greene County SWCD executive director at (518) 622-3620 or via e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Resumes may be submitted in person or by mail to: Greene County SWCD, 907 County Office Building, Cairo, NY 12413, or via e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Resumes must be received by December 20, 2019.