Climate-Smart Specialist - Military veterans preferred

The Climate-Smart Specialist will work directly with the Hawaii based ranching project partners of the USDA Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities project. This project is a collaboration between Lynker, University of Hawai?i, Hawai?i Cattlemen's Council (HCC), and a wide variety of other agricultural organizations and Universities, for more information visit our website here.

The USDA Climate-Smart Commodities project provides incentive payments to producers to implement large-scale pilot projects that create market opportunities for commodities produced using agricultural (farming, ranching, or forestry) climate-smart practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or sequester carbon. Climate Smart Commodities in this project and portfolio have three main benefits (1) increasing productivity and incomes, (2) enhancing resilience of livelihoods and ecosystems, and (3) reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.

The selected Climate Smart Specialist (CSS) will represent cattle producer projects throughout the State and work with the Hawai?i Climate Smart Commodities project team and participate in various working circles. The candidate will work from home (preferably located on Hawai?i island) and will be expected to collaborate with HiCSC partners to ensure successful implementation of the CSC grant.

HCC seeks a skilled, full-time CSS to ensure the successful implementation of climate smart practices by Hawai?i ranchers. A successful candidate is a highly-motivated individual who is passionate about climate smart agriculture, rangelands, and beef production to support us in providing producers technical assistance, conducting soil field sampling, as well as outreach to ranching producers as part of the USDA Climate Smart Commodities Project throughout the State. This position will co-manage the awarded project including budgets, project compliance, timeline, data collection, management, and reporting. This position reports to the Hawai?i Cattlemen’s Council Managing Director as well as Lynker’s HiCSC Program Manager.

Job name: Hawaii Cattlemen's Council Climate-Smart Specialist

Location: Hawai?i Island preferred, must be located in Hawai'i

Duration: 4 year term

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Coordinating site visits to ranches as needed.
• Work with partners to provide technical guidance, recommendations and support to producers engaged in ranching to develop and/or implement climate-smart practices that aim to increase soil C, reduce GHG emissions, and support agricultural production. The climate smart practices that will be supported will include: silvopasture and native tree establishment, prescribed grazing, invasive species removal, forage planting, etc.
• Collaborate with researchers and producers to find agricultural solutions focused on a suite of silvopasture and rangeland management related practices.
• Perform community outreach and communication of projects to various audiences.
• Collect soil and greenhouse gas samples at island-wide partner sites according to Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification Plans and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Data entry and management of producer and practitioner data using the Natural Resource Data Solutions software.
• Compose quarterly reports that include the producer and site, acreage, status of practice implementation, status of sampling, work to be done within the next quarter, a cost report of the practice implementation, and additional comments.
• Assist with (i) other HiCSC project needs and duties as assigned, (ii) with the recruitment of ranchers for Phase II of the project, and (iii) with the development of contractual agreements between producers, Lynker and the HiCSC project partners as well as environmental compliance procedures (NRCS CPA52).
• Participate in the Climate-Smart Training School.

Required Experience, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree desirable) in agricultural sciences, environmental sciences or related field, knowledge of terrestrial ecosystem ecology and soil science.
• Experience working in tropical or semi-tropical agricultural systems with a deep understanding of climate-smart agriculture concepts.
• Relevant experience working with agricultural producers and practitioners.
• Computer skills, communication, writing and presentation skills, experience in using GPS, ArcGIS, database software, and Microsoft Office.
• Readiness to carry out visits to project sites and travel as required.
• Capacity to conduct field work, and soil and greenhouse gas sampling under a variety of field conditions (including ability to lift ~30 lbs equipment).
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in situations with tight deadlines.
• Excellent team-building and cross-cultural skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills,experience working with a wide range of individuals in government, private sector and agriculture.
• Commitment to responsible scientific conduct. Please refer to these key practices as reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK208714/
• Familiarity with NRCS conservation practice standards, particularly for the Pacific Island Area (CPS-PIA), a plus.
• Applicants must be able to possess and maintain a valid driver’s license for the duration of the project term.
• Possess current motor vehicle insurance that meets or exceeds State of Hawai‘i requirements, as the employee is required to use their personal vehicle and must be willing to travel to various locations to perform the aforementioned duties.

Working Conditions:

• This position requires mobility as well as occasional evening and weekend work hours.
• Work is performed in outdoor environments with varying conditions, home office, and community settings.
• Out-of-area travel is required for professional development, sampling, monitoring and verification, client technical assistance, and other purposes, including to locations on Hawai?i Island and neighboring islands.

Equipment Usage:

• Computer and standard office equipment.
• Soil and GHG measurement equipment (training provided through the University of Hawai'i at Manoa).
• GPS, NRDS database, Microsoft Office, NRCS soil web survey, NRCS conservation practice standards for the Pacific Island Area (CPS-PIA).