Careers with NRCS

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has many professions to carry out its business. A few of these careers are in human resources, budget, procurement, and clerical assistance. The majority, however, are specialty or technical professions.

Careers Requiring a High School Diploma

• Soil Conservation Aid/Technician - Helps the soil conservationist in planning and applying terraces, waterways, windbreaks, and other conservation practices.
• Engineering Aid/Technician - Assists professional engineers in surveying construction sites, working with contractors, inspecting construction in progress and similar duties.

Careers Requiring a College Degree
(with a major in natural resources or agriculture)

• Soil Conservationist - Provides technical advice on installing conservation practices such as terraces, dams and planting of grass, trees or wildlife cover. Provides advice to landowners and government agencies in the development of the natural resources.
• Civil or Ag Engineer - Assists in engineering design of dams, road structure and terrace systems. Makes on-site inspections, computes quantity and cost of materials, and gathers basic planning data for these structures.
• Soil Scientist - Makes sample drillings in the field to identify and classify soils, gathers information for soil surveys such as land use and crop data, and is generally responsible for soil surveys.
• Rangeland Management Specialist - Helps ranchers develop good grazing systems by developing a conservation plan, gives advice on the best grasses to grow and ways to improve and protect rangeland.
• Some other career positions within NRCS are biologist, foresters, and economists.

How to Apply for a Job as a Soil Conservationist or Soil Scientist

For more information about job opportunities in Montana, contact the Human Resources Section, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Building Room 443, 10 East Babcock Street, Bozeman, MT 59715, or call 406/587-6937; e-mail: Sharon Huber.

Employment Opportunities While Attending College

Student Trainee positions under the Student Career Experience Program are available in a variety of job areas. A trainee position acquaints the student with field application of conservation practices learned in the classroom. The program provides for periods of study mixed with periods of study-related employment. Work is under the guidance of a trained NRCS employee in the speciality.

These positions can lead to careers requiring a college degree, usually with a major in natural resources, engineering, or other agriculture areas.

How the Student Career Experience Program Works

Under a working agreement between the Natural Resources Conservation Service and an educational institution, the student must work a minimum of 640 study-related work hours before completion of the education requirements for graduation. The student may work full-time during the summer and vacation periods or part-time while attending classes. Students are hired on a temporary basis (usually at the GS-3 or GS-4 level) subject to all the conditions of a career-conditional appointment. They are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a career-conditional appointment upon completion of the education requirements and the minimum work hours. Student trainee positions are available in the following specialties:

• Soil Conservationist - Provides technical advice on installing conservation practices such as terraces, dams and planting of grass, trees or wildlife cover. Provides advice to landowners and government agencies in the development of their natural resources.
• Civil or Ag Engineer - Assists in engineering design of dams, road structure and terrace systems. Makes on-site inspections, computes quantity and most of materials, and gathers basic planning data for these structures.
• Soil Scientist - Makes sample drillings in the field to identify and classify soils, gathers information for soil surveys such as land use and crop data, and is generally responsible for soil surveys.
• Rangeland Management Specialist - Helps ranchers develop good grazing systems by developing a conservation plan, gives advice on the best grasses to grow and ways to improve and protect rangeland.

For more information about student trainee opportunities in Montana, contact the Human Resources Section, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Building Room 443, 10 East Babcock Street, Bozeman, MT 59715, or call 406/587-6937; e-mail: Sharon Huber.

Last Modified: 11/29/2007