Climate-Smart Specialist

The Climate-Smart Specialist will work directly with the ranching project partners of the USDA Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities grant. This grant is a collaboration between Lynker, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and a wide variety of other farming organizations and Universities, for more information see here.

The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council (HCC) is seeking a highly-motivated individual who is passionate about climate smart agriculture, rangelands and beef production to support us in providing technical assistance, field sampling, and outreach to ranching producers as part of the USDA Climate Smart Commodities Project throughout the State.

The USDA Climate-Smart Commodities project provides grants 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 have a three fold benefit -increasing productivity and incomes, enhancing resilience of livelihoods and ecosystems, and reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.

The candidate will represent Hawaii's cattle producers and work with the Hawaii Climate Smart Commodities project team. The candidate will work from home (preferably located on Hawaii 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 Hawaii ranchers.This position will co-manage the awarded project including budgets, project activities, timeline and data collection, management and reporting. This position reports to the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council Managing Director as well as Lynker.

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

Location: Hawaii Island

Duration: 5 year term

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Coordinating site visits to ranches as needed

• 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, etc.

• Collaborate with researchers and producers to find agricultural solutions to producers, focused on a suite of silvopasture and rangeland management related practices.

• Perform community outreach through the Climate-Smart Commodities project

• Collect soil and greenhouse gas samples at islandwide partner sites across agricultural, pastoral, and forested lands according to Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification Plans (MMRVs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

• Manages producer and practitioner data using the Natural Resource Data Solutions software, ArcGIS, and GPS.

• Provide quarterly reports to the organization project lead, InterIsland Climate-Smart Specialist, and program manager, that including 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 other HiCSC project needs and duties as assigned.

Required Experience, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor's degree 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 emergency situations with tight deadlines

• Excellent team-building and cross-cultural skills

• Interpersonal with excellent communication skills and experience working with a wide range of individuals at high levels in government, private sector and civil society

• Commitment to responsible scientific conduct. Please refer to these key practices as reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK208714/

• 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, a shared office space, home office, and community settings.

• Out-of-area travel is required for professional development, client technical assistance, teaching and other purposes, including to locations on Hawaii Island, neighboring islands, and periodic out-of-state travel.

Equipment Usage:

• Computer and standard office equipment.

• Soil and GHG measurement equipment (training provided through the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and the director of applied 'aina-based agriculture).

• GPS, NRDS database, ArcGIS, Microsoft Office, soil web survey.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned, small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled and diverse professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

Lynker is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.