Agriculture Lead

Position Announcement

February 27, 2026

Open until filled, first review March 16, 2026, 3:30 PM

March 20, 2026

Office located in Okanogan, Washington, with travel throughout Okanogan County

Starting annual salary at $80,820 (Range 66, Step

A) DOE with opportunity for merit and COLA increases.

Medical, dental and vision insurance, Washington State Retirement (PERS), life insurance, long-term disability, vacation leave, sick leave and 12 paid holidays per year.

The Okanogan Conservation District (CD) is a dynamic organization comprised of volunteer board members and paid staff that are leaders in “on-the-ground conservation”. The district’s mission is to help cooperating land managers in Okanogan County achieve their conservation goals by:

• Working cooperatively with private landowners and stakeholders to encourage wise stewardship and land-management decisions.
• Providing locally led, voluntary, non-regulatory solutions to local environmental problems.
• Advocating for high-priority resource concerns facing Okanogan County.
• Educating adults and youth on environmental and natural resources issues in our community.

Okanogan CD is a small team of dedicated staff focused on delivering priority natural resource conservation programs, providing technical assistance, and cost-share opportunities that serve the community and natural resources in Okanogan County. Okanogan CD values teamwork locally led natural resource management, creative solutions, and voluntary conservation. Okanogan CD encourages a positive work/life balance and flexible schedules.

Okanogan CD is seeking a highly goal-oriented, organized, and skilled individual to join the district as an Agriculture Lead. This position is responsible for implementing agricultural conservation projects throughout Okanogan County.

Current priority projects include:

• Implement custom natural resource conservation plans in collaboration with agricultural cooperators primarily in the shrub-steppe environment.
• Write and implement the Okanogan County Drought Preparedness Plan and support collaborative efforts for drought mitigation.
• Manage water bank operations.
• Develop project plans, delegate tasks, and oversee team workflows to ensure timely completion of deliverables.

The Agriculture Lead oversees the water resources, agriculture, and range program areas at the district. Duties include the coordination of agriculture programs to improve land and water management and promote long-term resource sustainability. This role manages water bank operations and supports water availability planning, including drought mitigation efforts, while ensuring compliance with water rights requirements. Serving as a subject matter expert, the Agriculture Lead advises and supports landowners in implementing best management practices to enhance land and water use.

The lead works collaboratively with district staff and funding agencies to provide technical assistance and guidance to landowners, stakeholders, and partners on agricultural and rangeland grazing conservation practices. This position also provides project-based support and collaborates with other district employees.

Additionally, the Agriculture Lead directly supervises the Water Resources Planner, Agriculture Planner, and Range Planner, mentoring and supporting their development while delegating tasks effectively.

• Bachelor’s degree in Water Resource Management, Range Management, Hydrology, Soil Science, Natural Resources, or a related discipline with at least 2 years of experience managing programs. Combinations of applicable education and experience may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.
• Knowledge of agricultural practices and range health principles, irrigation scheduling, soil-water conservation principles, Washington State water law, and best practices for land and water resource management.
• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder group meetings and collaborative problem-solving processes.
• Ability to assess rangeland, irrigation, and water availability conditions, including soil tests, irrigation…