Agricultural Liaison - Metropolitan Water District - Los, CA - EXPIRED
This is an archive of an expired job.
Job Information:
Company: Metropolitan Water District
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a consortium of 26 cities and water districts that provides drinking water to nearly 19 million people in Southern California. MetropolitanÃs mission is to provide its service area with adequate and reliable supplies of high quality water to meet current and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible way. MetropolitanÃs facilities include the 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct, five water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 2.3 billion gallons per day, nine surface water reservoirs, 800 miles of pipeline, and 16 hydroelectric power plants.
AGRICULTURAL LIAISON
MetropolitanÃs Water Resource Management Group, has one (1) opening for an Agricultural Liaison available. The reporting location for this position will either be in Los Angeles, California or Sacramento, California depending on the preference of the selected applicant.
As an Agricultural Liaison you will serve as MetropolitanÃs liaison to farmers, agricultural communities, water agencies, and local government for agricultural issues. You will plan, organize, and conduct agricultural economic research in support of farm land use and water management strategies. You will also develop and recommend sound agricultural programs that support water conservation initiatives, water resource management, and water quality protection.
Working with MetropolitanÃs Managers of Colorado River Resources, Bay Delta Initiatives, and Water Resource Management, creating strong relationships, promoting collaboration, and gaining support among varied agencies, groups, and individuals will be essential to your success in this role.
This position will require frequent travel and overnight stays at various locations.
JOB DUTIES
1. Plans, organizes, and conducts studies related to agricultural economics and water conservation.
2. Collaborates with internal stakeholders and characterizes water resource issues related to MetropolitanÃs agricultural land holdings.
3. Coordinates with internal stakeholders on potential water transfer or acquisition developments and water transfer or acquisition activities with agricultural districts, coordinates with internal stakeholders on agricultural activities, land management, and water savings opportunities on Metropolitan properties.
4. Builds cooperative relationships with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders to address issues regarding Metropolitan land holdings and water saving partnerships.
5. Negotiates terms of agreements; analyzes proposals and alternatives; and drafts agreements.
6. Monitors activities and practices on Metropolitan owned lands to ensure farming and other practices are consistent with water conservation, land stewardship, and water management principles.
7. Recommends actions to management for the resolution of issues relating to execution and implementation of fallowing and agricultural lease agreements.
8. Monitors and tracks groundwater banking and storage programs with agricultural participants; recommends and assists in negotiating improvements to programs and to lessen potential impacts on partnering districts and farmers; and attends meetings related to negotiating, modifying, or operating programs.
9. Evaluates the agricultural economy and explores opportunities for cost effective transfers, acquisitions, or exchanges.
10. Reviews crop statistics and monitors agribusiness trends and improvements and recommends techniques and practices to optimize profitability while conserving water. Advises management of potential crop values in anticipation of crop fallowing, stressing, or substitution proposals.
11. Evaluates farm land-use strategies to create mutually beneficial crop planting plans that generate water use savings while producing high crop yields.
12. Represents Metropolitan at local events, professional associations, and public agencies including their Board meetings; develops positive working relationships with farmers, water agencies, vendors, communities, economic institutions, and government agencies.
13. Prepares reports, presentations for above tasks as needed.
Work Schedule: 9/80, Alternate Fridays Off
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience: BachelorÃs degree from an accredited college or university with a major in agribusiness, agricultural economics, agricultural or irrigation engineering, or other related field and eight years of increasingly responsible relevant experience; or MasterÃs degree from an accredited college or university specializing in agribusiness, agricultural economics, agricultural or irrigation engineering, or other related field and six years of increasingly responsible relevant experience.
Relevant experience is defined as: work experience involving water conveyance, water operations, or water management strategies of which at least four years include work experience with agribusiness, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, irrigation engineering, irrigation districts, or farm land use.
Required Knowledge of: Principles, practices, methods, and techniques of agribusiness; large scale farming, irrigation techniques, crop production and markets; and regulations, policies and procedures, including those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, California Department of Food and Agriculture, University of California Cooperative Extension, county agricultural commissioners, and air pollution control and air quality management districts, as they apply to agricultural operations.
Required Skills and Abilities to: Negotiate agreements; encourage and facilitate cooperation; develop consensus with agricultural agencies and Metropolitan; exercise sound judgment and discretion; communicate orally and in writing on administrative and technical topics; represent Metropolitan to public agencies, regulatory bodies, interest groups, and the public; identify and analyze agricultural operation questions, issues and needs; evaluate alternatives and recommend effective courses of action; resolve conflict regarding budgeting, scheduling, funding, and procurement requirements; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, other agencies, regulatory agencies, and the public.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIREMENTS
License: Valid California Class C Driver License or equivalent from your state of residency is required at time of application.
Desirable Qualifications:
ï License in good standing as a California Professional Engineer
ï Knowledgeable of trends in agricultural research and technological advances
ï Experience working with research institutes
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met or may be encountered by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands: The work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; recurring lifting of moderately heavy items such as personal computers and record boxes. The work may require specific, but common, physical characteristics and abilities such as above-average agility and dexterity. The work may be performed under all types of conditions including extreme temperatures.
Work Environment: Mostly an indoor work environment typical of an office setting, combined with periodic outdoor site visits and field inspections. The work involves moderate risks or discomforts that require special safety precautions, e.g., working around moving parts, carts, or machines, or irritant chemicals; etc. Employees may be required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks, gowns, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields. Frequent travel to various sites requiring overnight stay.
Vision Requirements: No special vision requirements
BENEFITS
- Competitive compensation
- Excellent medical, dental, life, vision plans.
- Deferred compensation in the form of a 401(k) plan (with matching contribution) and a 457 plan.
- Retirement benefits under the California Public Employees' Retirement System
- Tuition reimbursement
- Training and advancement opportunities
- On-site fitness center (Los Angeles Headquarters location only)
- Excellent working environment
- Hub of public transportation: rail, subway, buses, and taxis
- Public transportation reimbursements and van pools
For more information on MWD benefits, please use the following link: http://www.mwdh2o.com/PDF_Careers/benefits.pdf
This job announcement has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. To receive a copy of the complete job description, please send an email to [email protected].
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities, who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process, please call (213) 217-7738 or email [email protected].
MWD is a Federal and State EO employer ñ Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories
To apply for this position, please copy and paste the following link into your browser address bar: https://mwdh2o.contacthr.com/65542215
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