Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi is hiring a dedicated Agriculture Conservation Specialist to join its Healthy Agroecosystems program team on Oʻahu. This full-time role provides hands-on technical assistance to agricultural producers and land practitioners participating in conservation incentive projects, translating conservation goals into practical, site-specific plans that balance ecological outcomes with agricultural productivity and regulatory compliance — all at a salary of $57,000–$65,000 depending on experience.
About the Organization — Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi
Founded: 1998 (formerly Oʻahu Resource Conservation & Development Council) — a statewide nonprofit organisation
Mission: Helps Hawaiʻi’s farmers, ranchers, and land stewards access funding, technical support, and conservation resources
Program Focus: Improving soil health, water quality, and farm productivity through conservation planning and practice
Farmer Support: Grant writing, loan navigation, and conservation plan development for small-scale agricultural producers
Core Commitment: Strengthening local food systems in Hawaiʻi through trust-based, long-term producer relationships
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
Competitive Salary: $57,000–$65,000 plus healthcare, 14 paid holidays, 401(k) match, and professional development
NRCS Certification Pathway: Full NRCS conservation planner certification support and federal program training
Meaningful Work: Directly support Hawaiʻi’s farming and ranching community in building sustainable, conservation-focused operations
Hybrid Flexibility: One remote day per week with structured field and office schedule across Honolulu and Kunia
Position Overview
The Agriculture Conservation Specialist at Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi is a technically demanding, people-centred role within the Healthy Agroecosystems program. Reporting to the Healthy Agroecosystems Program Manager, this position serves as a technical liaison between agricultural producers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and partner agencies — preparing conservation plans, applying GIS tools to develop spatial planning maps, evaluating site conditions, and ensuring regulatory compliance across county, state, and federal frameworks. The position is split between the NRCS Honolulu office (two days per week) and Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi’s Kunia office (two days per week), with one remote day each week.
Why This Role Matters: As an Agriculture Conservation Specialist at Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi, you directly translate conservation policy into practical, on-the-ground action for Oʻahu’s farmers, ranchers, and land stewards. You prepare NRCS-compliant conservation plans, apply GIS and ArcGIS to develop accurate spatial planning maps, conduct field inspections to certify conservation practice implementation, support growers with federal program applications including EQIP and CSP, ensure compliance with county, state, and federal soil and water conservation regulations, and identify grant opportunities that strengthen both the organisation and the producers it serves.
Key Responsibilities
Conservation Planning & Technical Assistance
- Apply principles of soil science, agricultural science, and GIS to support the conservation priorities of Hawaiʻi’s farmers, ranchers, and conservation organisations
- Prepare detailed Conservation Plans for farmers and ranchers addressing natural resource concerns in accordance with NRCS and City and County regulations
- Evaluate site conditions and land use systems to recommend appropriate conservation practices and certify full implementation through field inspection
- Support the NRCS field office with federal program applications as needed, including EQIP and related conservation incentive programs
GIS, Data Management & Field Assessment
- Collect, manage, and analyze GPS field data and integrate spatial datasets into GIS platforms including ArcGIS to develop conservation planning maps for clients
- Conduct field-based assessments including soil, water, vegetation, and agricultural system evaluations across Oʻahu’s diverse agricultural landscapes
- Conduct community outreach and attend agricultural and conservation events to support producer engagement
Regulatory Compliance & Project Administration
- Develop and maintain comprehensive knowledge of county, state, and federal regulations affecting soil and water conservation
- Familiarise with federal cultural resource compliance requirements applicable to conservation projects
- Prepare required compliance and project reports accurately and on schedule
Partnership Development & Organisational Support
- Contribute to strengthening working relationships with partner organisations across Hawaiʻi’s conservation and agriculture sectors
- Identify grant opportunities for the organisation and for individual agricultural clients
- Complete all required training including NRCS conservation planner certifications, Privacy and Cybersecurity training
Qualifications & Requirements
Required Qualifications
- 2+ years of agricultural, agroforestry, and/or natural resource management experience specifically in Hawaiʻi
- Certification or demonstrated proficiency in GIS software suites, including ArcGIS
- 1+ year of project management experience with proven ability to balance multiple projects simultaneously
- Experience with technical writing for research-style reports and formal documentation
- Comfort facilitating presentations and discussions in front of both small and large groups
- Outstanding people skills with the ability to work collaboratively with team members, partner agencies, and diverse client groups
- Proficiency with Google Suite and/or Microsoft 365
- Valid driver’s license required for field-based activities across Oʻahu
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Agriculture, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related field
- Experience working with diverse client groups and farmers/ranchers in Hawaiʻi’s agricultural sector
- Demonstrated knowledge of Hawaiʻi’s agriculture sector, agribusiness, and conservation/regenerative agriculture challenges
- Knowledge of native and canoe crops relevant to Hawaiʻi’s unique agricultural heritage
Benefits & Compensation
- Salary: $57,000–$65,000 depending on experience
- Healthcare: Comprehensive health coverage for employees
- Leave: Paid vacation, paid sick leave, 14 paid holidays, and Hawaiʻi Pregnancy Leave
- Retirement: 401(k) retirement match after one year of employment
- Professional Development: NRCS conservation planner certification pathways, federal program exposure (EQIP, CSP), workshops, conferences, and mentorship
- Meaningful Perks: High variety across field sites and projects, close daily work with farmers and ranchers making real conservation impact
About Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi
Founded in 1998 as the Oʻahu Resource Conservation & Development Council, Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi is a statewide nonprofit organisation committed to helping Hawaiʻi’s farmers, ranchers, and land stewards access the funding, technical support, and conservation resources they need to build sustainable, productive operations. The organisation works directly with producers to improve soil health, water quality, and farm productivity through practical conservation planning and implementation, and also helps farmers navigate the complex processes of grant writing and loan applications.
Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi’s Healthy Agroecosystems program sits at the heart of this work, connecting producers with federal programs like EQIP and CSP while providing the on-the-ground technical assistance needed to make conservation practices genuinely implementable. The organisation offers a rare combination of meaningful, field-based work with the professional development infrastructure of NRCS certification pathways and federal program exposure — all within one of the world’s most beautiful and ecologically unique agricultural landscapes.
Career Excellence: Join Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi and become a trusted technical partner for Oʻahu’s agricultural producers, conservation organisations, and the land itself.
Who Should Apply?
- Hawaii-Based Conservation Professionals: With 2+ years of agricultural or natural resource management experience on Oʻahu or across the state
- GIS-Proficient Environmental Scientists: Comfortable using ArcGIS and spatial datasets for conservation planning and field mapping
- NRCS-Familiar Planners: With knowledge of federal conservation programs including EQIP, CSP, and watershed initiatives
- Agriculture & Soil Science Graduates: With a bachelor’s or master’s in agriculture, environmental science, or natural resource management
- Community-Focused Technical Specialists: Excellent communicators passionate about supporting Hawaiʻi’s farmers, ranchers, and land stewards through conservation
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