**(1) PERSONAL CONTACTS - EO/CR\
(MANDATORY FOR ALL NON-SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES) (Critical)**

Routinely displays courteous and tactful behavior towards internal and
external customers, supervisors, coworkers, and/or team members.
Projects a positive and professional image of USDA. Performs all duties
in a manner which consistently demonstrates fairness, cooperation, and
respect towards coworkers, office visitors, and all others in the
performance of official business. Demonstrates an awareness of EO/CR
policies and responsibilities of Agency and departmental goals of
valuing a diverse, yet unified workforce.

**[Alignment:]{.underline}** In support of USDA's Civil Rights
Performance Plan and NRCS Management Initiative: Ensuring Civil Rights.

**[Links to State Conservationist Performance Objective
(6):]{.underline}**

Implement and track strategies to move NRCS closer to reflect the
Civilian Labor Force and strategies that are **designed to provide
parity in service delivery.**

**[Performance Objective (1):]{.underline}**

Develop and implement outreach strategies at the local level to provide
parity in the delivery of conservation services and technical
assistance, ensuring equal access to all ethnic and underserved land
users.

**[Performance Standards/Measures]{.underline}**:

**Program Delivery** -- Monitors and provides reports to supervisor on
the accomplishments and status of the number of women and minorities who
participate in NRCS programs.

> -Supports and participates in at least **one** outreach initiative to
> ensure all customers receives equal opportunity to access programs,
> activities, and services consistent with the Agency's Civil Rights
> Performance Plan and NRCS' Strategic Plan.
>
> -Collaborates with District Conservationist to develop strategies that
> will accelerate conservation implementation for small farmers,
> minority and beginning farmers, limited resource and socially
> disadvantage customers.

**Performance Objective (2):**

Supports USDA's Civil Rights Performance Plan. Supports safety and
health guidance and procedures.

**Performance Standards/Measures**

**Safety and Health** -- Annually reviews the local Emergency Response
Plan and have information and guidance to comply with occupational
health & safety programs and to manage in the event of a disaster and
emergency situation. Provides updated contact information to DC at least
annually.

**Training** -- Completes Annual EO/CR, Cyber security and Privacy
Basics training within established timeframes.

Personal Identifiable Information (PII) standard: Ensures that all
records containing PII and/or social security numbers (SSN) are
safeguarded including vendor files when the person's name and SSN or any
other PII are combined.

**(2) MISSION RESULTS (MANDATORY) (Critical)**

Demonstrates support for agency strategic goals and initiatives within
own organizational unit and contributes to the achievement of overall
agency initiatives. Stresses accountability and continuous improvement
to employees/team members, makes timely and effective decisions, and
produces results through strategic thinking and decisive action.

Ensures a high degree of responsiveness to management, the public, and
internal and external customers. Continually reviews, monitors, and
strives to improve organizational performance to achieve agency mission
results. Alignment:

**[Alignment:]{.underline}** This element supports the accomplishment of
USDA Strategic Goal 6: Protect and Enhance the Nation's Natural
Resources Base and Environment and the NRCS Strategic Goals 1-6, and
USDA and NRCS Management Initiatives 7-12.

Links to the following State Conservationist Performance Objectives: (1)
Develop and implement a State Business Plan that aligns with the NRCS
Strategic Plan (2005-2010), annual performance goals, and NRCS budgetary
priorities. (2) Manage the delivery of programs to achieve: annual
targets fro Budget and Performance Integration (BPI) goals; on-time
delivery of program services; on-schedule implementation of participant
contracts; increases in putting conservation on the ground; and
compliance with Operations and Maintenance agreements regarding dam
safety.

**Performance Objective (3):**

Provide technical assistance to private land owners and producers to
achieve annual targets for Budget and Performance (BPI) goals, on-time
delivery of program services; on-scheduled implementation of participant
contracts and increases in putting conservation on the ground.

**Performance Standards/Measures:**

-Assist District Conservationist to achieve 95% to 100% of the
performance goals for all assigned performance measures and assigned
items in the Joint Plan of Operation/Business Plan.

-Commitments to both internal and external customers consistently meet
requirements and expectations for high-quality products/results.

-Ensures NRCS programs are implemented within policy and national
instructions.

-Assist District Conservationist to meet 90-100% of program target dates
for sign-ups, ranking, selection, applications entered, and fund
obligation per State/National guidance.

-Assist District Conservationist to ensure 80% of all contracted
conservation practices in active contracts are applied on schedule or
rescheduled through a modification.

-Provides guidance to land users and producers to ensure conservation
practices adhere to all applicable NRCS policies and standards. Will be
monitored through annual spot check or field office reviews.

-Ensures fund and time accountability by accurately recording personal
time and attendance charges according to the proper program, activity,
and county where work was completed over 90% of the time.

**(3) CUSTOMER SERVICE (Non-Critical)**

Provides advice that is timely, responsive and accurate. Maintains
appropriate rapport with internal and external customers. Develops and
establishes working relationships with external organizations as
required. Keeps supervisor and/or team leader informed of difficult
and/or controversial issues and unique problems. Takes action to
effectively solve problems before they have an adverse impact on the
organization or other employees.

**[Alignment:]{.underline}** This element supports the accomplishment of
USDA Strategic Goal 6: Protect and Enhance the Nation's Natural
Resources Base and Environment and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service Strategic Goals 1-6.

Links to the State Conservationist Performance Objective (5); Develop
and implement strategies to increase participation in NRCS conservation
programs/projects and to maintain and improve customer relations.

**Performance Objective (4):**

Ensures responsiveness to organizational leadership, internal and
external customers, partners, and the general public to maintain and
improve customer relations.

**[Performance Standards/Measures:]{.underline}**

-Consistently provides information/advice that is timely, responsive,
and accurate. Maintains appropriate rapport with internal and external
customers. Develops and establishes working relationships with external
organization as required. Keeps supervisor informed of difficult and/or
controversial issues and unique problems. Takes action to effectively
solve problems before they have an adverse impact on the organizational
unit or on other employees and customers.

-Follows through on customers' inquiries, requests, and complaints.
Keeps customers up-to-date about the progress of projects.

-Maintains clear communication with customers regarding mutual
expectations and follow through. All communication orally and in writing
are clear, correct, concise and understandable.

-Assists with outreach efforts designed to increase minority and
underserved group(s) involvement in cooperative conservation.

-Supports the development and utilization of technologies for activities
in field office operations.

-Feedback from Customers indicate satisfaction with:

> -The quality of service delivered, including indication that any
> necessary collaboration met their needs.
>
> -The quantity and quality of information provided increased their
> understanding of NRCS administrative programs.
>
> -The services provided or solutions offered met their overall needs.
>
> -Information and data provided was accurate and provided by expected
> due dates