WWW.NRCS.USDA.GOV/CAREERS

WWW.NRCS.USDA.GOV/CAREERS

Careers in 

Conservation

“When I help ranchers, I know the 

changes we are making together 

are shaping, to some extent, the 

lives of their children and their 

grandchildren.”

Kristan Norman, Area Rangeland 

Management Specialist, California

Helping People Help the Land

Each day, our 10,000 plus NRCS employees help people help 

the land by: 

• Establishing sound science principles and tools for 

on-the-ground application; 

• Providing technical and financial assistance to landowners 

and producers;

• Developing locally-led conservation solutions with 

partners;

• Supporting innovation in agriculture, conservation and 

economic markets; and

• Investing in people, including beginning, underserved 

and veteran farmers.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

United States

Department of

Agriculture

United States

Department of

Agriculture
A Foundation

Rooted in History

The NRCS was born out of troubled times—the Dust Bowl days of 

the 1930s. Dust storms ravaged the nation’s farmland, stripping 

away millions of tons of topsoil and carrying it all the way to the 

Atlantic Ocean. What originally began as the Soil Conservation 

Service in 1935 is now known as the USDA Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, a name change that highlights our broader 

mission of conservation. 

Through voluntary conservation programs, NRCS and landowners, 

producers and partners protect and conserve natural resources on 

private lands, approximately 70% of lands in the lower 48 states. 

The NRCS offers opportunities 

for indoor and outdoor work, 

based on your career goals.

Good for the land. 

Good for you.

With nearly 3,000 offices in communities nationwide, the NRCS provides 

local job opportunities in every U.S. state and territory. Put your skills and 

experience to use in your own backyard, or explore your options.

As an NRCS employee, your work will support our conservation mission. At 

the same time, you will enjoy the many benefits of federal employment, from 

numerous health and life insurance options to generous annual and sick leave 

to retirement savings (visit www.opm.gov).

Beyond the basics, the NRCS offers a welcoming and diverse workplace, 

where managers and employees alike value work-life balance. Here, 

employee development, training and promotion are essential to achieving 

our important mission. 

NRCS Offices in 

Every State

Grow your career.

“If we take care of the land, 

it will take care of us.”

Hugh Hammond Bennett, Father of Soil Conservation

From student interns to seasoned 

professionals, NRCS employees 

support local conservation to benefit 

communities, natural resources 

and the nation’s economy. 

Science and Technology

Our scientists, from wildlife biologists 

to GIS specialists, develop the tools 

to implement conservation that’s 

rooted in science and based on 

cutting-edge technology.

Conservation on the Ground

Our conservationists work hand-in-hand 

with producers, landowners and partners to 

implement voluntary conservation practices 

that work for agricultural operations and the 

environment.

Mission Support

Mission support positions, 

such as budget and 

contracting specialists, 

ensure that our scientists 

and field employees have 

the resources they need to 

serve the American people.