Civil Engineer

Amherst, MA
ACES/NRCS
8/26/2026
Amherst, MA
60.00 
60.00 
Monday - Friday, Days
Civil Engineer
ID:AMA1-006Location:AmherstProgram:ACE
Wage/Hr:$60.00Hours/Week:16Minimum Age:55

Disclaimer: This is not a federal position. This role is offered through a partnership agreement and does not constitute an NRCS hiring action.

This position is a non-federal role funded through an existing agreement between NRCS and NEW Solutions. The enrollee will provide direct support to farmers and landowners, enabling the implementation of conservation practices on the ground. This role contributes to NRCS's mission by enhancing capacity in field offices and ensuring timely assistance to producers. It is designed to free up NRCS staff for emergency and high-priority responses, not to replace federal staff.

This role helps ensure continued progress on conservation planning, practice implementation, and technical assistance, especially in high-demand or disaster-affected areas. It aligns with the Administration's priorities for farmer-first, field-facing, and partner-enabled capacity expansion.

For over 25 years, National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions) has specialized in connecting experienced workers (ages 55+) with full-time and part-time job opportunities that support the critical missions of Federal Agencies across the United States.

NEW Solutions connects experienced workers (ages 55+) with the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). These are experienced professionals who provide technical and professional assistance to the Department of Agriculture for the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program.

Benefits: Paid Health Insurance Premium for positions budgeted at 60+ hours per pay period, Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Federal Holidays, and optional Vision and Dental Insurance available for positions budgeted at 35+ hours per pay period.

Positions listed here do not guarantee employment for any definite period. Enrollment in the Experienced Worker Programs administered by NEW Solutions is temporary. The enrollment relationship between NEW Solutions and the Enrollee is an ?at-will? relationship. This means that an Enrollee is free to terminate enrollment at any time during the enrollment period, and NEW Solutions and the Agency have the right to terminate the relationship with the Enrollee.

PLEASE NOTE: An ?ACES Enrollee? is not a federal employee, nor an employee of NEW Solutions. An ?ACES Enrollee? is a participant in a grant program established through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the USDA-NRCS and administered by NEW Solutions.

This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the United States.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 20 year(s) of experience in soil and water conservation work to include engineering practice planning, design, and construction. OR MA/MS Degree in Agricultural, Civil, Environmental, or other related engineering area of study, Hydrology, Hydraulics, or Geology.

  • Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel
  • Adobe Acrobat
Duties:

Provide engineering technical assistance to field office and state office personnel, and/or similar engineers for all engineering phases (e.g. planning, survey, design, layout, construction, inspection, and certification) for implementation of projects under NRCS programs.

  • Reviews and checks engineering planning and design work of consultant and NRCS staff. Recommends changes in plans, designs, specifications, and schedules to provide improved solutions and to accommodate conditions at construction site, availability of materials or to expedite construction.   50%
  • Reviews, analyses, and drafts updated and new technical resources and engineering policies under the direct supervision of the State Conservation Engineer. This work includes conducting research and developing a framework to organize and store these technical resources in state.   20%
  • Participates in planning and/or design meetings with consulting firms to determine workflow and discuss alternatives and progress.   20%
  • Advise, mentor, guide and training to staff on engineering procedures of varying engineering complexity.   10%

Other:
  • On-job training from NRCS staff.
  • Travel Requirements: Occasional travel for site visits, fieldwork by use of a GOV or POV
  • Physical requirements: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.