Launch a new working-lands program: soil health, grazing, and irrigation help for Larimer County producers, funded by grants you help win.
Larimer Conservation District · Fort Collins, CO (office + field) · $70,000 – $74,000
Based on a real posting (view original, posted October 12, 2026 (priority date November 16, 2026), accessed November 3, 2026; also on the CSU Food Systems job board). Postings close. Interview for it anyway.
The role
Launch and run a new agricultural conservation program from concept to completion, including scopes, timelines, and budgets.
Give producers technical help on soil health, agronomy, grazing, irrigation, and water management.
Coordinate with NRCS, CSU Extension, FSA, local governments, and conservation nonprofits.
Write and manage grants and cost-share agreements, including reporting and reimbursements.
Prepare conservation plans and reports, and represent the district at community events.
What they’re looking for
A degree in agronomy, soil science, rangeland ecology, environmental science, or a related field.
About 3 years of agricultural or conservation experience, including familiarity with NRCS Farm Bill programs.
GIS and GPS skills.
Ability to lead projects independently and work directly with producers.
Preferred: grant writing and coordinating multiple partners.
Reality check: This one is a stretch if you haven’t worked with farm programs. If you pick it, be ready to talk about how you’d earn producers’ trust.
Know the employer
Conservation districts are local, voluntary, non-regulatory partners to farmers and ranchers. Larimer Conservation District works across the county’s irrigated cropland, rangeland, and fast-growing communities along the Front Range.
Interview room
Candidate: stop reading here. Everything below is for the panel.
Panelists: open only your own seat. Each seat’s questions were written for this job. Ask one of them, then follow up in your character’s style.
Every round, each panelist draws a mood card. Keep it secret and play it lightly.
Tap to draw. Draw again each round.
NoteSeat A · Riley, the Technical Lead (click to open)
Here, you are: The district’s conservation planner and soil-health specialist. You work closely with NRCS.
Ask one of these:
“Walk me through how you’d assess soil health on a 300-acre irrigated field near Wellington. What would you measure, and how often?”
“We need to show a funder that this program changed something on the ground within two years. What data would you collect?”
Then follow up: when they use a buzzword (modeled, analyzed, managed, data-driven), ask “What specifically did you do?” or “How would you know if that was wrong?”
More about Riley
Story. A data feed your team depends on broke again last week, and you’ve been patching it ever since. You’ve been burned by hires who listed “R” and “GIS” on their résumé and then couldn’t clean a messy spreadsheet.
Quirks. Friendly but literal. You ask for numbers (“How many sites? How many years?”) and take notes.
Listen for: specific tools and steps, real QA/QC habits, and honesty about gaps.
NoteSeat B · Pat, Search Committee Chair (click to open)
Here, you are: District Manager. You own the grant budget and answer to the district board.
Ask one of these:
“This program starts from scratch, funded by a new grant. What do you do in your first 90 days?”
“Our grant reimbursement report is due Friday, and two producers still haven’t turned in receipts. Walk me through your week.”
Then follow up: politely interrupt idealistic answers with “That sounds great in a seminar. What’s the version we can deliver by Friday?” If an answer runs past about 90 seconds: “Give me the headline.”
More about Pat
Story. You chair this search committee. Your puppy chewed up a corner of the carpet overnight, so the morning started early, and you have a budget meeting right after this. You love good science that ships on time.
Quirks. You keep an eye on the clock.
Listen for: prioritization, concrete deliverables, and concise answers.
NoteSeat C · Morgan, the Team & Mission Lead (click to open)
Here, you are: The district’s outreach and education coordinator.
Ask one of these:
“A producer tried cover crops five years ago, lost yield, and felt it cost them water. They’re skeptical of us now. How do you approach that first conversation?”
“Tell me about a time you had to earn trust from people who didn’t see you as one of them.”
Then follow up:“What would the other person say happened?” or “What did that teach you about how you work?” After each answer, pause for a few seconds before speaking.
More about Morgan
Story. Last week you ran a field day for a group of ninth-graders, and it reminded you how hard it is to explain this work simply. You’ve seen strong scientists struggle because they couldn’t explain their work to a non-scientist or get along with the person at the next desk.
Quirks. Warm, and comfortable with silence.
Listen for: a real story (STAR), empathy, self-awareness, and plain language.
NoteSeat D · Dale, the Outside Stakeholder (pods of 5) (click to open)
Here, you are: A third-generation farmer east of Fort Collins who also sits on a ditch company board.
Ask one of these:
“The last person from the government came out with a clipboard and never called back. Why would you be different?”
“If I change how I irrigate, does that put my water right at risk?”
Then follow up: say “Huh?” every time they use an acronym or jargon without explaining it.
More about Dale
Story. You’re not on staff. You drove a couple of hours to sit in on this panel because this hire will be working with you.
Quirks. Plainspoken and skeptical, but not hostile. If they actually listen, you warm up.
Listen for: plain language, respect, and whether they ask you questions.
NoteSeat A+B · Riley-Pat, the Hiring Manager (pods of 3) (click to open)
Pods of 3 only. You’re both Riley and Pat. Ask one Seat A question and one Seat B question from this job, and use both follow-ups: “What specifically did you do?” and “What’s the version we can deliver by Friday?”