The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) works hard to protect and promote Wisconsin’s agricultural industries and consumers. As an agency, we strive to serve the people of Wisconsin assuring: safe, wholesome food; consumer protection and fair business practices; animal and plant health; a clean environment; and strong agriculture and commerce. To successfully attain these goals, we recognize our success hinges on the diverse, high quality, dedicated staff we employ.

DATCP currently has an opening for a Land & Water Resources Program & Policy Analyst (0.9 FTE) position within the Division of Agricultural Resource Management, Bureau of Land and Water Resources. 

This position is located at the Prairie Oaks State Office Building situated on Madison’s southeast side and a beautifully wooded and scenic hilltop venue. Our employees enjoy low-cost parking at the facility and are only minutes away from the Beltline Highway, Interstate 90 and Highway 51 for quick access to local restaurants, retail and service locations.

Remote Work Option: This position may have the ability to work remotely up to 6 days per 2-week pay period! An approved remote work agreement is required before an employee may work remotely. Approval of the employee’s remote work agreement and work schedule will vary based on the operational needs of the Division. All DATCP employees who work remotely are required to live in Wisconsin.

Employee Benefits: This position offers the State of Wisconsin’s excellent benefits package, which includes paid time off (calculated based on percentage of employment), 9 paid holidays, accrued sick leave, multiple insurance options, and an exceptional retirement plan! To help you understand what your benefit package would be worth, please check the Total Rewards Calculator here.

By working for Wisconsin State Government, you may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Please click the link for details. 

Click here to see what working for the State of Wisconsin is all about!

This posting may be used to fill future similar vacancies.

This position serves as a professional program and policy analyst for the Bureau of Land & Water Resources with an emphasis on Bureau-wide policy, operations, and resource analysis. This position will assist the Bureau Management Team with decision making, which requires an in-depth understanding of Bureau programs and operations and the state’s administrative rulemaking process. 

The LWR Program & Policy Analyst is responsible for planning and assessing the effective execution of services provided by the Land & Water Resources Bureau. This includes providing support to programs such as Farmland Preservation, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Conservation Engineering, Nutrient Management, Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program, Producer Led Watershed Protection Program, and Land and Water Resource Management Plans.

This position serves as a lead coordinator working with staff and management to implement key aspects of the Bureau’s five-year strategic plan. Work includes coordinating policy and program assignments from initial concept through implementation, including the ongoing evaluation of programs, policies, or services. This position plays a lead role in assisting the Bureau with cross-program coordination, integration, evaluation, and team management and stakeholder engagement. This person will work with program staff and management to identify resource needs and recommend options for optimizing, allocating, and acquiring resources. As needed, this position will assist program staff and the Bureau Management Team with day-to-day delivery of essential services.

Full Position Description

The classification of this position is Program and Policy Analyst - Advanced, which is in schedule-range 07-03 with a starting pay between $36.00 to 42.00 per hour (or $74,880 to $87,360 annually) based on qualifications.

This position is not represented by a collective bargaining unit. A 12-month probationary period is required. Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan at the time of hire.

At DATCP, we strive to deliver efficient and effective programs and services to Wisconsin agriculture, consumers, and businesses. The Department has numerous on-the-job training (OJT) opportunities, unique to each Bureau. 

These OJT opportunities include direct experience and practice through collaboration with co-workers/supervisor, peer mentoring, and job-specific training modules.

Conditions of Employment:

DATCP does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the selected applicant being able to provide documentation of eligibility to work in the United States.

A criminal background check will be performed on the selected applicant prior to an offer of employment.

Possession of a valid driver's license or the ability to provide one’s own transportation for work purposes, is required.

Occasional in-state travel and out-of-state travel with extended work hours or occasional overnight stays may be required.

Ability to walk over uneven and/or muddy terrain for occasional field visits.

Minimally qualified candidates will have each of the following:

Experience collecting or extracting data and analyzing programs and/or means of implementation.

Experience with project or program management (budgeting, strategic planning, coordinating grant objectives, etc.).

Experience collaborating with agencies or governmental programs on agricultural land use or soil and water resource management.

In addition to the minimum qualifications above, highly qualified candidates will have one or more of the following:

Experience analyzing and creating state/federal policy and/or administrative rules pertaining to agriculture and natural resource management.

Experience leading workgroups through program, policy, and/or process changes (facilitating discussions, receiving input, building consensus, developing recommendations and communications, etc.).

Experience defining, tracking, and reporting on key performance indicators to evaluate and/or communicate program and operational effectiveness.

If viewing this posting on an external site (such as indeed.com, etc.), please visit Wisc.Jobs and search for this Job ID: 20602 to complete your application for this posting.

DATCP is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program. For complete information on veterans hiring programs that may benefit you, please visit the Employment page on WDVA's website. 

To be considered for this position, you will need to create an account (if you don’t already have one) and apply online via the “Apply for Job” button listed on the top right of the job posting page. You will be required to upload a current resume and a letter of qualifications that clearly describes your qualifications and experience as they relate to the qualifications listed in this job posting. Review the applicant resources, including tips on how to write a resume and letter of qualifications. 

Submitted application materials will be evaluated by one or more job experts. Candidates who are deemed eligible will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process, starting with those candidates who are deemed most qualified. 

For general Wisc.Jobs user information and technical assistance, please check the Frequently Asked Questions. Please address questions regarding the application process to Varinderjit Kaur at varinderjit.kaur1@wisconsin.gov.

The deadline to apply for this position is 11:59 p.m. on Monday April 20, 2026.