What are the responsibilities and job description for the Agriculture and Natural Resource Specialist-165121 position at Adams County Colorado?
What Success Looks Like In This Job
The Agriculture and Natural Resource Specialist will be responsible for developing a program to provide support for agritourism, innovative and sustainable agricultural practices, and local food systems throughout Adams County. The Agriculture and Natural Resource Specialist will also be responsible for implementing The District Plan, developed by the City of Brighton and Adams County, focusing on Historic Splendid Valley. The goals of this plan are to preserve agricultural land and heritage, encourage local food production, and promote agritourism.
The District Plan may be viewed online: https://www.adcogov.org/districtplan
The District Plan video may be viewed online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4CoOFeeia8
This position will serve as an Adams County employee housed in the Parks, Open Space and Cultural Arts Department (POSCA and reports to POSCA’s Manager of Planning, Design and Construction.
Examples of Duties for Success
- Develop and implement programs supporting agritourism, sustainable agriculture, and local food systems throughout Adams County.
- Implement the District Plan for Historic Splendid Valley, focusing on agricultural land preservation, local food production, and agritourism promotion.
- Manage and coordinate projects related to agriculture, sustainability, and strategic planning initiatives.
- Secure grant funding, manage marketing, and support promotional activities for The District Plan.
- Collaborate with appropriate Adams County Departments (“the County”),Colorado State University Extension Office, the City of Brighton and otherpartners to implement the goals and objectives of the District Plan.
- Serve as the point of contact for communication between the District Plan Commission, Adams County, the City of Brighton,and other local municipalities and partners including boards andcommissions such as Planning Commissions, Boards of Adjustments, theBoard of County Commissioners and City Councils.
- Facilitate District Plan Commission meetings, manage agendas, and ensure timely implementation of approved recommendations.
- Advise the County, City, District Plan Commission, and partners on District planaction items, conduct research, and present findings as necessary.
- Work with consultants to develop site plans, master plans, land inventories, and management plans.
- Provide development review for projects proposed within the District Planarea.
- Research and secure funding for program administration and related projects through grants.
- Be knowledgeable regarding properties within the plan boundaries and surrounding area.
- Build relationships with property owners and support land conservation efforts, agritourism, and other initiatives in line with the District Plan.
- Identify developers and other stakeholders to help achieve the visionof The District Plan.
- Promote local food systems, develop networks for local production/distribution, and address food safety education needs.
- Initiate a program cultivating new farmers through farming education,business education, and opportunities for land access (a farmer trainingprogram).
- Encourage and support collaboration between local farmers and businessowners.
- Develop and implement innovative farming and water conservation practices within the District Plan area and countywide.
- Explore the opportunities for farm to school program and/or onsiteschool gardens.
- Engage the community in local food events and promote local foods.
- Manage the Department’s Conservation Easements, both those held by the Department for other organizations and easements on Department properties where others hold the easement
- Additional duties as requested.
Examples of Additional Duties That May be Requested:
Assist with the coordination of appointments and filling vacanciesfor the District Plan Commission.
- Assist in managing conserved lands.This may include, but is not limited to,defining appropriate land management policies and procedures,establishing a non-profit management entity or land trust, forming a specialdistrict.
- Encourage local farmers to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) if they do not already.
- Work with municipalities, state agencies, and the private sector to implement agriculture and sustainabilityprograms.
- Assist in developing marketing and educational materials, promote events andmaintain website contentpertaining to the District Plan or relevant duties of the position.
- Prepare proposals, recommend financial and strategicobjectives, and implement/maintain strategic andoperational plans.
- Maintain a variety of records, reports, plans, and resourceinventories.
- Complete Conservation Easement visits to ensure compliance
Qualifications for Success
- Experience or knowledge of farming, food systems, land preservation, water conservation, economic development, land use, innovative methods, and sustainability.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration, budget preparation, grant writing, and city and regional planning.
- Familiarity with relevant federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes.
- Skill in applying procedures and regulations related to the assigned office.
- Strong communication and negotiaction skills to resolve issues effectively.
- Complete applications and provide technical data to maintain compliance with all State and Federal compliance of county owned gravel pit/reclamation permits, decreed wells, domestic water supplies, and ditch water supplies related to assigned areas of responsibility.
- Monitor and develop management plans on county owned land and conservation easements.
- Daily coordination with other county departments to facilitate the execution of assigned programs, projects, and decision-making processes.
- Understanding of ditch management, principles of Colorado water law and water rights management, and principles of land preservation including conservation easements.
- Represent the Parks Department on a variety of committees and boards as assigned.
- Ability to identify and analyze problems, develops alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implements recommendations in support of goals.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department and division staff, other departments, and others, such as vendors, developers, and public.
- Ability to communicate sufficient to interact with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, and others to exchange or convey information, and to receive work direction.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Has the ability to work effectively under stress.
- Has the ability to maintain confidentiality.
More Qualifications for Success
Experience: 4 years progressively responsible experience in parks, agriculture, natural resources, or a closely related field.
Education & Training:
- A bachelor’s degree in Planning, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance/Economics, Sustainability, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Environmental Education, Horticulture, Natural Resources or a related field.
- Related experience may substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.
License or Certificate: Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid Colorado Driver’s License.
Background Check: Must pass a criminal background check.
Adams County complies with Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act (“JAFA”). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.
