Buncombe County's Agriculture and Land Resource Department is hiring a Farmland Preservation Program Coordinator. The Farmland Preservation Program's purpose is to encourage the voluntary preservation of farm and forestland from development, to support economic viability of agriculture, and to help navigate farm succession in Buncombe County. 

This work is tied to ordinances, plans, and goals set by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners (BOC) - the first of which is the Farmland Preservation Ordinance. This ordinance was the first of its kind to be adopted in the state by the Board of Commissioners in 1989. ​Read more about the program here: https://www.buncombecounty.org/Governing/Depts/Soil/Farmland-Preservation.aspx

This position reports to the Farmland Preservation Manager and works in person from our office at 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville NC 28806. The team consists of 8 individuals including this position. The typical work schedule is 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday with an unpaid lunch hour, for a 40-hour workweek.
This position will be posted for two weeks and interviews will occur after that point, with an anticipated hire date on or after June 2nd, 2025.

Purpose of the position:

The primary purpose of this position is to assist with the Farmland Preservation Program of the Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and provide administrative support to SWCD’s programs.

Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Associate’s Degree in a related field and three (3) years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Assist with conservation programs, including conservation easements, voluntary agricultural district, and enhanced voluntary agricultural districts
• Provide specialized administrative support, including outreach, Ag Advisory board, Land Conservation Advisory Board and landowner relationship management.
• Organize and manage day-to-day activities of assigned program to ensure program objectives are met.
• Synthesize and analyze program data across a program/department and design/develop process improvements, evaluation reports and presentations.
• Represent assigned program in meetings, presentations, trainings, and outreach as needed.
• Provide programmatic performance outcomes and ensure accurate and timely reporting. 
• May assist in researching grant funding options and prepare, submit, and oversee grants in a timely fashion.
• Act as the liaison and conduit between key shareholders, the community, and the department to convey relevant information and ensure effective collaboration.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Interpersonal skills communicating with landowners of all backgrounds
• Skill in time management and multi-project organization
• Knowledge and understanding of land conservation practices
• Skill in reading and comprehending land surveys and appraisals
• Interest in agritourism, marketing and social media outreach
• Conservation Easement/Land Preservation Experience
• Grant writing experience and grant administration experience
• GIS and map making skills
• Field experience

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity, salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.

Applicants for employment are invited to participate in the affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information to include in our affirmative action program. We are a company that values diversity. We actively encourage women, minorities, veterans and disabled employees to apply. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.