Agricultural Resources Division Manager

Boulder County’s Parks & Open Space Department is hiring an Agricultural Resources Division Manager. This position provides leadership to a highly qualified team of agricultural land and water resources specialists who perform a multitude of duties to support agricultural activities on the 26,000 irrigated, dryland, and rangeland acres held by the county open space program. Our approach to stewarding agricultural land is to partner with farmers and ranchers who lease the land for a broad spectrum of farming and livestock operations. This position requires a strong commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural practices that enhance soil health, increase water conservation, prioritize working lands conservation, mitigate and adapt to climate change, help local food security, and reduce reliance on pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. It also requires equally strong managerial and leadership skills to effectively lead a diverse team in implementing the county’s vision for sustainable agriculture, supporting lease holders whose farming practices vary from organic market farms to conventional commodity production, and strategically directing staff and financial resources to address a myriad of concerns ranging from protecting and utilizing water rights to resolving infrastructure maintenance backlogs.

The Agricultural Resource Division Manager is also an integral part of the department’s leadership team with other managers, deputies, and the Director which guides the overall course of the organization. The position requires a strong commitment to advancing racial equity by supporting culturally responsive and inclusive practices for staff, volunteers, researchers, tenants, and open space visitors.

This is a full-time, benefited position that will work Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 4:30pm.  This position will work out of 5201 St Vrain Rd, Longmont, CO 80503.  Under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines, this position is exempt.

Boulder County requires its employees to reside in the state of Colorado as of the first day of work.

Hiring Salary Range: $117,912.00 – $143,850.00 Annually

Tentative Hiring Timeline:

• Phone Screening: Week of November 11th
• First Round Interviews: Week of December 1st
• Second Round Interviews:  Week of December 8th
• Reference Check: December Week of December 8th

New employees receive an 80-hour bank (Download PDF reader) of vacation at the time of hire, in addition to 8 hours of both vacation and medical leave accruals each month (Must not have been employed at Boulder County during the 12 months prior to re-hire date to qualify). Boulder County offers bountiful benefits, including pension contributions. 

Boulder County employees may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Visit studentaid.gov for more information.

Examples of Duties

• Lead the implementation of agricultural goals on Open Space lands, including improving soil health, enhancing agricultural productivity and viability, promoting food security for all Boulder County residents, and increasing environmental performance (e.g., pollinator habitat, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, climate resilience).
• Manage and guide a team of seventeen agricultural land and water resources staff, including four to five direct-reports, to ensure timely progress on workgroup objectives, alignment with strategic plans, and effective collaboration across the department.
• Direct and oversee the Lands and Leases, Water, Structures, and Prairie Dog work groups, ensuring coordination and accountability in their operations.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide coaching and feedback, and make recommendations regarding hiring, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
• Refine and implement the division’s strategic plan by directing staff resources, developing annual work plans, managing the division’s budget, and streamlining procedures to improve operational efficiency.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local, regional, and state agricultural organizations, universities, and research institutions to support innovation, knowledge sharing, and best practices in sustainable agriculture.
• Monitor and evaluate program outcomes related to agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship, and community impact, using data to inform continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.
• Lead public engagement efforts related to agricultural land use, including organizing community meetings, responding to public inquiries, and facilitating transparent communication around land management decisions.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to agricultural operations, water rights, land use, and environmental protection.
• Champion equity and inclusion in agricultural programs by supporting access to land and resources for historically underserved or underrepresented producers.
• Support emergency response and resilience planning for agricultural operations in the face of climate-related events such as drought, wildfire, or flooding.
• Advocate for agricultural interests within broader county planning efforts, ensuring that farmland preservation, food systems, and rural livelihoods are integrated into long-term land use and sustainability strategies.
• Represent the Agricultural Resources Division on the department’s Management Team, collaborating with other Open Space divisions to ensure organizational alignment and continuity.
• Serve as a liaison between the department and agricultural leaseholders, effectively communicating their perspectives to a wide range of audiences—including neighbors, interest groups, stakeholders, the Board of County Commissioners, and the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee—in both public and formal settings.
• Engage with a diverse range of agricultural producers, supporting operations that vary in scale, experience, and production goals.
• Collaborate with internal staff and external agencies on land management initiatives related to wildlife habitat, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and recreational development.
• Coordinate division programs, budgets, and activities in partnership with the Deputy Director of Land Stewardship to ensure alignment with departmental priorities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

PLEASE NOTE: When completing your application describe all relevant education and experience, as applications are assessed based on the required qualifications listed. Resumes and other attachments are not accepted in lieu of completed applications and will not be reviewed in the initial screening process. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your attachments will then be shared with the hiring team.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Boulder County is looking for well qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of 8 years of combined education and experience, including 2 years in a supervisory capacity. Additional related education may count towards required experience in the following areas:

• Leadership and Supervisory experience.
• Budget and project management skills
• Strong communication and organizational abilities
• Background in land management
• Commitment to equity and inclusion.

DRIVER’S LICENSE:

• Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record
• For more information regarding a clean driving record, please click here.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

• A job offer is contingent on passing a background investigation

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL:

• Candidates for this position will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment physical

COVER LETTER:

• All applicants are required to attach a cover letter for this position

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Frequent lifting up to 30 lbs. and carries up to 50 feet; occasional walking, hiking and standing; frequent hand/eye coordination to operate computer keyboard, office equipment, and motor vehicle; vision for reading, recording and interpreting information; speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and members of the public.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in agronomy, agricultural management, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field.
• At least four years of experience in a management position.
• Demonstrated experience and success in leading and managing multiple high-performing staff.
• Demonstrated leadership skills working with and coordinating multi-disciplinary staff.
• Demonstrated experience managing Boulder County lands and ecosystems.
• Demonstrated ability to provide short and long-term strategic vision and direction to teams within a multi-disciplinary organization.
• Experience in public administration.
• Direct experience in production agriculture and/or natural resource management.

Boulder County is a workplace dedicated to supporting individuals and families of all types and to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.