Farm Viability Program Planner

Farm Viability Program Planner – (240009TQ)

Description

Who We Are: 

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts’ environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.

Who We Are as an Employer: 

At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees are vital in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ mission is to cultivate a robust and equitable agricultural economy, promote a safe and resilient food system, and preserve a healthy environment for Massachusetts farmers, animals, and consumers.

A cover letter must be submitted as part of the application process and attached “as relevant” to the requisition. Your resume is attached correctly.

Job Opening: 

The Department of Agricultural Resources seeks applicants for a Farm Viability Planner to perform the following duties:

This position is a team member within MDAR’s Farm Viability and Agricultural Business Training programs at The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, responsible for the coordination and implementation of programs that work directly with farmers to provide technical assistance and training, business planning and business and financial assistance, and grant funding to increase the viability of participating farm businesses. The position coordinates the Matching Enterprise Grant for Agriculture (MEGA) program for beginning farmers, the APR Improvement Program for permanently protected farms, facilitates workshops offered through the Agricultural Business Training Program and serves as a resource within the Department to support farm business needs.

The ideal candidate will have service provider experience working with farmers and a strong understanding of the needs of farm businesses in Massachusetts and the agricultural industry, including farmland access issues. Strong project management, research and evaluation, and organizational skills, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills are needed in this position to develop relationships with diverse stakeholders to coordinate these programs successfully. The candidate will demonstrate a passion for MDAR’s mission and be committed to supporting the viability of farm businesses in Massachusetts. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Coordinate matching enterprise grants for agriculture (MEGA) program to assist beginning farmers in developing their farms into commercially viable operations. Help participating farmers identify technical assistance needs and implement mentorship assistance as needed by matching beginning farmers with established farmers for in-depth assistance to provide one-on-one technical assistance targeted to an area of focus. 
• Coordinate APR Improvement Program to help keep commercial farm businesses operating on land protected through the state Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program. Work with APR program staff on Department approval requirements for participating farms and provide support for planning infrastructure improvement projects on farms.
• Coordination of both of these Farm Viability Programs includes similar duties, including developing requests for responses and facilitating the review process for farmer applications; conducting farm site visits for farmer orientations; helping farmers identify technical assistance needs; participating in the bid process for assigning business planners and technical assistance providers to farms; guide contractors to provide business planning and technical assistance to participating farmers; ongoing project tracking and support when issues arise; review farm business plans, financial statements and proposed uses of funds; develop contracts to provide grants to implement capital projects and conduct closeout visits to ensure project completion and participant evaluations.
• Facilitate workshops and classes for Farmers: offered through the Agricultural Business Training Program. Respond to inquiries, facilitate registration, schedule dates and location, attend classes and provide support to instructors/presenters as needed; conduct evaluations and follow-up with past participants, evaluate feedback, and provide input on courses, workshops topics and overall program curriculum as needed. 
• Serve as a resource for farm needs: Research and stay up to date with available programs and resources for beginning farmers in Massachusetts to maintain Beginning Farmer Resources website and respond to inquiries from farmers with referrals as necessary; Network and maintain relationships with other agricultural services providers; Serve on relevant working groups and committees; provide input to improve programs, policies, and initiatives to respond to needs of beginning and BIPOC farmers in Massachusetts including, but not limited to, land access issues, in collaboration with Department Environmental Justice strategy and related recommendations and initiatives in the implementation of the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan.

General duties:

• Project tracking, budgeting, and reporting.
• Regular communication with staff, technical providers, and farmers.
• Respond to and track inquiries from farmers, staff,f and others to provide program information about assigned programs and refer to other resources as appropriate.
• Attend field visits, conferences and events to inform farmers and service providers about programs and for professional development trainin.g
• Program outreach, including updating and maintaining website content and program materials, developing press releases, organizing and presenting on Department programs at events
• Identify opportunities for direct program outreach to beginning farmers, including new diverse audiences given MEGA program expansion to later-stage beginning farmers and in collaboration with Department Environmental Justice efforts
• Develop and analyze surveys, databases, or other tools and data to evaluate impact of the program(s) and provide input into program development and improvement as needed
• Support other Department programs and staff as needed – including, but not limited to, the State Licensing Program, MA Farmland Action Plan implementation, and APR Program- by attending working groups, review and input on proposed initiatives or documents relevant to beginning and BIPOC farmer needs and serving on grant review teams. 
• Provide general support to the Agricultural Business Training and Viability Programs, including recruiting TA providers, serving on bid review teams, providing input into strategic planning and programmatic improvements, and program outreach to increase awareness of programs and services.

Preferred Qualifications

• A passion for helping farms be productive, profitable, and viable
• A strong understanding of the Massachusetts agricultural sector, particularly beginning farmer needs, through working directly with farmers is essential; experience working on a farm is preferred
• At least 5 years of professional experience in the agricultural industry or a related field is required
• Experience coordinating the provision of workshops, training and/or technical assistance
• Familiarity with business planning, financial statements, agricultural operations, resource management, agricultural production, marketing, land access issues and the regional food system
• Strong communication skills: the ability to effectively listen and speak clearly and effectively with diverse stakeholders in a public setting and to generate concise, clear, descriptive reports
• Strong project management, time management, and organizational skills
• The ability to work independently, gather data, produce results, and to represent the Department in a professional manner
• The ability to respond to requests on time, and collaborate well as part of a team
• Experience with and the ability to use Microsoft Office applications and videoconferencing platforms, including Microsoft Teams and Zoom
• Access to a private vehicle for state-wide travel

This is a full-time employee position at 37.5 hours per week, part of the Viability and ABTP Team within the Division of Conservation and Technical Assistance at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, to work under a hybrid work arrangement based out of the West Springfield office to include state-wide travel.

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time technical or professional experience in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, transportation planning or land use planning, and (B) of which at least two years must have been in a professional capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. 

Substitutions: 

I. A Bachelor’s degree with a major in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, civil, environmental, or transportation engineering or environmental sciences may be substituted for two years of the required (A) experience.* 

II. A Graduate degree with a major in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, civil, environmental, or transportation engineering or environmental studies may be substituted for three years of the required (A)experience and one year of the required (B) experience. 

• Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed. 

NOTE: Educational substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of three years of the required experience. Substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of one year of the required (B) experience. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Official Title: Regional Planner III

Primary Location

: United States-Massachusetts-West Springfield-Century Way

Job

: Planning

Agency

: Department of Agricultural Resources

Schedule

: Full-time

Shift

: Day

Job Posting

: Dec 12, 2024, 8:43:36 PM

Number of Openings

: 1

Salary

: 74,159.02 – 108,560.40 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Gabriella Knight – 8572680629

Bargaining Unit: 09-MOSES – Engineers/Scientists

Confidential: No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule: Yes

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