Hiring: APR Stewardship Planner – Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is hiring for an APR Stewardship Planner.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) mission is to help keep the Massachusetts’ food supply safe and secure, and to work to keep Massachusetts agriculture economically and environmentally sound.

The Department of Agricultural Resources is seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual who is passionate about farmland protection and viability.  The successful candidate will be a strong communicator with knowledge of agricultural practices and norms and/or conservation restriction stewardship and someone who can balance regulatory enforcement with strengthening relationships within the agricultural community.

The position is within the Stewardship branch of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program and combines telework, field work, and office work. Currently one office day per week is expected, but more is available if preferred.  The position location is TBD out of one of MDAR’s field offices in Southborough, West Springfield, Lakeville, or Boston.

The APR program is a groundbreaking conservation program – the first of its kind in the nation that has since protected over 930 farms totaling over 73,000 acres.  The program focuses on preserving and stewarding farmland and maintaining affordable land access to both established and beginning farmers.  We do this through the purchase and stewardship of agricultural preservation restrictions and options to purchase at agricultural value.  Currently, the program is spearheading a statewide Agricultural Farmland Action Plan that will build off and unify pertinent statewide plans such as the Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap, the Massachusetts Healthy Soils Action Plan, the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan, and the Resilient Lands Initiative Vision and Strategy.  The program also continues to implement program enhancements based on emerging needs and challenges.

The APR Stewardship Planner will report to the Agricultural Land Programs Supervisor.

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply by July 10.

For more job details and to apply visit: https://massanf.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=22000714