Boulder County Parks & Open Space 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.
Agricultural Resources Division Manager
Application Process
There has been a lot of public interest in Parks & Open Space’s Agricultural Resource Division Manager search. Agriculture is important to our community and we want to be transparent with the application process.
What We Have Done So Far
- Boulder County has a blind application process that screens candidates without names or personal information. This process reduces the possibility that race or other factors may inadvertently create obstacles in our inclusive hiring process.
- More than 70 people applied and have been screened against initial qualification requirements by Human Resources without sharing the personal info of candidates. We still had over 50 candidates advancing to the next phase.
- Additional blind screening will be done to prioritize related ag experience, supervision and management, public and stakeholder collaboration, budget, strategic planning, and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our cross-discipline team will select around 10 candidates for phone interviews, and we hope to narrow this pool to around six for in-person interviews.
Will There Be a Community Panel?
There are no plans for a community member panel during the recruiting process for this position. But we are seeking input from stakeholders and residents.
- Public Survey – You can take the survey and let us know what you think. Your responses will help build a stronger program and shape the questions we ask applicants. The survey deadline is Monday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m.
- Ag Leaseholder Survey – A survey was sent to current agriculture property leaseholders. We are thankful for for the input we received and appreciate our leaseholders.
- Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee – The committee is an important advisory partner to staff and to the Board of County Commissioners in considering this position. They are invited to complete the same survey seeking their input.
This is an important position, and we look forward to creating future opportunities for the new manager and agriculutural division to strengthen our ongoing community connection with residents and stakeholders.
Can I Send a Support Letter for a Specific Candidate?
It is common for the county to check references. This will be one as we narrow the field to the final candidates. However, candidates will provide their own references, and we do not take outside references.
Public Survey
The survey deadline was Dec. 1.
Agricultural Resources Division Manager Qualifications
Boulder County’s 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
- support lease holders whose farming practices vary from organic market farms to conventional commodity production, and
- strategically direct staff and financial resources to address a myriad of concerns ranging from protecting and utilizing water rights to resolving infrastructure maintenance backlogs.
Agricultural Division Vision: Thriving agricultural lands for generations to come.
Agricultural Division Mission: Through collaboration and stewardship, we will enhance agricultural resources.