Conservation Program Specialist

Summary:

The Conservation Program Specialist is responsible for assisting and supporting the Director of Farmland Preservation with the implementation, administration, and maintenance of the Lehigh County Farmland Preservation Program and also assisting the Lehigh County Community Gardens Program and Seed Farm.

Essential Duties:

• Assist in the administration of the Lehigh County Farmland Preservation Program.
• Educate local farmland owners and the general public about the County's farmland preservation program through public presentations, displays, newsletters, press releases, publications, and private meetings with landowners.
• Assist in the evaluation of agricultural conservation easement applications through the use of the land evaluation and site assessment (LESA) system developed as part of the County farmland preservation program.

Visit and evaluate prospective farms and use resources such as geographical information system (GIS) data and other data to prioritize potential easement acquisitions.

• Review title searches and title insurance commitments and assist in the resolution of title problems.
• Review agricultural conservation easement appraisals to check for accuracy and errors.

Plot boundary descriptions from property deeds and determine closure errors. Order new property boundary surveys when required.

• Prepare and coordinate the signing of agricultural conservation easement sales agreements.
• Assist in the preparation and submission of documentation to accompany agricultural conservation easement purchase recommendations to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Aboard.
• Schedule conservation easement settlements and prepare deeds of agricultural conservation easement, legal descriptions, and subordination agreements.
• Assist in the inspection of agricultural conservation easement properties and prepare inspection reports.
• Assist in the correction of conservation easement violations discovered during inspections or at other times.
• Coordinate with the Agricultural Resource Conservationist at the Lehigh County Conservation District in the development and update of conservation plans for farms that are selling or have sold an agricultural conservation easement.
• Work with qualified non-profit land conservation organizations to preserve farmland in Lehigh County.
• Maintain maps and records of Lehigh County agricultural conservation easement properties and agricultural security areas.
• Provide technical assistance to townships that wish to create or expand agricultural security areas.
• Prepare and give presentations to government officials, landowners, service clubs, and other organizations.
• Assist with the management of the Lehigh County Community Gardens Program.
• Assist with the management of the Seed Farm as needed.

Attend meetings and take and prepare minutes of said meetings of the Sterling Raber Agricultural Land Preservation Board of Lehigh County and attend other meetings as may be required.

• Maintain the farmland preservation program portion of the Lehigh County website.
• Perform clerical tasks, such as filing, preparation of correspondence, informational mailings, office supply ordering, and meeting scheduling.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, the individual in this position must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skills and ability required.

Education/Experience:

Associate's degree (AA) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; or six months to one-year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Two years' satisfactory full-time professional experience in agricultural conservation work. Two years' work experience in similar field can be substituted for the education requirement.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Operator's License.