Farmland Preservation Program Manager

Job Description:

Farmland Preservation Program Manager

Description

Summary

Shape the Future of Farming in King County!

As our region balances population growth, development pressures, ecological priorities, and increasing demand for local food, protecting farmland has never been more important. We are hiring a Farmland Preservation Program Manager (Project/Program Manager III) to lead strategic efforts to preserve agricultural land and strengthen the local food economy. In this role, you’ll work directly with farmers and landowners, build trusted relationships, and apply creative strategies to protect high-priority farmland for future generations.

About the Role

King County’s Farmland Preservation Program has protected agricultural land for over 45 years through conservation easements that help ensure farming remains viable in the region. In the role of Farmland Preservation Program Manager, you will lead strategic efforts to expand farmland protection, support equitable farmland access, and contribute to County-wide initiatives such as climate action and habitat restoration.

Your work will include identifying priority farmland, acquiring new conservation easements through proactive outreach and relationship building, securing and managing funding, monitoring easement compliance, and developing innovative program tools and approaches. You’ll collaborate closely with farmers, landowners, community organizations, public agencies, and internal County teams.

About the Team

The Agriculture, Forestry, and Incentives Unit (AFI), part of the Rural and Regional Services Section in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks, provides support to landowners and communities throughout King County. Our team advances the conservation of working farms and forests, promotes equitable access to farmland, restores critical habitat, and supports climate resilience and local food systems. We take pride in collaborative partnerships, creative problem solving, and centering equity in our work. The Farmland Preservation Program is a cornerstone of our efforts to ensure a thriving and sustainable food and farming sector across King County.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Farmland Preservation Program Manager , you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP) . Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Lead and Execute a Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Strategy - Develop and implement a strategic long-term vision for farmland preservation in King County, enhance program effectiveness and conservation outcomes, align efforts with Land Conservation Initiative priorities, and contribute to goals for farmland access and long-term agriculture sector viability.
  
  
• Cultivate Landowner Partnerships for Easement Acquisition - Proactively engage with private landowners to assess interest in selling farmland preservation easements and foster long-term relationships; steward easement acquisition process; collect, manage, analyze and report on program data.
  
  
• Secure and Manage Funding for Agricultural Land Protection - Identify and pursue internal and external grant funding for easement purchases. Manage awarded acquisition funds and expenditures. Develop and ensure adherence to easement acquisition budget. Provide timely and complete reports to funders and partners on program successes.
  
  
• Oversee Easement Compliance and Provide Landowner Support - Regularly monitor farmland protected with Farmland Preservation Program easements to ensure adherence to deed restrictions. Evaluate and identify improvements to the monitoring program that improve landowner relationships and efficiently apply staff resources. Work collaboratively with landowners to address compliance challenges, strengthen relationships, and promote responsible land stewardship.
  
  
• Program Development and Innovation - Strategically focus easement acquisition and pilot new tools and policies that enhance equitable access to conserved farmland, supporting farmers and strengthening local food systems. Serve as DNRP subject matter expert on teams, committees, etc., focused on farmland preservation at the local, state and federal levels; convene and lead meetings as appropriate.
  

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Successful history developing and managing programs focused on farmland preservation or farmland conservation.
  
  
• Demonstrated experience writing grant applications and managing awards.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement processes for data management, information analysis, and decision tracking.
  
  
• Skilled verbal and written communicator including representing the program to private farmland owners and funders.
  
  
• Strategic thinker able to set a clear vision and roadmap for program development.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to work with colleagues with differing priorities and identify pathways forward that optimize Farmland Preservation Program objectives within a larger framework of agency objectives.
  

Competencies You Bring:

• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
  
  
• Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
  
  
• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
  
  
• Interpersonal Savvy: Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
  
  
• Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

It Would Be Nice if You Also Bring:

• Familiarity with land use planning as a strategy to contribute to agricultural economic viability.
  
  
• Familiarity with farming in King County or areas with similar development pressures.
  
  
• Passion for working with farmers and farmland owners and applying creative approaches to preserving farmland.
  
  
• Proficiency with MS Office suite of programs and MS Teams.
  

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details:
  Work will primarily be performed remotely, but, at a minimum, weekly in-person collaboration with staff, colleagues, partners, organizations, and farmers is anticipated. This position reports onsite on the first day of employment for orientation onsite at King Street Center, potentially more as directed by supervisor. Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to meet workplace reporting requirements.
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Teamsters, Local 117.
• Necessary Special Requirements:
  • Valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to starting work if selected for this position.
• Physical Requirements:
  This position is not physically strenuous and does not require a pre-employment physical. However, it does require candidates to have the mobility to navigate farm environments independently and comfortably.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Cover Letter (Your cover letter should detail your background and what you can bring to this position and will be used in the screening process; we’re looking for original writing that showcases your relevant job experience )
• Resume (Optional; will be reviewed if submitted)

Initially, your application materials will be reviewed to see how they align with the below minimum qualifications:

• Successful history developing and managing programs focused on farmland preservation or farmland conservation
  
  
• Demonstrated experience writing grant applications and managing awards
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement processes for data management, information analysis, and decision tracking
  
  
• Skilled written communicator including representing the program to private farmland owners and funders
  

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Jamie Jensen-Young at 206-263-8779 or jjensenyoung@kingcounty.gov .

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 7/6/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$106,106.21 - $134,495.71 Annually