Job Description

CDA-Agricultural Lands Specialist (Administrator IV)

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CDA-Agricultural Lands Specialist (Administrator IV)

Salary

$71,544.00 - $114,492.00 Annually

Location

Broomfield County, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

BAA-00417-03262026

Department

Department of Agriculture

Division

Conservation Services Division

Opening Date

03/27/2026

Closing Date

4/13/2026 4:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

305 Interlocken Pkwy, Broomfield, CO 80021, USA

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Department Contact Information

Human Resources, Colorado Department of Agriculture, 305 Interlocken Parkway, Broomfield CO 80021

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Department Information

Who we are:

Agriculture is a part of all our lives. When you eat, put on clothes, or care for an animal--your life is touched by agriculture. Colorado's food and agriculture industry generated $47 billion of economic activity in 2019 and supports nearly 5% of the state's workforce. CDA is proud to be a part of such an important industry.

Mission:

The CDA's mission is to strengthen and advance Colorado's agriculture; promote a safe and high-quality food supply; protect consumers; and foster responsible stewardship of the environment.

Core Values: Partnership, Service, Professionalism, Proactivity, and Respect

CDA Wildly Important Goals:

To accomplish our mission, CDA focuses on four “wildly important goals:”

• Goal 1: Advancing Local Food Access

• Goal 2: Expanding Water-Resilient Agriculture

• Goal 3: Supporting the Next Generation in Agriculture

• Goal 4: Advancing Animal Health and Welfare

We use these goals to focus and align the daily work of our staff in support of Colorado farmers and ranchers. Learn more about our Department and our wildly important goals in our performance plan on our website ( .

What you get from us:

In addition to a great work location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan ( plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans (

• Medical and dental health plans (

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account ($60 per month)

• Paid life insurance, plus additional optional life insurance options

• Paid Short Term Disability and optional Long Term Disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave accruals

• BenefitHub ( state employee discount program

• Employee Wellness program State of Health

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, remote work opportunities, free parking, professional development and more!

To learn about the total compensation package for State government employment visit:

Equal Opportunity

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Learn more about our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion by visiting our EDI Homepage: .

Description of Job

Organizational Purpose

This division exists to provide oversight and coordination of CDA’s efforts to protect and enhance the state's agriculture activities as they relate to land use and range management, conservation, soil and vegetation management, grazing rights on public lands, water quality and quantity, wildlife habitat, endangered species, and energy development. The purpose of the division also includes administrative and financial assistance to the 76 conservation districts; and oversight and administration of the noxious weed, bio-control (insectary), groundwater, chemigation, and weed-free forage programs. It also includes coordination and collaboration with other states and federal agencies.

Major Objectives of the Position

The Agricultural Lands Specialist is responsible for the strategic execution and operational management of the Agricultural Land Preservation and Access Program housed in the Conservation Services Division. The position will be responsible for promoting the preservation of agricultural lands critical to Colorado’s farm economy statewide. They will partner with agricultural organizations, state and federal agencies, and other partners to establish Colorado as a leader in problem-solving land access solutions for the next generation of agricultural producers.

Primary Duties

Program Oversight:

Brief Duty Description: Responsible for oversight and management of Agricultural Land Preservation and Access programs, including the forthcoming Agricultural Land Preservation Bridge Loan Program brought on by SB26-064.

Duties to include:

• Lead rulemaking processes for ALPA program design, including working closely with the Division Director on the new and/or revised program rules.

• Design organizational structures for program execution, including setting up and working through processes to accept, review, approve, and verify applications

• Manage grant and other funding opportunities within the program, including overseeing the disbursement of loan funds via the forthcoming bridge loan program

• Working with applicants and program staff in the Conservation Services and Markets division to ensure clear communication channels

• Manage the database and associated data of programs, including database management, data quality assurance, and reporting

• Promote Agricultural Land Preservation and Access programs in the larger framework of agricultural land access and preservation across the state, ensuring widespread producer knowledge of ALPA tools and offerings

• Seek out and apply for relevant funding opportunities, including grantwriting, that would appropriately align with ALPA and CDA priorities.

Agricultural Land Access Liaison:

Brief Duty Description: Responsible for engaging on land access issues with partners and stakeholders throughout the state, advocating for agricultural uses and preservation of Colorado’s working lands. Specific duties include:

• Represent the department as a liaison for promoting agricultural land preservation and land access initiatives with stakeholders, cooperating state and federal agencies, and other partners on working groups, at meetings, and through various collaborative efforts.

• Monitor land access initiatives statewide to inform programmatic strategy and provide CDA support and coordination

• Partner with agricultural and conservation organizations, state and federal agencies, local municipalities and governments, and other groups as necessary to coordinate state-level policy solutions, programming, and other initiatives that encourage farmland preservation and land access

• Position may need to drive to locations throughout Colorado to attend gatherings statewide to educate and promote land access and preservation policies and programs to diverse stakeholder groups

• Provide guidance to local governing entities or other decision-making groups on land access and preservation issues

• Attend Grazing Board meetings as a liaison for CDA, communicating grazing land-use needs that arise from the board to CDA to inform programs and policy

Communications and Planning:

Brief Duty Description: The Agricultural Lands Specialist will be responsible for:

• Completing ad hoc assignments to communicate with stakeholders and plan events and meetings related to agricultural land preservation and access issues

• This may include, but not be limited to:

• Assisting the Division Director, the Communications Director, the Commissioner, and the Commissioners Executive Assistant in the development of communications materials and planning and logistics for events and meetings.

• Position will need to drive to locations throughout Colorado to set up for events.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

This posting will be used to fill more than one vacancy.

This Position is Hybrid work arrangements at the listed location and is ineligible for remote work

This position is advertised in line with the Governor’s executive order focused on skills-based hiring practices that focuses on the knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to the job and aligns the hiring process accordingly. Skills-based hiring reduces potential barriers for applicants and allows for reduced bias in the hiring process by providing a direct description of skills that are unique to the duties assigned to the position with a recognition that the applicant may have developed these skills through education, training, or past experiences.

Salary:

BIWEEKLY

$2,751.69 - $4,403.54

ANNUALLY

$71,544.00 - $114,492.00

Minimum Qualification:Proven Experience, Knowledge, Skills:

• Seven (7) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to land conservation and/or land access.

• Part-time experience will be pro-rated.

OR

Education and Experience:

• A combination of related education in Public Administration, Business Management, Economics, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences or a land conservation and/or land access equal to seven (7) years .

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working with the State of Colorado

• Experience working directly in Agriculture

• Experience working with conservation easements and land trusts in Colorado

• Experience working with federal lands and grazing leases.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be a resident of the state of Colorado at the time of application.

• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver's License with the ability to independently travel.

Required Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple priorities, and able to react and adjust quickly to changing conditions.

• Detail oriented.

• Excellent communication skills; able to communicate effectively and articulately in writing and orally with diverse communities in all corners of the state.

• Work well under pressure.

• A proven track record for developing and maintaining trusted relationships with stakeholders and industry experts.

• Excellent negotiation and consensus building skills.

• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.

• Experience in Land Conservation

• Experience working with Land Access

Important Information:

Part of, or the entire selection process for this position will involve a review of the information you submit in your application materials. Therefore, it is paramount that in the experience portion of your application, you describe the extent that you possess the education, experience and competencies outlined in the job announcement as well as the special and/or preferred qualifications. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions may prevent you from competing in subsequent measures used to arrive at a top group of applicants.

Please submit the following:

• Online application (completed fully) describing how you meet the minimum qualifications

• OR If you are not able to submit an online application, a paper application is available at this link:PDF State Paper Application ( . Paper applications must be received (either by US mail or email to mary.hunt@state.co.us by the closing date and time of the application period listed on this announcement.

• DD214 (if applicable)

• Unofficial copy of transcripts (if applicable)

Factors that will be assessed:

• Technical Competence – Technical experience as it relates to the duties outlined in this job announcement.

• Depth and Breadth of Experience – Experience that covers multiple areas outlined in this job announcement. Experience should be varied and not one dimensional and demonstrate a wide range of community involvement.

• Job Fit – Experience will be evaluated to determine how well your past experience aligns with and meets the business needs of this position. Current experience is preferred.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ( dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us ), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

Important Information:

Part of, or the entire exam for this position will involve a review of the information you submit in your application material. Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore, additional information may not be solicited or accepted after your application has been received. Therefore, it is very important that you clearly describe all of your relevant experience on the application itself . Applications left blank or marked "SEE RESUME" will not be considered.

All applications that are received by the closing date of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement by a Human Resources Specialist. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

ADAAA Accommodations:

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact by phone or email at least five business days before the assessment date to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.

The Department of Agriculture is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Mary Hunt, at mary.hunt@state.co.usor call 303-869-9006.

E-Verify

CDA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more aboutE-Verify ( , including your rights and responsibilities.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt upload (attach) it.

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information:

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

What are the greatest threats to agricultural working lands in Colorado?

02

What policy tools could support preservation of Colorado’s agricultural lands?

03

What are the greatest barriers to land access to new and beginning producers in Colorado?

04

Are you a current or previous employee of the State of Colorado?

• Yes

• No

05

If so please list your Employee ID Number

Required Question

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