New Jersey Department of Agriculture - Hiring Farmland Preservation Staff Attorney in Trenton, NJ!

The State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) leads in the preservation of New Jersey's farmland and promotes innovative approaches to maintaining the viability of agriculture. The SADC administers the Farmland Preservation Program, providing grants to counties, municipalities and nonprofit groups to fund the purchase of development easements on farmland; directly purchasing farms and development easements from landowners; and offering grants to landowners in the program to fund up to 50 percent of the cost of soil and water conservation projects. It also administers the Right to Farm Program, oversees the Transfer of Development Rights Bank, and operates the Farm Link Program, which helps connect farm owners with farmers seeking access to farmland and farming opportunities.

The SADC is currently searching for a Farmland Preservation Staff Attorney. Under the direction of the Deputy Chief of Legal Affairs, the primary responsibilities of this position are to support, coordinate, and review all components of farmland preservation real estate transactions for the acquisition of development easements and fee simple title on farmland by the SADC or through the county, municipal, and nonprofit
grant programs. The work includes: preparing contracts, deeds of easement and other necessary legal documents; and reviewing all closing documents, surveys, title work, title commitments, and title policies; coordinating directly with SADC staff, outside counsel, title companies, and all other relevant state, county, local, and nonprofit personnel to resolve issues quickly and effectively; identifying and handling complex legal questions, recurring problems, and recommending policy or regulatory solutions to expedite current and future real estate reviews; effectively managing documents and information in various platforms and databases; assuring transactions adhere to SADC statutes, rules and policies; performing research as needed to understand and resolve questions; and the ability to prioritize work according to SADC standards and requirements.

Click here to apply!