Description:
- This position is located in the newly formed Office of Urban Agriculture, within the Office of the Chief of Staff here at Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). The Office of Urban Agriculture will serve as the District’s primary point of contact for encouraging and promoting urban, indoor, rooftop and other emerging agriculture practices to assist the District in reaching its Sustainable DC goal of putting an additional 20 acres of urban land in production by 2032.
- Serving as the operations and program manager, the incumbent will develop the legally mandated duties of the Office of Urban Agriculture, including implementing and expanding District-wide policies and programs to promote urban farming and agriculture, including the Urban Farming Land Lease Program (in partnership with the Department of General Services); the Tax Abatement Program (in partnership with the Office of Tax and Revenue), and the Beekeeping Program (in partnership with the DOEE Fisheries and Wildlife Division).
- Collaborate with and provide guidance to other District agencies, offices, commissions, and councils implementing programs which impact urban agriculture production. Establishes relationships with growers, producers, urban agricultural actors, the DC Food Policy Council, the University Of DC College Of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to obtain policy and program recommendations.
- Act as a liaison for agricultural producers in obtaining secure access and tenure to land for sustainable food production, tax incentives for agricultural production, infrastructure grants, loans, and incentives to expand operations. Assist urban agricultural growers with obtaining services needed for production, including required permits and licenses, water access, and electricity access. Apply for and accepts agriculture grants on behalf of DOEE to expand agricultural operations and performs outreach to share best practices, provide mentorship, and offer technical assistance with urban agriculture programs.
- Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, CS-12.
- Specialized experience includes; expert knowledge and experience in existing DC urban agriculture programs, initiatives, or operations.
- Knowledge of District laws, regulations, and policies governing urban agriculture operations, including growing, processing, and distribution.
- Expert knowledge of management and organizational principles and practices, planning, programming, and budgeting regulations, and guidelines to establish and operate short-term and long-term urban agriculture expansion programs, including tax abatement, land leases, and infrastructure grants and loans.
- Expertise in facilitating resolution of complex urban agriculture operator and processor issue through multiple government and private sector stakeholders to result in expanded agricultural operations.