Senior Business Development Specialist of Agriculture

Exempt; full-time; 40 hours per week; Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; full benefits; Partial telework may be available in accordance with Division policies

NOTE: The upper pay range reflects possible wage rates for internal County transfers and promotions, which are calculated per County policy. For external hires, offers are made at the base wage rate, with limited exception.

Frederick County Government values the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members.  If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to Frederick County Government today.

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE:
Frederick County offers an extensive compensation package to reflect how highly we value our employees. The following is what you can expect in your first year as a full-time benefited Frederick County Government employee.  

• 11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
• 15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
• 11 paid holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays (10 and 11 month employees may not receive all holidays)
• Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan options to include generous County Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan). This is part of a full range of benefits including Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
• Employee Health Center with no or low-cost primary and urgent care
• 100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit
• County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan 
  • Vesting after 5 years of service
  • Additional service credit for eligible previous public service, military service, etc.
• Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
• Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Other employee-paid benefits such as Deferred Compensation Plan, Legal Resources, Supplemental Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Lifetime Benefit with Long Term Care plan

NOTE: Benefited employees will accrue service and leave based on the FTE and/or hours worked per calendar year. 

For more information, visit our benefits page on the Frederick County Government job opportunities webpage.

• Build, develop, and maintain strong relationships with farms, ag businesses, industry organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, and community partners to support agricultural, economic, and workforce development initiatives
• Develop, execute, and evaluate business retention, expansion, and attraction strategies to support the growth and sustainability of local farms, and agricultural enterprises
• Conduct research and analysis on labor market trends, demographics, workforce needs, agricultural industry activity, economic indicators, regulatory requirements, and market opportunities to support strategic planning and client services
• Respond to inquiries from businesses and farms by providing information, technical assistance, workforce solutions, regulatory guidance, funding resources, and referrals to appropriate programs, agencies, or partner organizations
• Coordinate and facilitate business development and agricultural initiatives including site selection, permitting, incentives, grants, recruitment assistance, workforce programs, strategic partnerships, and agricultural expansion projects
• Work closely with County departments (Planning & Permitting, Health Department, etc.), State of Maryland agencies, MARBIDCO, Farm Credit, and others to streamline permitting, support agricultural projects, and identify financial assistance, grants, loans, and workforce development opportunities for new and expanding businesses or farms
• Develop, implement, and evaluate marketing, outreach, and communication initiatives promoting County programs, services, business resources, agricultural development opportunities, and industry-specific initiatives
• Prepare and deliver reports, proposals, presentations, correspondence, and analytical materials for County leadership, businesses, farms, boards, advisory committees, and community organizations
• Maintain and utilize databases, CRM systems, websites, software applications, and reporting tools to track projects, client engagements, outcomes, and performance metrics
• Represent the County at meetings, business visits, conferences, networking events, public outreach activities, and agricultural or economic development engagements at the local, state, and national levels
• Collaborate with internal staff and external stakeholders to develop and implement strategic initiatives, workforce programs, marketing campaigns, grant-funded activities, process improvements, and agricultural development programs
• Assist businesses and farms in identifying and accessing workforce training programs, incentives, grants, recruitment assistance, apprenticeship opportunities, and other economic or agricultural development services
• Monitor and evaluate program performance; prepare statistical and operational reports; recommend improvements to support organizational goals and enhance service delivery
• Stay informed of emerging industry trends, agriculture development practices, regulatory changes, funding opportunities, and economic factors impacting businesses and farms
• Provide guidance, training, technical assistance, and project support to staff, partners, interns, grant recipients, and stakeholders on specialized program areas or departmental initiatives
• Work one-on-one with farms and ag businesses to address concerns, navigate regulations, apply for funding, and obtain resources related to agricultural industry challenges
• Liaise with County departments to support Ag Innovation Grant recipients, streamline project progress, and provide staff support to the Ag Innovation Grant Review Committee
• Educate small and beginning farms on Federal, State, and local laws, requirements, and industry best practices
• Create meaningful connections between farmers and direct-to-consumer market opportunities
• Work with the agricultural team to explore and advance concepts such as the Farm Retail Innovation Center for Frederick County
• Collaborate with the Ag Preservation Team on projects occurring within agricultural preservation easements
• Develop and implement transition planning programs for farms and agricultural businesses and identify opportunities to expand agricultural business development programming
• Attend Agricultural Business Council (ABC) meetings and work with the Ag Team to achieve committee goals and ensure overall program success
• Represent supervisors when attending committees, boards, or stakeholder meetings at various levels
• Perform other related duties as required

The qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical requirements or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics, agriculture business, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in business administration, public administration, or a related field

Substitutions for the above-listed required education and experience is a Master’s degree with 3 years experience as described above.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

A successful incumbent operating in this role displays the following:

• Ability to arrange own frequent travel to meetings, work locations, and events as needed, including occasional urgent or time sensitive situations
• Strong ability to organize work, set priorities, manage multiple projects, and complete duties with minimal supervision
• Ability to work independently, make sound decisions, exercise good judgment, and resolve conflicting positions or controversial issues
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials, business executives, agricultural industry stakeholders, developers, coworkers, and the general public
• Knowledge of agriculture, agricultural business development, public relations, and marketing principles
• Advanced knowledge of marketing and sales strategies; ability to develop and implement diverse marketing, outreach, and communication initiatives
• Knowledge of State and Federal agriculture programs and requirements
• Advanced knowledge of labor market trends, economic indicators, and commercial site opportunities for expansion projects
• Ability to attract, guide, and support prospective agricultural enterprises in locating or expanding within the County
• Ability to identify and create connections between local companies, farms, organizations, agencies, and market opportunities
• Skilled in collaboration, leadership, strategic planning, and cross-departmental coordination
• Skilled in oral and written communication, including strong public speaking, interpersonal communication, and presentation abilities
• Working knowledge of computer programs and software applications, including Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), CRM systems, and other reporting tools
• Ability to negotiate effectively with businesses, agencies, and stakeholders
• Ability to provide technical assistance, training, guidance, or project leadership to staff, partners, interns, and stakeholders
• Skilled in interpreting regulatory requirements, permitting processes, and compliance standards across agricultural businesses
• Ability to support and implement strategic initiatives, grant-funded activities, and business development programs
• Ability to evaluate program performance, prepare statistical and operational reports, and recommend improvements to meet organizational goals

PREFERENCE MAY BE GIVEN FOR:

• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) or equivalent industry-recognized certifications 
• Direct work experience in or with the agriculture industry

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORKING CONDITIONS:

• While working in this position, the employee is required to frequently sit, and walk
• While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly work indoors and frequently work outdoors

• Failure to meet or maintain the minimum qualifications or additional requirements may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination
• Ability to provide own transportation to meetings
• Available for varied working hours/days as needed to accommodate meetings and other commitments, including evenings and occasional travel

EXAMINATION PROCESS (may include):

1. An evaluation of training and experience
2. One or more interviews