FNRM Position

 

 

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION
 

POSITION
Farm and Natural Resource Manager (FNRM)

 

President, Board of Directors, Bundoran Farm Community Association

 

Bundoran Farm is a unique residential community set amidst a working farm of 2,300 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Albemarle County, 20 minutes south of Charlottesville, Virginia. Within this property, 2,000 acres are protected in perpetuity by agricultural and forestry easements. Half of the easement land is utilized for livestock grazing, vineyards, and orchards, thereby ensuring the presence of a true working farm within the development. The other half of the easement land is comprised of forests, trails, lakes, and other natural areas enjoyed by residents and their guests.

 

The residential portion of the community consists of ninety-two residential homesites sited near field and forest margins to promote the preservation of working lands. Community leadership supports an ethic of environmentally sound use of the land and sustainable building standards, with the goal of creating and conserving a place where home and nature seek to exist in harmony.

 

Routinely monitors the condition of community infrastructure: roads, trails, bridges, culverts, lakes, dams, fencing, pastures, farmbelt tree copses, forests, community-owned equipment, community center building, and other farm structures.

 

Works in concert with the Board, Farm Management Committee (FMC), Common Area Committee (CAMC), Finance Committee (FinCom), and Wildlife Management Group (WMG) to support the operational and financial objectives for the Farm.

 

Together with the FMC and the Board, sets strategic directions for Bundoran Farm’s agricultural objectives.

 

Communicates effectively with contractors, governmental officials, non-profit organizations, and our property owner’s association representative (Community Group) on all operational matters.

 

Responds to requests for information and/or assistance from residents on working aspects on the Farm.

 

Maintains a comprehensive, readily accessible, and up-to-date record system relating to community association activities. This requires familiarity with conventional software (MS Office) and online resources (e.g., Google Earth).

 

Assists in preparing biennial land use tax re-certifications for eligible lot owners.

 

Maintains a positive working relationship with tenants, contractors, and community members.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Board President - The incumbent coordinates with the President by:

 

Meeting at least bi-monthly with Board President in person and is readily available via cell phone, email and/or messaging to discuss infrastructure conditions and current work assignments and priorities.

 

Regularly reviews with the Board President current FNRM relations with FMC, CAMC, FinCom, WMG, and Community Group and discusses issues and/or requests for FNRM assistance.

 

Promptly calls Board President’s attention to any infrastructure conditions that require emergency or immediate attention, such as blocked roads, culverts and streams, damaged fencing, cattle watering systems, etc.

 

Seeking and following the Board President’s guidance and instructions regarding prioritization of current and pending FNRM work activity.

 

Community Group (CG) – The incumbent coordinates with CG by:

 

Ensuring and documenting that all vendors are properly insured (for general liability and workers compensation) before allowing them to work for the community.

 

Promptly forwarding approved vendor invoices to CG for payment and obtaining from CG verification of such payments.

 

Collecting and promptly forwarding credit card receipts for approved expenses and obtaining from CG monthly verification of credit card payments.

 

Maintaining a complete record of all invoices, receipts, payment verifications, etc.

 

Farm Management Committee (FMC) – The incumbent supports the FMC by:

 

Developing an overall plan for the farmbelt and greenbelt (forest) easement areas of the Farm.

 

Optimizing leasable areas on the Farm for agricultural and forest activity.

 

Negotiating and executing tenant leases and cost-sharing agreements with governmental entities.

 

Managing lease and contract compliance by focusing on pasture, orchard and vineyard fence conditions, grazing, mowing, haying and spraying practices, timbering, erosion control, invasive plant eradication, and periodic soil testing and fertilization.

 

Promptly reporting variances to FMC Chair and Board President. Addresses variances with tenants and contractors at the direction of the Board President.

 

Ensuring functionality and routine maintenance of fencing and cattle watering systems. Creating and updating fence maps.

 

Promoting best management practices in conjunction with farm tenants, to exercise rotational grazing, erosion mitigation, weed abatement, and natural resource conservation.

Periodically inspecting the condition of farmbelt tree copses and alerting FMC of needed maintenance or tree replacement.

Common Areas Committee (CAMC) – The incumbent supports the CAMC by:

 

Negotiating vendor and contractor agreements and reviewing their execution to contract deliverables.

 

Managing contractor compliance to Bundoran Farm’s Governing Documents. Promptly reporting variances to CAM Chair and Board President and addressing variances with contractors at the direction of the Board President.

 

Continually monitoring roadways for damage and arranging for repair. Arranging and executing annual roadway repair activity.

 

Creating and updating the Farm’s online trail map tool, including making daily updates on areas of active hunting by the Wildlife Management Group.

 

Management trail maintenance by coordinating with contractors and community Trail Adopters group to keep trails in good condition.

 

Ensuring that dams are in good condition and free of large trees and that dam spillways are free of debris.

 

Arranging and executing annual contracts for eradication of invasive plants and algae infestations.

 

Finance Committee (FinCom) – The incumbent supports the FinCom by:

 

Promptly reviewing vendor and contractor invoices to ensure they are within the budget and that the relating work has been properly completed. Obtaining FinCom authorization for invoice payment and forwarding approved invoices to CG for disbursement.

 

Monitoring tenant lease payments and alerting both tenants and Board Treasurer when tenants fall behind in payments.

 

Promptly alerting and obtaining authorization from the Board Treasurer of unexpected, non-budgeted expenses.

 

Surveying standing committees regarding work that may need to become part of the budget for the next fiscal year and communicates this to both Board Treasurer and President.

 

Assisting FinCom in analyzing and regularly updating the replacement reserve report. Obtaining contractor estimates for work covered both by the coming annual budget and the replacement reserve budget.

 

Land Use Re-certification – The incumbent assists in the biennial land use re-certification process by:

 

Collecting land use re-certification application forms from eligible lot owners after completion of their sections.

 

Reviewing the applications to ensure agreement between lot owner/county land use representations and BFCA records relating to agricultural and forestry use.

 

Returning the applications to the lot owner for submission to the county tax assessor’s office.

 

Maintaining regular weekly office hours for meeting with lot owners, visitors, vendors, and other parties.

Promptly responds to lot owner emails, messages, and phone calls.

 

Acting immediately to address emergencies and promptly alerts the Board President and appropriate standing committee chairs.

 

Advising all parties in following the communication policy published on the community website.

Routine Maintenance

Maintaining an up-to-date inventory of community-owned tools and equipment.

Ensuring appropriate and safe storage of all tools and equipment and annual maintenance of the Polaris Ranger, trailer, weed eater, chain saw, and other equipment as required.

Arranging contracts for required maintenance at the direction of the Board President.

Ensuring that the Pole Barns are maintained in working order.

Ensuring that FNRM office space in the Baldwin Center is kept orderly and that trash is available roadside for weekly pickup.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, natural resource conservation, or aligned field of study.

Three or more years of work experience managing productive agricultural systems, invasive species management, plant conservation, or other natural resource affairs; equivalent experience considered.

Ability to communicate verbally and in writing and relate comfortably to tenants, contractors and owners.

Capacity for occasional strenuous, outdoor physical activity.

Familiarity with farming, forestry. and related operations. Knowledgeable of best practices and terminology in modern agriculture and open to innovative agricultural endeavors.

COMPENSATION

Very competitive salary for the Albemarle County labor market, commensurate with training and relevant job experience. Health Saving Account (HSA) contribution. Incumbent has the use of a computer and cell phone as well as a Polaris Ranger and other community-owned tools. Dedicated office space is provided within the community center.

CONTACT
A letter of interest together with a résumé should be emailed to bfca.board.contact@gmail.com by May 27, 2022.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Bundoran Farm Community Association, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, or other protected classes under the law.