The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics invites applications for a postdoc position to develop and provide annual estimate of land use values of open space for all jurisdictions utilizing land use-value assessment estimates. Duties include, but are not limited to: development of computational methods, maintenance of current models and data sets, identifying and testing alternative data sources, maintaining detailed design specification and written documentation for existing models, being responsible for the development of new computational methods and work with programmers to incorporate these methods into models based on systematic testing and validation relative to current and historical data. This position will work closely with Virginia’s Land Use-Value Assessment Program Director and Analyst, contribute to the annual development of agricultural and horticultural values, and design and present stakeholder programming and education. Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills are essential.

Specific responsibilities include working with faculty members in a team setting to accomplish the following: 1) Developing and publishing methods and procedures for the valuation of open space lands; 2) Writing statutorily required and other annual reports; 3) Conducting research and conceptualizing appropriate methods and materials to improve the validity and reliability of the developed estimates; 4) Developing and maintaining models for calculating use-value assessment estimates; 5) Maintaining content on the Virginia's Use-Value Assessment Program's website (http://luva.aaec.vt.edu); 6) Conducting research projects, such as the assessment of the fiscal impact of alternative taxing scenarios or assessment of the economic consequences and implications of alternative methods of calculating use-value assessments; 7) Annually develop and publish cost of production budgets for major agricultural and horticultural enterprises; 8) Presenting annual estimates at public hearings before the State Land Evaluation and Advisory Council (SLEAC); and 9) Conducting educational programs for VCE and other organizations and government agencies such as local Farm Bureau groups, County Boards of Supervisors, Chambers of Commerce, and other interested parties.