Who We Are
American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and helped thousands of farm families make a go of it (primarily through programs that increase farm viability and/or enhance farmland access). Long a pioneering leader, AFT is now riding a new wave of growth, driven by agriculture’s most pressing needs and opportunities.
The Implementation Specialist position offers an exciting opportunity to help farmers, ranchers, and other landowners implement conservation practices. In this role you will act in support of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), meeting with farmers, ranchers, and other landowners who have already secured financial assistance contracts but have not yet implemented the practices. You will assist those farmers in overcoming any barriers to implementing the practices that they have received funding for. This technical assistance will vary by farm and by practice, but might include helping to find more funding, consulting other technical experts, researching, and helping to find and select appropriate contractors, finding supplies or specialized equipment, coordinating with other government entities, and more, all in support of a wide range of agronomic and engineering practices. Technical Service Provider (TSP) training will be provided by NRCS, such as Nutrient Management or Grazing Management Planning, based on the needs of the producers requiring implementation assistance.
The position will be based in North Texas either in Wise, Montague, and Clay counties OR Hill, Ellis, and Navarro counties. The applicant is expected to live in or commute to these locations. You will work in a unique role, as an AFT employee, but in deep cooperation and frequent coordination with the funder, NRCS. A NRCS Assistant Conservationist for Field Operations and AFT’s Texas Director will work together to guide your workflow to assure it is integrated with NRCS’s needs and utilizes the full depth of both NRCS and AFT resources and expertise. You will work from an NRCS service center at least three days a week with the ability to work remotely on occasion. The initial focus of the position is on targeted intervention to support contracts that are facing hurdles to implementation, with time it may also include promoting participation in conservation practices and agricultural land conservation via outreach and education with producers.
What You’ll Be Working On
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Assist the Resource Team Leaders and District Conservationists in identifying priority clients for targeted outreach and intervention.
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Provide technical assistance and practice implementation guidance based upon NRCS guidelines and technical experience to ensure final conservation practices meet the goals and responsibilities of NRCS.
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Prepare and offer guidance to landowners/producers for the implementation of conservation practices. Practice implementation includes but is not limited to field investigations, topographic site surveying, practice analysis and design, layout, construction inspection, and development of as built plans.
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Provide technical and administrative support, recommendations, and implementation assistance on Farm Bill programs. This may include but is not limited to conservation planning and application assistance, status reviews, case file management, and general administrative activities.
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Using a variety of methods (e-mail, phone, or traveling to the farm) establish direct contact with farmers with existing financial assistance contracts with NRCS, and work with the farmers to identify barriers to project completion.
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Identify areas where practices implementation within the existing contract requirements is not possible and communicate the situation and need for contract modifications to NRCS.
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Develop and compile extensive notes on all interactions with farmers to properly document support and progress towards contract completion; and contribute to the maintenance of program contract file folders.
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Assist field office staff with contacting program applicants for data collection and work with farmers to compile necessary data for contract completion.
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Develop and curate a deep rolodex of service providers and contractors across the service area.
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Participate in trainings as directed by NRCS and AFT.
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Travel extensively across your identified counties visiting diverse farms and farmers to execute the job functions.
Requirements
The Implementation Specialist must be a highly motivated and entrepreneurial problem solver. They should be able to use their real-world experience on farms, or in other land management, construction, or land stewardship jobs to provide actionable assistance to farmers seeking to implement conservation practices on their land. The ideal candidate will have existing connections within the farm community and will have experience working with a wide variety of farm types and with diverse populations. The ideal candidate will find visiting farmers on their farm, problem solving, identifying resource concerns, and researching solutions to challenging farm specific problems exciting and invigorating, not overwhelming and intimidating.
Excellent communication skills (meeting facilitation, phone, writing, partner relations), record keeping, and task management are essential to the position. The ideal candidate will ask the extra question to help make connections and identify solutions, even when the solution, or even the problem might not be obvious. Specific qualifications of the ideal candidate are:
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Experience with NRCS funded conservation practices is especially valuable, but not required.
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A deep working knowledge of Texas agriculture or conservation and an understanding of the culture of farmers and farming.
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Proven track record of implementing or assisting with implementation of conservation practices.
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Proven track record in developing relationships with others and supporting them in achieving their goals, ideally in a farming or land management context.
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Ability to see the big picture while being incredibly detail oriented.
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Success in roles requiring simultaneous management of multiple priorities and processes under tight timelines is important.
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Proven ability to work with efficiency, flexibility, and good humor.
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Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide array of people – junior and senior, government, for-profit, and nonprofit, and from diverse backgrounds.
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Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
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A valid US driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
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Passionate about American Farmland Trust’s mission and impact.
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Willingness and ability to complete and pass a USDA background check.
Education & Experience
Compensation
American Farmland Trust offers excellent vacation, medical, retirement and other benefits. The salary range for this position is from $56,000 to $64,000 based upon experience.
American Farmland Trust offers a complete benefits package:
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Medical & Prescription Coverage
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Dental Coverage
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Vision Coverage
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Company Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability (LTD)
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Voluntary Life Insurance
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Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – Healthcare & Dependent Care
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Health Savings Account (HSA)
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401(k) with 10% match after six months of employment
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Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees accrue 3.5 hours per pay period (13 “sick days” per year).
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Vacation Leave: Accrue 15 days during the first year increasing by one day per year to 20 days per year
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Holidays: The Company observes eleven holidays during the year (all offices closed): plus, choice of 3 other floating holidays depending on hiring date
Why you should apply:
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Be a part of a purpose-driven, committed, knowledgeable, high-performing, experienced and fun team
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A diverse and inclusive work environment
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A cause and mission you can be proud of
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Competitive compensation & benefits
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Remote work opportunities
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Flexible scheduling
Timeline
Applications must include a resume AND cover letter to be considered. While applications will be accepted until the position is filled, applicants who apply before the April 30th will be considered first.
We believe diversity drives innovation. We are inclusive. We embrace differences. We recognize and respect the fundamental value and dignity of all our employees. We celebrate the unique traditions, heritages, and experiences our employees bring to the workplace. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive culture that promotes and values diversity, and where everyone feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to work every day. Please see AFT’s statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.
Ready to apply? If this job sounds like a fit for you, then click on the ‘apply’ button below.
