Job Type: Permanent
Salary Details: $50,000 – $55,000
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.
Description
As an integral part of the AFT’s Pacific Northwest team, the Coordinator supports AFT’s programs across the region. The Coordinator will take the lead on project outreach and support project implementation, build and maintain relationships with participants, and provide technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and service providers throughout the region. Technical assistance will be delivered in both in-person and virtual settings.
This is a fully remote position. Applicants must be self-motivated and able to work independently in a remote setting. There may be opportunities to meet with other regional staff in-person throughout the year.
What You’ll Be Working On
Outreach and Coordination:
- Coordinate implementation of PNW educational events for farmers and ranchers, including but not limited to conducting outreach, delivering educational programming, and developing new resources, training, and tools.
- Support logistics and coordination of educational events for agricultural service providers.
- In collaboration with AFT’s National Agricultural Land Network (NALN) and the Senior Manager, coordinate regional forums for land transfer professionals in the PNW.
Direct Support for Farmers and Ranchers:
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with farmers and ranchers and agricultural, environmental, research, business, and community partner organizations.
- Engage directly with farmers, landowners, and relevant partners to understand the needs and strengths of farming communities in the Pacific Northwest.
- Provide direct technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and landowners related to land access, transfer, and succession.
- Participate in the implementation and awarding of microgrants to producers and landowners, including reading and reviewing applications.
- Participate in relevant training to build professional skills, as needed, including AFT’s newly developed succession planning training.
Communications
- Work with AFT communications staff and others to create high quality compelling content including writing press releases, press advisories, and online and digital content to promote events and share updates about the impacts of our programming.
- Create content for social media and other media communication efforts to recruit and retain participants.
- As needed, represent AFT at public meetings, conferences, workshops, and trainings.
This is not an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.
Qualifications
- Direct experience working with farmers, agricultural landowners, agricultural and conservation organizations, academic institutions, and/or land trusts; experience working with women, veterans, and other communities underserved in agriculture is preferred.
- Demonstrated understanding of environmental, social, and economic issues facing different populations of farmers, farmworkers, and farming communities.
- Preferred lived experience and/or cultural competency that enables understanding of a diverse spectrum of stakeholders.
- Experience creating spaces where marginalized communities can intentionally gather and feel safe.
- Experience performing community outreach and/or implementing in-field community-based educational programs.
- Experience coordinating logistics for events, community outreach, or adult education and extension.
- Must be able to work productively with people at all organizational levels and in a virtual setting.
- Strong writing, public relations, presentation and verbal communication skills are highly valuable.
- Must be detail-orientated with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite is essential. Must have the ability to learn new software quickly (Survey Monkey, Canva, etc.).
- Must live in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, or Idaho).
- Must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
Education & Experience
Minimum of 3 years of related work experience in project coordination, case management, communications, extension and outreach efforts, agriculture, land conservation, social sciences, and/or related fields.
HOW TO APPLY