Mid-Atlantic Grazing Mentor Manager

Description

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. 

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.

The Position 
AFT is leading a bold 5-year, Climate Smart Beef project aimed at supporting cattle producers, especially underserved producers, to implement regenerative grazing systems through technical and financial assistance and peer-to-peer learning networks. This position will play a key role in the project and will develop and support a robust network of mentors and mentees across Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to assist producers in adopting more regenerative grazing systems. These mentor networks will closely collaborate and support existing mentor initiatives in these states. This position will also support other Mid-Atlantic initiatives that provide direct technical assistance to graziers as they transition to regenerative production systems.

The Mid-Atlantic Grazing Mentor Manager will oversee and support the Grazing Mentor program administration, outreach, and training efforts with network coordinators and producer mentors in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. They will recruit, train, develop, and oversee network coordinators and producer mentors. They will lead outreach to producers, build partner networks, and support communications material development. They will develop and arrange training and educational opportunities, working with internal and external partners. The manager will also collaborate with local/regional markets, nonprofits, and others to leverage resources and expand collective project impact.  
 

What You’ll Be Working On

• Develop and implement mentor applications, program outreach, recruitment and selection, and training efforts. 
• Identify, onboard, and oversee training of network coordinators and producer mentors in collaboration with AFT staff and partners. 
• Collaborate with AFT staff to identify knowledge, skills, abilities, and responsibilities of producer mentors.
• Collaborate with AFT staff, and external partners, to develop and implement Climate Smart Beef mentor training curriculum and identify needed training and resources for state mentor coordinators and mentors.
• Develop and implement mentor applications, program outreach, recruitment and selection, enrollment, and training efforts.
• Oversee three network coordinators and 27 contracted producer mentors, including collection and reporting of invoices in collaboration with AFT’s finance department.
• Develop, implement, and distribute producer mentee outreach efforts. 
• Arrange and develop training and educational opportunities and peer-to-peer/mentoring network and practice implementation resource access for mentors and mentee networks. 
• Submit appropriate reporting documents for mentorship program, including USDA compliance requirements. 
• Monitor grazing mentor network reporting, invoicing, and payments.
• Lead capacity building of mentors to enable certification of some new NRCS Technical Service Providers.
• Oversee producer enrollment, aiding on USDA FSA enrollment qualifications.
• Oversee USDA reporting of enrolled producer data and other USDA-required reporting in collaboration AFT staff. 
• Provide assistance across the network on use of grazing management software by enrolled producers as needed for project reporting, quantification work, and improved operation management, as appropriate. 
• Collaborate with local/regional markets, non-profits, community-based organizations, and others to leverage resources and expand collective project impact, such as on access and practice system adoption by diverse producers to markets for climate smart products.   
• Contribute expertise and collaboration on other aspects of the primary funded project, and engage in other AFT projects to contribute expertise, as needed; 
• Disseminate results and updates professionally and confidently from the project through public facing events and presentations.
• Attend NRCS technical training as appropriate. 
• Convene and oversee an advisory committee to review and approve financial assistance to mentor and mentee producers and support producer payments.
• Develop systems for deploying micro-grants, develop and implement selection criteria.   
• Provide support on regional grazing related initiatives including the Sustainable Grazing Project

Qualifications

The Mid-Atlantic Grazing Mentor Manager must be a highly motivated and entrepreneurial problem solver. They should be personable and eager to work with diverse audiences. Excellent communication skills (meeting facilitation, phone, writing, partner relations), organizational skills, task management, and record keeping are essential to the position. They must be excited about managing and contributing to multiple related workstreams at the same time and have the temperament to navigate USDA compliance issues. The ideal candidate will have existing connections with the beef cattle community in the Mid-Atlantic and experience working with a variety of livestock production systems with diverse populations. The potential candidate must have knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

• Must live in Virginia, Maryland, or Pennsylvania and be comfortable working remotely
• Strong compassion and empathy, Diversity Equity Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) training and/or experience and desire to drive positive DEIJ impact.
• Experience working with or developing programs for underserved producers.
• Highly organized with excellent communication skills, time management skills, and the ability to juggle, navigate, and deliver on time.
• Experience with NRCS conservation planning and contracting is highly desirable.
• A passion for, if not an understanding of, regenerative grazing systems and/or farming operations 
• Experience working with and supporting cattle producers, including historically underserved (limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged, or veteran) producers. 
• Experience building networks and managing networks, people, and groups 
• Experience overseeing a team in a management role 
• Experience supervising staff or interns with team-oriented leadership and management.
• Have the entrepreneurial and collaborative skills needed to build and manage the mentor network and manage producer mentors.
• Experience building networks and managing networks while being primarily remote.
• Comfortable with excel sheets, finances and contracting.
• Ability to communicate in an engaging and clear manner to diverse audiences.
• Flexible and willing to grow and contribute skills as needed to a growing team 
• Experience with designing and implementing curriculum and training with adult learners, preferably in an agricultural setting.
• Experience managing a project and/or project component with the ability to identify and delegate tasks as needed.
   

Expectations 

• Experience working with diverse stakeholders 
• Minimal travel required, anticipate:
  •  6 overnights per year  
  • 40 total travel days in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania  
  • 25 producer visits and 5 regional workshops per year 
• Remote work environment from a home office in Virginia, Maryland, or Pennsylvania 

Education & Experience
At least 6 years of professional experience, working on or with farms or in land stewardship or land management positions. A college degree in a directly related field may be substituted for up to 4 years of work experience. 

Compensation
American Farmland Trust offers excellent vacation, medical, retirement and other benefits. The salary range for this position is from $65,000 to $70,000 based upon experience. 

American Farmland Trust offers a full benefits package for full time employees:

• Insurance coverage begins the 1st of the month following the date of hire.
• Medical & Prescription Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Company Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – Healthcare & Dependent Care
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401(k) with 10% match after six months of employment
• Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees accrue 3.5 hours per pay period (13 “sick days” per year).
• Vacation Leave: Accrue 15 days during the first year increasing by one day per year to 20 days per year maximum.
• Holidays: AFT observes eleven fixed holidays during the year (all offices closed) plus a choice of up to three (depending on hiring month) floating holidays.

Why you should apply
•    Be a part of a purpose-driven, committed, knowledgeable, high-performing, experienced and fun team
•    A diverse and inclusive work environment
•    A cause and mission you can be proud of
•    Competitive compensation & benefits
•    Remote work opportunity   

Timeline

Please answer the screener questions and be sure to include a resume AND cover letter to be considered. While applications will be accepted until the position is filled, applicants who apply with a resume or CV and cover letter by October 23rd will be reviewed first. Apply Here.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, expression or identity, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Farmland Trust complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which we have facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.