Climate and Soil Health Program Coordinator

Who We Are

American Farmland Trust (AFT) 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. Please see AFT’s statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.

Job purpose 

Reporting to the Climate and Soil Health Program Manager, the Climate and Soil Health Program Coordinator plays a crucial role in supporting AFT’s national climate and soil health efforts which aim to catalyze a new conventional agriculture that protects the land, promotes soil health and resilience, and exhibits environmentally sound farming practices to create an equitable, agricultural operations for future generations. This role focuses on facilitating and coordinating operations of programmatic deliverables for our Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities project that focuses on adoption of soil health practices in corn, soy, wheat, and cotton system, ensuring smooth operational execution and effective stakeholder engagement. 

Position summary 

The Climate and Soil Health Program Coordinator will provide vital administrative, financial, and logistical support to the Climate and Soil Health Program Manager and the project team. This position involves coordinating various aspects of the assigned project, including collaboration with various stakeholders, and requires a proactive approach to communicating, problem-solving and organizational efficiency.  This position is budgeted to a limited term, ending February 28, 2028.   

Duties and responsibilities 

Support administrative and programmatic priorities: 

• Coordinate programmatic logistics for project workstreams, including in person and virtual event coordination, hosting, scheduling, payments, and logistical arrangements. 
• Assist in booking events and securing venues, ensuring all logistics are handled efficiently, and communications with vendors and participants are clear and consistent. 
• Compile, organize, process project-related materials, such as eligibility documents, and compliance and verification paperwork, ensuring accurate data entry in spreadsheets where necessary; follow up with project collaborators and participants to ensure complete documentation as necessary. 
• Attend and document Climate and Soil Health division meetings and project-specific meetings, capturing key action items and decisions. 
• Develop and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) for new and evolving systems, ensuring clarity and usability for AFT staff. 
• Support the project team in progress reviews, and in tracking and compiling project metrics for reporting as needed. 
• Provide support for other discrete programmatic tasks as needed. 

Support financial priorities: 

• Lead the review and submission of monthly partner reports and invoices, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to financial guidelines. 
• Collaborate with finance and accounting staff to monitor the progress of invoicing and payments, and address any issues promptly. 
• Process contracts through AFT’s internal review process, ensuring timely approvals. 
• Provide support to program participants in navigating financial paperwork. 

Support outreach and communication priorities:  

• Manage an online networking and learning platform for program participants, ensuring it is up-to-date and user-friendly, and coordinating responses to questions by the appropriate staff where needed. 
• Develop facilitation tools and materials to enhance program participation and engagement. 
• Actively engage with stakeholders to gather feedback and provide updates on project progress 
• Effectively and in a timely manner respond or coordinate responses to participant or partner inquiries.  

Qualifications

• Proven experience with invoicing, financial tracking, and budget management. 
• Ability to draft and update guidance documents, clearly explaining complex processes and systems. 
• Excellent organizational skills with a talent for breaking down complex information into actionable steps for varied users of the information. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a focus on clarity,  effectiveness and professionalism. 
• Comfortable with persistent, friendly and professional, timely follow-up via email and phone to obtain necessary information from staff, participants, partners, and other stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage tasks, with minimal oversight. 
• Capacity to assess and communicate workload, capacity, and resource needs effectively. 
• Fluent in Microsoft Office suite.  

Education & Experience  

• 2-3 years of professional experience in project coordination in environmental sustainability, agriculture, or a related field. A bachelor's degree in financial management, business, administrative degrees combined with agricultural and/or environmental degrees/experience preferred.  

Working Conditions 

This job operates in a teleworking or professional office environment. Co-location at a university, regional AFT office, or other similar arrangement is a possibility. Willingness to undertake limited work travel required. 

Compensation

The salary range is from $60,000 to $65,000 for full-time employees, 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 opportunities
• Flexible scheduling
   

Timeline

Applications must answer screener questions and include a resume AND cover letter to be considered. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Apply Here. 

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