National Agricultural Land Network 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.

The National Agricultural Land Network (NALN) is an AFT national initiative intended to grow the collective capacity of those who work to save farm and ranch land to do more—more permanent protection, more innovative protection that incorporates multiple objectives, and more planning and action to reduce agricultural land conversion.  

A 50-state membership network with nearing 1300 individual and organizational members, the NALN provides peer networking and information sharing, basic and advanced training on agricultural land retention and protection tools and techniques, state and federal policy updates, and opportunities for shared research, communications initiatives, and other collaborations.  Going into its fifth year, the NALN is poised to significantly expand its national impact with a growing team and new programmatic and partnership opportunities.  

The Position 

The NALN Coordinator position is a two-year, full-time position, with the potential for an extension beyond the two-year term. The position is fully remote, with a preference for candidates located in the Eastern time zone. Some travel to events across the country will be required.   

Reporting to the National Agricultural Land Protection Senior Policy Manager the NALN Coordinator is an integral part of a five-person NALN team.  The Coordinator plays a vital logistical support role, ensuring that Network events are calendared, coordinated with internal AFT staff and external partners, and run professionally.  The Coordinator also plays an important administrative role in moving NALN contracts and invoices through AFT’s administrative process and tracking all NALN activities and metrics.  The ideal Coordinator is highly organized, outgoing, capable of working well independently as well as part of a team, and passionate about being part of a team that is building the capacity of individuals, agencies and organizations to retain and protect America’s working lands.    

Specific Duties and Responsibilities: 

The NALN Coordinator: 

• Maintains and updates the NALN member database 
• Tracks NALN membership and activities (roundtables, webinars, workshops, discussion groups); tracks metrics for internal and external reporting 
• Monitors and maintains member access to the NALN online community platform 
• Schedules and coordinates NALN events (roundtables, webinars, workshops, conferences, discussion groups) 
• Assists in the planning and logistics for the Saving America’s Working Lands national conference  
• Provides technical support for all NALN virtual events 
• Shepherds contracts and invoices through AFT’s administrative processes 
• Assists with the development and distribution of Network News 
• Participates in NALN team planning and preparation meetings 
• Performs other tasks as assigned. 
• Supports a strong team culture of shared learning, innovation and problem solving among AFT staff.  

Qualifications

Travel for one to three trips annually to AFT staff meetings or national conferences will be required. 

Qualifications & Experience  

• A BA or BS degree and demonstrated related work experience in office administration and/or operations, membership, contract or grant management, data base or related fields; or 4 years of related work experience in lieu of a degree.  Knowledge and passion for agriculture and land protection is a plus. 
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365 Suite applications including Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Experience using Microsoft Dynamics a plus. Willingness to learn new software & technology systems. 
• Strong editing, writing, and proofreading skills  
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks, stay organized and be comfortable working independently.  
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with the public and staff 
• Organized and detail-oriented with demonstrated commitment to high quality professional work 
• Experience and skills in event organizing, planning, and implementation a plus 
• Must be flexible and able to work with remote supervision as part of the NALN team 
• Commitment to become knowledgeable about the programs and activities of American Farmland Trust and the NALN 

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.