Based remotely within San Joaquin Valley, CA
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 7 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 Position
The Regenerative Agriculture Technician works to engage farmers in adopting regenerative farming practices capable of protecting environmental quality and responding to the growing impacts of climate change. This role contributes through conservation planning, technical assistance, outreach, and resource development supporting farmland stewardship projects in underrepresented agricultural regions in California. This role reports to the CA Sr. Agricultural Specialist, is field based and strong communication in Spanish, Hmong, or Lao is preferred.
What You’ll Be Working On
As an integral part of the AFT CA regional programs team, the Regenerative Agriculture Technician builds and maintains relationships with farmers and non-operating farmland owners as well as state and federal agencies, agricultural service providers, conservation leaders, and others to develop and implement strategies to facilitate adoption of conservation practices on farmland.
Specific duties include:
- Conducting outreach to farmers, landowners, agencies, and community organizations to support them in accessing conservation planning.
- Engaging in one-on-one assistance and work closely with individual landowners and farmers to evaluate the on-farm economic and environmental impacts of soil and water conservation practices
- Collecting and analyzing on-farm data and publish agricultural education and extension materials
- Working with AFT communications staff and others to create high-quality and compelling written products.
- Organizing and hosting on-farm tailgates and demonstration events highlighting key practices and lessons learned from project participants.
- Supporting AFT California Regional staff efforts to identify potential projects for agricultural conservation easements and support applications.
- Engaging farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders in identifying barriers to conservation adoption and develop common sense, economically viable solutions to overcome such barriers.
- Representing AFT at public meetings, field days, and educational events.
- The idea candidate is entrepreneurial, highly motivated, relational, collaborative, trustworthy, dependable, a capable problem solver, highly responsible with a strong sense of ethics, passionate about the mission of AFT and possesses:
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Strong people- and time-management skills with ability to be flexible and responsive to changing priorities
- Familiarity with central California water resource and soil health management; previous on-farm experience or related agricultural sectors is preferred
- Previous experience or willingness to learn agricultural conservation planning and implementation issues and techniques is required
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Positive attitude in a challenging, dynamic work environment
- Ability to think creatively and strategically
- Experience with public outreach, community engagement, and communications are preferred.
- Basic computer skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and remote meeting/presentation software is required.
- Spanish-English language is a bonus.
