Maryland Women Landowner Conservation Program field Organizer
American Farmland Trust (AFT) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to saving America’s farm and ranchland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land. Since our founding in 1980, the organization has helped protect more than 5 million acres of our country’s working lands.
AFT’sMid Atlantic Office seeks an energetic, resourceful and self-motivated individual toassist in running a conservation outreach program focused on women landowners in Western and Eastern Shore counties.
Women are entering agriculture as new farmers, or inheritors of farmland in unprecedented numbers. Coming years will see women who farm directly or who lease their land to neighboring farmers, owning many more acres and taking on more land stewardship responsibilities. Successfully engaging these landowners, who are currently under-served by existing programs and resources, in innovative peer –to peer learning can result inmore conservation and improvements forfarms, forests and the environment. Maryland State Natural Resources Conservation Service and Department of Forestry are supporting AFT and public and private partnersto recruit women landownersfrom Eastern and Western shore counties to participate in conservation learning circles.
The successful candidate for thispart time contract position will work closelywith AFT staff, women landowners and agency partners to organizemeetings and farm visits.
ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Theindividualwill work with the AFT Mid Atlantic Directorremotely,via internet phone as well as regular face to face meetings. They will collaborate with AFT’s project partners on-the-ground in the counties to carry out the following:
- Assist agency partners and AFTto plan and implementtwo learning circles – six day-long sessionsIncludesrecruiting participants, coordinating with state and county agency and nonprofit staff, overall logistics, procuring supplies, meals, etc.
- Assist planning & preparation & travel to attend each meeting.Assist with documentation and evaluation data gathering
- Maintain a data base of participants, session notes and evaluation data.
- Assist with additional meetings with potential program supporting agencies
- Submit invoices with hours and narrative to AFT monthly.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s degree or currently in degree programin related area.
- Familiarity with agriculture, producers and/or landowners.
- Organized and able to take imitative
- Excellent people/phone skills, writing and public speaking.
- Experienced and comfortable working in Microsoft Office; Adobe; Drop Box, Face Book, etc.
Preferred
- Academic/practical experience in agriculture/forestryoutreach and natural resources conservation.
- Experience working and socializing with women producers/landowners, of all ages.
COMPENSATION
This is a non-exempt, hourly position that has the desired start date of November 14, 2016 and will conclude on May 31, 2017 with the potential for extension.
TO APPLY
Please emaila resume, 2 referencesand brief cover letterto: Jim Baird, Mid-Atlantic Director,
American Farmland Trust provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, 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 the organization has 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.
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