American Farmland Trust (AFT) is the nation’s leading non-profit 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’s Mid Atlantic Office seeks an energetic, resourceful and self-motivated individual to assist 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 in more conservation and improvements for farms, forests and the environment. Maryland State Natural Resources Conservation Service and Department of Forestry are supporting AFT and public and private partners to recruit women landowners from Eastern and Western shore counties to participate in conservation learning circles.

The successful candidate for this part time contract position will work closely with AFT staff, women landowners and agency partners to organize meetings and farm visits.

ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The individual will work with the AFT Mid Atlantic Director remotely, 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:
1. Assist agency partners and AFT to plan and implement two learning circles – six day-long sessions Includes recruiting participants, coordinating with state and county agency and nonprofit staff, overall logistics, procuring supplies, meals, etc.
2. Assist planning & preparation & travel to attend each meeting. Assist with documentation and evaluation data gathering
3. Maintain a data base of participants, session notes and evaluation data.
4. Assist with additional meetings with potential program supporting agencies
5. Submit invoices with hours and narrative to AFT monthly.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required
• Bachelor’s degree or currently in degree program in 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/forestry outreach 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 email a resume, 2 references and brief cover letter to: Jim Baird, Mid-Atlantic Director, jbaird@farmland.org

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.