TX Implementation Program Manager

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. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect nearly 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families. Long a pioneering leader, AFT continues to evolve to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers nationwide, adapting its approach to ensure the continued strength and resilience of agriculture and rural communities nationwide.

Job purpose

The Implementation Program Manager position offers an exciting opportunity to lead a team that helps farmers, ranchers, and landowners with technical assistance to support the implementation of conservation practices and supports successful participation in USDA Farm Bill Conservation programs.

Position Summary

This leadership role will involve the supervision of a small team of Implementation Specialists as well as assisting producers in overcoming any barriers to implementing conservation practices and activities. This assistance will be technical to support compliance with the federal directives regarding NRCS financial assistance programs, supporting a wide range of practices, including engineering and non-engineering practices. The position is anticipated to comprise 75% implementation and 25% supervisory responsibility with some flexibility in these anticipated allocations.

You and your team will assist producers in overcoming any barriers to implementing the practices specified in their USDA NRCS contracts through programs such as EQIP and CSP. This technical assistance will vary by farm and by practice, but might include collaboration with producers to fully communicate the standards and specifications required to receive financial assistance from the NRCS, consulting other technical experts, helping to find and select appropriate contractors, finding supplies or specialized equipment, coordinating with other NGOs or governmental entities, helping to find additional funding and more, all in support of getting conservation practices on the ground.

The position will be based in East Texas with the flexibility to work from home 1-2 days per week. Specifically we are looking someone to work in Athens, TX and/ or surrounding areas or Paris, TX and/ or surrounding areas. The AFT team that you supervise will be based in other locations in North Texas with supervision conducted remotely. You will work in a unique role, as an AFT employee, but in deep cooperation and frequent coordination with the funding partner, NRCS. A NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, Resource Team Leaders and AFT's Texas Director will work together to guide the workflow of you and your team to ensure it is integrated with NRCS's needs and utilizes the full depth of both NRCS and AFT resources and expertise. The initial focus of the position is on targeted intervention to support new and existing contracts that are facing hurdles to implementation. With time it may also include contract development, plus outreach and education to promote participation in conservation programs and other agricultural land conservation.

Duties and responsibilities

• Oversee a small team of AFT staff (1-3 Implementation Specialists) who provide implementation support to producers through technical and programmatic assistance regarding NRCS farm bill programs, plus other outreach and support services. This includes:
• Provide day-to-day supervision (including weekly or bi-weekly check-ins with direct reports), support, training, and mentoring staff to ensure high-quality work and accountability with work plans, deliverables, and budgets.
• Assist with Implementation staff recruitment, hiring, performance reviews, goal setting, work planning, and professional development/career progression as necessary.
• Ensure project and programmatic reporting is completed in an accurate, thorough, and timely manner.
• Travel occasionally to visit direct reports and meet with the NRCS teams they work with to establish open communication and joint troubleshooting when questions arise.
• Provide technical assistance and practice implementation guidance to contract participants based upon NRCS guidelines and technical experience to ensure final conservation practices meet the goals and responsibilities of NRCS.
• Assist NRCS staff with the development and management of conservation contracts. Work includes but is not limited to field investigations, topographic site surveying, practice analysis and design, layout, construction inspection, and development of as-built plans.
• Provide technical and administrative support, recommendations, and implementation assistance on Farm Bill programs. This may include but is not limited to conservation planning and application assistance, status reviews, case file management, and general administrative activities.
• Assist the Resource Team Leaders and District Conservationists in identifying priority clients for targeted outreach and intervention.
• Using a variety of methods (e-mail, phone, or traveling to the farm or ranch) establish direct contact with producers participating in NRCS programs, and work with the participants to identify barriers to contract completion.
• Identify areas where practice implementation within the existing contract requirements is not possible and communicate the situation and need for contract modifications to NRCS.
• Develop and compile extensive notes on all interactions with farmers to properly document support and progress towards contract completion; and contribute to the maintenance of program contract file folders per NRCS guidance.
• Assist NRCS field office staff by working with producers to compile necessary data and documentation for contract completion.
• Develop and curate a deep rolodex of service providers and contractors across the service area.
• Participate in trainings as directed by NRCS and AFT to ensure integration and access to NRCS systems required to perform job duties. This may include online trainings, as well as in person trainings in regional offices (i.e., College Station, Waxahachie) or the state office (Temple) required to complete Level 1 Planner Certification and beyond.
• Travel extensively across your identified counties to execute the job functions. Travel occasionally to meetings, conferences, and events to represent AFT's Texas Regional Program.
• Assist AFT's Texas Director with communications, fundraising, budgeting, work planning, and other management tasks as required.

The Implementation Program Manager must be a highly motivated and entrepreneurial problem solver. They should be able to use their real-world experience on farms, or in other land management or stewardship jobs to provide actionable assistance to farmers seeking to implement conservation practices on their land. They will also have the skills and ability to support their implementation team in achieving this work.

The successful candidate is expected to have the following qualifications:

• Experience with NRCS financial assistance programs, including knowledge of program enrollment eligibility requirements, contract management procedures and processes, as well as a deep understanding of locally pertinent conservation practices and activities.
• Experience with NRCS culture, and an understanding of how to work within the system to advance conservation goals while also advocating for program participants.
• Experience managing staff in a clear and proactive manner to facilitate growth and success of team members.
• The ability to serve as a liaison between AFT and NRCS staff at the state and local level fostering a positive relationship for collaboration and partnership.
• Excellent communication skills (meeting facilitation, phone, writing, partner relations), record keeping, and task management are essential to the position.
• A deep working knowledge of East Texas agriculture or conservation and an understanding of the culture of farmers and farming.
• Proven track record of implementing or assisting with implementation of conservation practices or activities.
• Proven track record in developing relationships with others and supporting them in achieving their goals, ideally in a farming or land management context.
• Ability to see the big picture while being incredibly detail-oriented.
• Success in roles requiring simultaneous management of multiple priorities and processes under tight timelines is important.
• Proven ability to work with efficiency, flexibility, and good humor.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide array of people – junior and senior, government, for-profit, and nonprofit, and from diverse backgrounds.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
• A valid US driver's license and access to reliable transportation.
• Passionate about American Farmland Trust's mission and impact.
• Willingness and ability to complete and pass a USDA background check.

The ideal candidate:

• Will enjoy leading a small team of Implementation Specialists, assisting with problem-solving and troubleshooting to ensure success in their roles.
• Will have existing connections within NRCS and the agricultural community in the region and will have experience working with a wide variety of farm types and with diverse populations.
• Will find visiting producers, problem-solving, identifying resource concerns, and researching solutions to challenging farm-specific problems exciting and invigorating, not overwhelming and intimidating.

Compensation

American Farmland Trust offers excellent vacation, medical, retirement and other benefits. The salary range for this position is from $80,000 to $85,000, based upon experience.

American Farmland Trust offers a complete benefits package:

• Medical & Prescription Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Company Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending