Deadline: Sun, 10/09/2022 - 12:00pm Employer: Athens Land Trust Job Field: Other Job Type: Full Time Location: Georgia Location Detail: Athens, GA Job Description: About Athens Land Trust (ALT): ALT is an innovative and adaptive community and conservation land trust based in Athens, Georgia. We are looking for creative problem-solvers with a commitment to equity and an understanding of organizing and building relationships to address community-identified issues. About Georgia FarmLink: Georgia FarmLink is a platform created with statewide partners and managed by ALT with the intention of helping farmers access and protect important farmland, facilitating farmland succession planning, and ensuring Georgia’s best farms continue contributing to the local economy through sustainable farming practices and farm business development strategies. About the opportunity: As ALT grows and refines our farmer outreach and farmland protection offerings, we are seeking a Program Manager to support vision and growth of Georgia FarmLink from a passive land-linking platform to a robust program that provides targeted and comprehensive services to the agricultural community in Georgia, while meeting key deliverables related to farmer outreach and farm transition planning in the short and mid term. This is an opportunity for an entrepreneurial and process-minded individual who is comfortable working on a small and nimble team to achieve outsized impact. The candidate must be comfortable building coalitions around large systemic issues while also building trust and buy-in through 1:1 connections with farmers and landowners in a way that proactively addresses their needs and lived experience. The candidate should also possess an understanding and analysis of structural racial inequality in relation to land access and tenure and the way policies, power, and race disproportionately affect land tenure in Georgia. The Georgia FarmLink Project Director will report to ALT’s Director of Conservation, and will work closely with the Conservation and Community Agriculture programs to identify strategic priorities and ensure effective intra-organizational collaboration. Responsibilities include developing partnerships for effective farmland transitions, developing and facilitating educational programs related to ALT’s farmland protection efforts, direction of the GAFarmLink platform, and identifying and assisting farmers interested in acquiring land. Specific duties are as follows: Oversee the operations and direction of Georgia FarmLink, with a focus on improving support for farmland transition across GA and increasing services for Historically Underserved landowners and producers. Recruit, develop, and coordinate a Georgia FarmLink governance committee consisting of farmers, statewide and national organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to set the agenda for growth and direction of Georgia FarmLink. Oversee the direction of GAFarmLink,work with statewide and national partners to shape the future and expansion of the program to better support farmland transition across GA and with increased services for Historically Underserved landowners and producers. Keep the FarmLink website up to date with statewide events, services, and resources, as well as with current property and farmland seeker postings. Serve as Project Manager for Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) project “Strengthening innovative tools and resources for farmland access, transfer, and succession for beginning farmers in northeast Georgia”. Ensure that all deliverables and reporting are on track. Manage outreach related to farmland protection programs including ACEP-ALE and WREP in coordination with NRCS and the Conservation Team to identify eligible farmers and landowners, educate state partners and local governments, and identify opportunities to leverage local matching funds. Identify and cultivate partnerships to better support farmland protection, acquisition, transition, and farmer support. Oversee the development of regular workshops, stakeholder meetings, and policy briefs in coordination with partners on identified topics of need for farmers in the region. Arrange 1:1 meetings, both in-person and virtual as required, and farm visits with farmers interested in acquiring land or transitioning their land and help them establish farm transfer plans. Support farmers in accessing legal support as needed for estate planning, ethical lease drafting, and title clearing. Take initiative to stay up to date on all USDA and other national, state, and local programs to connect farmers with relevant resources and leverage opportunities to better support socially disadvantaged farmers. Seek funding opportunities and support the grant writing process. Expectations of all ALT employees: Participate in grant management including grant writing support and reporting. Write newsletter articles, and brochure and educational materials related to ALT’s programs and activities. Attend weekly staff meetings Be part of a team – provide support for all staff members in their respective duties Qualifications: Qualifications: Candidates must have work experience in a relevant field such as public policy, administration, legal assistance, agriculture/natural resources, conservation, or food systems. Demonstrated knowledge of outreach methods, partnership building, policy advocacy, presentation techniques, provision of services and referrals. Experience or background in basic organizing principles. Possess knowledge of a broad range of farming service and assistance providers. Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and to work effectively with partners and staff. Ability to use computer systems and the internet. A valid driver’s license and reliable insured transportation required. Preferred Qualifications: Excellent organizational, administrative, and communication skills are essential. Strong personal commitment to agricultural justice and farming practices in Georgia. Knowledge of Adobe program suite and basic web design skills. Benefits: Compensation: The salary range is ~$45,000-55,000, based on experience. This is a two-year grant funded position with the potential to extend, contingent upon funding availability. ALT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, PTO, additional paid holidays, and a flexible work schedule. Depending on the candidate, this position could be remote within the state of Georgia. How to Apply: Apply: To apply, please send a resume and letter of interest to Justin Merrifield, Director of Conservation at justin@athenslandtrust.org.
