Position description:
The Farms Fund is a first-of-its-kind national conservation program designed to buy and permanently protect threatened farmland around metropolitan areas while creating a patient path to affordable farmland ownership for next generation farmers. The program seeks to significantly increase the supply of healthy, locally grown food by supporting farmers with expanded land access. Farms Fund is an initiative of The Conservation Fund and continues a multi-decade long commitment to protecting working lands that generate conservation and economic value for local communities.
The Farms Fund was launched in metro Chicago in 2022 and is in a growth stage. We are seeking to hire a specialist position to join the team. The Specialist will serve an essential role in providing critical support for farmers in the Midwest Farms Fund program as they successfully scale up their farm businesses after gaining access to larger farm properties through the program. The Specialist works closely with the Illinois team, the growing national Farms Fund team, and The Conservation Fund’s national office. The position will be based in the eight-county metro Chicago region, with occasional travel to other Midwest States as the program expands. This is a flexible hybrid position with significant time expected in the field and office. .
This position supports the transition of farmers onto newly acquired farms, providing farm lease oversight; connecting the farmers with resources and technical assistance; and property management functions to ensure the on-farm infrastructure is serving the farmers’ production and growth goals.
responsibilities and scope:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Property Management:
- Oversee and manage the farms in the program that are leased to Farms Fund farmers in a property management capacity, including baseline documentation and managing records of property changes and improvements, infrastructure needs assessments and development, regular farm visits, contractor management, farm, and home maintenance.
- Farm Business Development:
- Aid farmers to take advantage of technical assistance in business and financial development by making recommendations within farmers’ capacity for deeper business and entrepreneurship skills; connect farmers with partners such as USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and other to secure resources and services to ensure successful business operations.
- Assist producers with documentation and systems for reporting farm business metrics. Support farmers in their market readiness and access with production and safety certifications and grant opportunities.
- Act as in-the-field technician and support for farm operations, troubleshooting production issues, especially those interfacing with property management needs, adjustments, improvements, and changes to land base and its infrastructure
- Farm and Farmer Outreach:
- Connect to local communities, farmer organizations, landowners, and landowner service providers to identify potential farmland acquisition opportunities in the Midwest in partnership with the Fund’s Midwest team; help screen new farm purchase opportunities.
- In collaboration with the Farms Fund team, share the program and provide outreach to potential farmer applicants; participate in application material review, paying particular attention to farm operations and production techniques.
- Support the coordination of the Farms Fund farmer network; meet regularly with partners to increase training, collaboration opportunities and peer-to-peer resources available within the Farms Fund network.
- Attend local and national conferences and events to expand outreach for Farms Fund and grow networks within the agricultural community.
- Operational and Programmatic:
- Support with updating Midwest focused marketing and communications materials no less than once a quarter to reflect current number of farms, farmers, locations, etc.
- Support with media, government affairs and donor stewardship activities such as tours, interviews, organizing or taking photos, etc.
- Coordinate with Farm Services Specialists in other states to share learning and improve program support for farmers across the Farms Fund.
required qualifications:
- Familiarity with farm asset management with a focus on how production, equipment, land, and infrastructure decisions affect farm business operations and growth.
- Ability to track multiple farms and farm businesses, technical assistance partners, and resource needs simultaneously.
- Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to work effectively with a diverse mix of individuals and groups as well as comfortably coordinate and communicate with those individuals and groups.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Demonstrated ability to work as a team player with other staff members in a small office environment.
- Highly self-motivated and entrepreneurial.
- Willingness to travel as necessary to carry out duties, often with short notice and in inclement weather over long distances.
PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
- Familiarity with existing local food system network within the metro Chicago region and around the Midwest.
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish
- Familiarity with grant writing and reporting.
- Basic carpentry and repair skills.
equal employment opportunity:
The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit corporation, is an Equal Opportunity Employer that fully and actively supports equal access for all people regardless of Race, Color, Religion, Gender, Age, National Origin, Veteran Status, Disability, Genetic Information or Testing, Family and Medical Leave status, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression. The Fund prohibits retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint, or otherwise oppose discrimination.