National Center for Appropriate Technology Seeks Carbon Farm Planner

The National Center for Appropriate Technology or NCAT has been helping people build resilient communities through local and sustainable solutions that reduce poverty, strengthen self-reliance, and 
protect natural resources since 1976. NCAT is a trusted, practical, connector for individuals and businesses who are working to leave our world better than we found it. NCAT works to foster and promote 
sustainable technologies and systems, especially for the benefit of economically disadvantaged individuals and communities. NCAT’s work includes nationally recognized projects in energy, agriculture, food, and rural development.

NCAT is seeking a full-time Carbon Farm Planner in Texas dedicated to the successful planning, design, and implementation of conservation projects on Texas farms and ranches. The Carbon Farm Planner will play a vital role in advancing efforts to meet greenhouse gas emissions reductions and carbon sequestration targets by accelerating agricultural producer adoption of conservation practices. This will be achieved through developing Carbon Farm Plans (CFPs) that identify all opportunities for carbon capture and storage on farm, providing technical assistance for implementation of practices identified in the plan, assisting with project monitoring, coordinating planning teams of local partner organizations and agencies. The Carbon Farm Planner will also be responsible for building carbon farm planning capacity in Texas by promoting this conservation planning opportunity for Texas farmers and ranchers and training a network of technical assistance providers/technical service providers in Texas to become certified and successful Carbon Farm Planners.

The successful candidate for this position will be located in Texas with the ability to travel around the state to farms, workshops, and trainings throughout the state as needed. The successful applicant will be required to have a remote office set up.

This position requires a BA/BS degree in agriculture, environmental science, natural resource management, Environmental Planning, Natural or Applied Sciences preferably wildlife biology, range, soil science, hydrology, animal science, agronomy, or forest ecology OR equivalent education and experience agroforestry, or a related field along with a minimum of five years of farming and/or relevant experience; or an MA/MS degree and a minimum of two years of farming and/or relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Spanish language proficiency is preferred. NRCS conservation planner certification preferred. Applicants who are not yet Certified Carbon Farm Planners will need to successfully complete the Carbon Cycle Institute’s Carbon Farm Planning Training and Curriculum and become a Certified Carbon Farm Planner within 6 months of hire. (NCAT will provide the Carbon Cycle Institute’s Carbon Farm Planning Training for Certification, the training lasts 3 weeks, 2-4 hours/week)

• Commitment and passion for the NCAT mission; 
• Strong knowledge of agriculture in the Southwest and related organizations and government agencies; 
• Familiarity with concepts of sustainability and regenerative agricultural practices;
• Ability to do GIS mapping and data management;
• Experience with Microsoft Office, Google Suite;
• Knowledge of Texas ecology, native woody and grassland plants and wildlife, Carbon Farm planning;
• Excellent attention to detail and communication skills, with experience in public speaking, research, 
writing, editing, social media, and multimedia production;
• Ability to build relationships with farmers, ranchers, community organizations, government agencies, 
partners, and non-profit organizations;
• The ability to recognize and pursue project development opportunities and assess funding sources;
• Grant and proposal writing skills and familiarity with contract language and creation;
• Experience working with land managers and agricultural producers in conservation planning/carbon farming planning and implementation;
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills;
• Self-directed and organized with ability to work independently to meet multiple deadlines;
• Ability to articulate complex and technical information in an accessible manner to a wide diversity of audiences, especially agricultural constituents
• Exceptional ability to work productively both independently and in a collaborative team setting. 
• Ability to coordinate groups and teams and manage time effectively on multiple projects;
• Ability to communicate and work with a diverse range of people including private landowners and land managers, private contractors, government agencies, Tribal staff and citizens, general public, news media, and partner resource professionals;
• Ability to sit, walk, and listen for up to 8 hours per day; 
• Ability to conduct on-farm field work in challenging weather and climate conditions;
• Ability to travel around the state, region, and on occasion out of the state. Travel may involve flexible work hours, including evenings, weekends, and some overnight travel may be required.

• Promote and support NCAT’s mission;
• Provide regionally appropriate technical assistance for conservation practice adoption to farmers and ranchers via in person site-visits as well as by phone, email, social media, workshops, and field demonstrations;
• Work collaboratively with agricultural producers, Carbon Cycle Institute, and technical assistance providers such as Texas Soil and Water Conservation Program Specialists and NRCS District Conservationists to develop technical CFPs that reflect farmer goals and include a suite of recommended NRCS-conservation practice standards with quantifiable GHG benefit;
• Collect data and prepare quarterly project reports towards outcomes and goals, such as implementation acres, 
practices implemented, quantifiable GHG benefits, farm productivity and the marketing & sales of agricultural 
products grown using climate-friendly practices;
• Create educational materials such as publications, and workshop content, assist with written and visual 
content for annual report;
• Arrange educational activities, such as Carbon Farm Demonstration Days;
• Cultivate peer-to-peer producer learning communities; 
• Develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with producers, local, state and federal agencies, 
partner organizations, research institutions, and Tribes in program development and implementation;
• Coordinate with similar projects in Texas in order to identify synergies, amplify impact and reduce redundancy, 
such as USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities awardees, RCPP awardees, CIG awardees;
• Carry out diversity and inclusion efforts, including outreach to small and historically underserved producers to 
embed equity within Texas’ emergent Carbon Farming Program;
• Present at conferences, producer association meetings, stakeholder meeting and other appropriate forums;
• Contribute content for promotional communications and outreach activities, such as blogs, podcasts, press 
releases, earned media pushes, and video production;
• Conduct Carbon Farm Planning Introductory webinars;
• Support CCI in the delivery of a virtual, 3-week Carbon Farm Planning Training and Curriculum in Summer 2023 to 
begin building a network of Certified Carbon Farm Planners in Texas;
• Provide ongoing virtual and in-person training and TA for a newly Certified Carbon Farm Planners to write their 
first plans and support practice implementation on farms; 
• Arrange and coordinate monthly Planner network meetings to coordinate statewide adoption and successful 
implementation of CFPs;
• Work with Climate and Agriculture Program Manager to promote this pilot project to producers across the state 
of Texas, as well as statewide stakeholders in the agricultural community;
• Identify prospective funding opportunities and assist with grant writing to build program capacity;
• Stay abreast of current and emerging research in the field of agricultural conservation planning, soil health 
practices and agricultural practices that have proven GHG benefit. 

$52,000-$58,000 annually depending on work status, qualifications, and experience. Excellent benefits include flexible schedule, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, a cafeteria and 401(k) plan and a pleasant, professional environment. 

Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate can be identified. Early applications are encouraged. Applicants are encouraged to visit www.ncat.org and www.attra.ncat.org to 
learn more about NCAT. NCAT employees interested in the position should email Human Resources a letter of interest as soon as possible. All persons interested in being considered for the position must submit anNCAT application and upload a resume and cover letter through BambooHR. To start the applicationprocess please visit NCAT Employment Application and complete the online supplemental application.

Incomplete applications or references on the application to “see resume” will not be considered. The next part of the process is uploading a current resume and a cover letter highlighting experience and skills relevant to the listed qualifications. Resume and cover letters can be uploaded at https://ncat.bamboohr.com/jobs/. Simply choose the position you are applying for and then click “apply
for this job” to upload the required resume and cover letter.

 

Questions about the application process can be directed to: Kriss Sullivan, Director of Human Resources 
e-mail: jobs@ncat.org