Who We Are
American Farmland Trust is a national high impact organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural systems of practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 7.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and helped thousands of farm families make a go of it, primarily through programs that increase farm viability and/or enhance farmland access. Long a pioneering leader, AFT is now riding a new wave of growth, driven by agriculture’s most pressing needs and opportunities.
We believe diversity drives innovation. We are inclusive. We embrace differences. We recognize and respect the fundamental value and dignity of all our employees. We celebrate the unique traditions, heritages, and experiences our employees bring to the workplace. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive culture that promotes and values diversity, and where everyone feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to work every day. Please see AFT’s statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.
Job purpose
Reporting to the Climate and Soil Health Director, the Senior Soil Health and Biochar Scientist supports AFT’s Climate and Soil Health Initiative and contributes to leading national strategic climate, soil health, and biochar work across AFT and with partners, with the ultimate aim to catalyze a new conventional agriculture: one that is climate-smart, diverse, resilient, soil health promoting, equitable, and environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. The position contributes to AFT’s efforts to empower diverse farmers and ranchers across the nation to manage diverse, viable, profitable farming and ranching operations through systems of practices that promote soil health, rebuild soil function and biodiversity, build resilience to climate change, improve economic returns, sequester carbon and minimize GHG emissions.
Position summary
As an integral part of the AFT Program Team and the Climate and Soil Health Initiative, the (Senior) Soil Health and Biochar Scientist leads program technical development and management, data analysis, modeling, publications for varied audiences, and other research and transformational implementation and scaling efforts in these topics, with the goal to nationally advance highly functioning regenerative, climate smart soil health management systems adoption and innovation, and support policy advocacy, communications, and related efforts.
This position leads and expands AFT’s leadership with the science and implementation of soil health with a focus on biochar as a tool in soil health management systems. There may be potential to evaluate and lead various entrepreneurial opportunities involving biochar as well as the on-ramping and scaling of additional innovative, high-potential agro-ecological practices. It requires a combination of scientific leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, excellent communication, and ability to collaborate across disciplines, teams, and diverse stakeholders. It identifies and builds work to address diverse gaps at the research and implementation interface in soil health and biochar across the country.
Duties and responsibilities
Climate and Soil Health Initiative funding has grown to encompass over $125M in funded projects in addition to engagement in projects across AFT’s other national and regional programs. This role will lead projects and workstreams that require collaborating across multiple federal, academic, non-profit, industry and other partners, and may collaborate to develop new funded efforts that enable the translation from research to scientifically sound, commercially viable opportunities for climate smart soil health management systems, that include biochar integration. One key priority focus area for this position is to build up AFT’s role in addressing the gaps to enable scale up of sustainable production and application of biochars as a tool in the toolbox for climate mitigation and resilience within soil health management systems.
Technical Soil Health and Biochar Expertise and Scientific Leadership
Stakeholder and partnership management
Thought leadership, training and outreach
Programmatic and team management
Technical Soil Health and Biochar Expertise and Scientific Leadership Experience
Stakeholder, and partnership management experience
Training and outreach experience
Programmatic and team management experience
Additional Desired Qualifications
Education and Experience
We will be hiring at either a more junior level or senior level depending on education, experience, and qualifications of the applicant pool. Also see compensation.
To qualify for the position regardless of level, the candidate must have:
To qualify for the senior level the candidate must have:
Additional Considerations:
Direct reports
Working Conditions
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $105,000, contingent upon experience, education, and qualifications (see thresholds in education and experience section). Candidates with more junior-level experience, education, and qualifications fall within the $85,000 to $90,000 range, while those at the senior-level range from $90,000 to $105,000.
American Farmland Trust offers a full benefits package:
Why you should apply
Timeline
Applications should include
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.