Farm Business Technical Assistant

About the opportunity: Georgia FarmLink is a web tool co-developed by Athens Land Trust and statewide partners that works to conduct outreach and support through educational activities and economic opportunities for underserved, new, and beginning farmers across the state. It helps farmers access and protect important farmland, facilitates farmland succession planning, and ensures Georgia’s best farms continue contributing to the local economy through sustainable farming practices and farm business development strategies.

Job Description: Farm Business Technical Assistant

The Farm Business Technical Assistant will provide resources to new and existing farmers to better position them to qualify for USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Conservation Service programs that promote sustainable farming and conservation practices, especially EQUIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) building capacity and supporting farms, food business, and microenterprises by consulting over the phone and in person. The Farm Business Technical Assistant will ensure all data is captured and organized efficiently. Reports to the Farm Business Coordinator and works collaboratively with the Community Agriculture and Conservation teams at the Athens Land Trust.

Specific duties are as follows:

• Consult with farmers and landowners of various backgrounds, scales, and farm enterprises to set them up for success.
• Support to increase the opportunities for beginning, non-traditional farmers by providing educational activities including food safety training, value-added product development, crop planning, and more.
• On-farm support, collaboration, and mentorship opportunities with our Young Urban Farmer program.
• Assist in strengthening the farmer network through on-the-farm practical workshops.
• Work closely with the GA FarmLink Program Director to update Farmer & Farm Land Match Database.
• Provide farmers with information on support services, including seedlings, materials, classes, workshops, and conferences.
• Share Georgia FarmLink resources that enhance the tools provided that best serve Georgia’s farmers.
• The areas of farmer consultancy include crop planning, field planning, irrigation, tractor instruction, agricultural scalability, diverse farming practices, farm resource networks, farm records, agricultural policies, and agricultural markets.
• Be an advocate for our core values and ensure all decisions, programs, and processes are aligned with our culture and core beliefs.

All ALT Employees:

• Be in the office according to a predetermined schedule to answer email and messages, prepare detailed timesheets, coordinate with fellow staff.
• Participate in grant management including grant writing support and reporting.
• Write newsletter articles, and brochures, 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:

• Understanding of grants, federal funding, grant writing, and fundraising with private sector businesses.
• Creativity in developing and executing capacity building programs for adults. Ability to consult in different settings and conditions.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and administrative skills. The candidate must show attention to detail and demonstrate accuracy and timeliness in record keeping, problem solving and tracking.
• Experience with developing and managing successful and diverse farm business operations.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple assignments without close supervision. They must be able to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Communicate effectively with diverse populations.
• Show flexibility and be comfortable with being part of a team effort.
• Proficiency in Zoom, Excel, Word, cloud software (e.g., Salesforce) and interest to learn new technological systems.

Education:

Any combination of experience and agriculture, agribusiness management, agricultural education, nonprofit administration, or farm ownership experience is preferred.

Compensation:

This is a part-time position. Compensation is commensurate with experience.

Apply: To apply, please send a resume and letter of interest to Emmanuel Stone, Strategic Partnerships Director at emmanuel@athenslandtrust.org.