Sustainable Agriculture Specialist (Florida or Georgia)

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 national, private non-profit organization providing trusted, individualized technical assistance, hands-on training opportunities, practical educational resources, and peer-to-peer learning networks on nationally acclaimed projects in food, agriculture, energy, and climate resilience. Headquartered in Butte, Montana, NCAT has offices in 12 states. NCAT works to foster and promote sustainable technologies and systems, especially for the benefit of economically disadvantaged individuals and communities. NCAT is committed to advancing racial equity and inclusion in its work and organization.

NCAT is seeking a Sustainable Agriculture Specialist who can make an immediate contribution to our work in the Gulf States region. The specialist will assist producers in adopting and managing sustainable agricultural practices that improve soil health, address risks associated with climate change, and build more profitable farms. If you are a self-directed leader with strong knowledge of agriculture and skills in communication and project development, this is a great opportunity for you! This is a regular, full-time position. This position will provide an outstanding opportunity to work with a dedicated and professional staff on a national level. The Specialist will also provide technical assistance and act as a connector between the ag community and groups or agencies offering resources for producers.

The successful candidates for these positions will be required to set up and work from a remote office in Florida or Georgia, and must be willing and able to travel throughout their specified region to farms, events, workshops, and training as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· This position requires a BA/BS degree in agriculture, animal science, soil biology, horticulture, natural resource management, 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 three years of farming and/or relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of experience and education. Spanish language proficiency would be a plus.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

· Commitment and passion for the NCAT mission;

· Strong knowledge of agriculture in the Gulf States and familiarity with ag-related organizations and government agencies;

· Strong knowledge of agriculture relevant to livestock, urban agriculture, specialty crops, field crops, cover crops and other soil health practices, horticulture, agroforestry, natural resource management, farm marketing, and farm business management;

· Familiarity with and appreciation of the concepts of sustainability and regenerative agricultural practices;

· Collaborate with limited-resource producers and producers from a variety of different cultural backgrounds;

· Excellent communication skills, with experience in public speaking, research, writing, editing, social media, and multimedia production;

· Competence with Microsoft Office and Google Suite;

· Knowledge of Gulf States ecology, native plants, wildlife, soils, and climate;

· Excellent attention to detail and demonstrated verbal and written communication skills;

· Exceptional ability to communicate and build constructive, professional relationships with producers, ranchers, community organizations, government agencies, partners, private contractors, Tribal staff and citizens, resource professionals, and the general public;

· Ability to recognize and successfully pursue additional or alternative funding sources for high-priority projects and partnerships;

· Program Management, Grant, and proposal writing skills;

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;

· Self-directed and organized with the ability to work independently to meet multiple deadlines;

· 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;

· And the willingness and ability to travel throughout the region. Travel may involve flexible work hours, including evenings, weekends, and some overnight travel may be required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Promote and support NCAT’s mission;

· Provide regionally appropriate technical assistance to producers by phone, email, social media, workshops, and field demonstrations;

· Maintain understanding of the full range of compatible agricultural and conservation resources and programs currently available in the region, and effectively connect producers to these resources and opportunities;

· Create educational and outreach materials such as publications, tip sheets, workshop materials, public presentations, videos, podcasts, and online webinars and tutorials;

· Contribute content for promotional communications and outreach activities, such as blogs, podcasts, press releases, earned media pushes, and video production;

· Assist in arranging educational activities, such as field days, pasture walks, and climate resilience demonstrations;

· Cultivate peer-to-peer producer learning communities;

· Develop and maintain positive, productive, professional relationships with producers, coworkers, partner organizations, agencies, research institutions, and other groups;

· Carry out diversity and inclusion efforts, including outreach to small and historically underserved producers to embed equity within NCAT’s outreach efforts;

· Present at conferences, producer association meetings, stakeholder meetings, and other appropriate forums; attend and present at local and regional workshops meetings, and conferences;

· Stay abreast of current and emerging research in the field of agricultural conservation planning, soil health, and regenerative agricultural practices;

· Research, write, and edit publications on sustainable agriculture topics to assist clients;

· Work with NCAT staff and partners on multiple projects;

· Build and strengthen relationships with partners and stakeholders who share our commitment to sustainable, organic, and regenerative farming practices;

· Seek development opportunities for new projects and participate in the proposal and grant writing processes;

· Manage projects to ensure project work and deliverables are being met;

· Liaise with farm and agriculture organizations and groups that assist producers, particularly limited resource producers.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: $50,000 – $65,000 annually depending on work status, qualifications, and experience. Excellent benefits include a 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.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate can be identified. Early applications are encouraged. Applicants are encouraged to visit www.ncat.organd www.attra.ncat.orgto 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 should upload a resume and cover letter through BambooHR. Please submit 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/careers 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

NCAT’s mission is to help people build resilient communities through local and sustainable solutions that reduce poverty, strengthen self-reliance, and protect natural resources. Our work brings together diverse partnerships and communities to help reduce poverty and protect our natural resources. We strive to be a multicultural organization that embraces the rich dimensions of diversity such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical ability, religious or political belief and marital or veteran status. Diversity creates healthy communities. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are reflective of the communities that we serve. NCAT is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For additional information about NCAT please visit our website at www.ncat.org.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $50,000 - $65,000