California Regional Director

AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST•Sacramento, CA

6d•$125,000 - $130,000•Remote

About The Position

Reporting to the Western Managing Director, the California Regional Director (Director) provides strategic leadership for growing American Farmland Trust’s (AFT) impact in California. This role is ideal for a strategic leader who understands the intersection of agriculture and conservation and brings an entrepreneurial mindset to growing programs and partnerships. The Director will play key roles with program development, external relations, and fundraising while also working closely with the California Deputy Director to manage a high-functioning team to grow American Farmland Trust’s impact in California.

Requirements

Must be outgoing and energetic and have direct professional experience working with primary constituencies, such as farmers and ranchers, public officials, agricultural and conservation organizations, and corporate partners.
Must have knowledge of agriculture and conservation issues in California; experience with agricultural stewardship, land protection and viability is particularly beneficial.
Experience in developing strategic alliances, partnerships, and programs as well as creating and executing effective communications and fundraising strategies.
Understanding of effective fundraising with individual and institutional funding partners and experience with fundraising requests greater than $1 million is valuable.
Must be entrepreneurial, self-motivated, and willing to work in a fast-paced work environment.
Previous experience with supervising staff and consultants, including in a remote working environment, is necessary.
Excellent written and oral communication skills (public presentation, phone, writing, partner relations) and creativity are essential.
Willingness to work independently and travel across California.
BA or BS degree and a minimum of 10 years of related leadership experience in public policy, agriculture, conservation, or related fields.
Or, 8 years of related leadership experience with an advanced degree in one or more of the disciplines noted.

Responsibilities

Cultivate partnerships with farm and ranch organizations, local, state, and federal agencies in California, universities, conservation organizations, corporations and others with aligned interests.
Collaborate with the development team to engage individual donors, foundations, government agencies and corporate partners.
Leverage external relationships to advance funding opportunities and strategic collaborations that grow AFT’s programs and impact.
Advance AFT’s commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice through programs, partnerships and other means.
Develop and lead programs in California to advance AFT’s mission to save the land that sustains us by protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land.
Collaborate with regional and national staff to inform and advance program, policy and research priorities.
In coordination with AFT’s national policy team, support the California Senior Policy Manager in developing and implementing a plan to advance AFT’s state and federal policy priorities in California.
Oversee the development and implementation of annual workplans and budgets for California.
Lead a high-impact team in California that successfully achieves program, budget and other organizational goals.
Support the recruitment, hiring, supervision, and creation of an inclusive environment for an entirely remote staff.
Work with staff to develop and achieve annual performance goals and conduct performance evaluations.
Serve as an organizational spokesperson with mainstream media, create public-facing communications and speak at public and private events.
Lead staff in documenting and communicating about AFT’s program impact in California and across the organization.
Shape program messages and content for external audiences in California in collaboration with AFT’s Development, Communications, and Corporate Partnerships staff.

Benefits

AFT offers a competitive compensation package, including excellent vacation, medical, retirement, and other benefits.
Insurance coverage begins the 1st of the month following the date of hire.
Medical & Prescription Coverage
Dental Coverage
Vision Coverage
Company Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability (LTD)
Voluntary Life Insurance
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – Healthcare & Dependent Care
Health Savings Account (HSA)
401k Plan
Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees accrue 13 “sick days” per year.
Vacation Leave: Accrue 15 days during the first year increasing by one day per year to 20 days per year maximum.
Holidays: AFT observes twelve fixed holidays and a week between Christmas and New Years off during the year (all offices closed) plus a choice of up to three (depending on hiring month) floating holidays.