Colorado Grazing Specialist

American Farmland Trust•Fort Collins, CO

11d•Remote

About The Position

The Colorado Grazing Specialist will lead American Farmland Trust’s on-the-ground grazing program development in Colorado, focusing on producer engagement and relationship-building along the Front Range. The role supports ranchers and land stewards as they strengthen grazing management, improve rangeland health, and build long-term operational resilience. It will implement and grow the Resilient Grazing Network (RGN) through peer-to-peer mentorship, technical assistance, partnership development, mentor coordination, peer-learning opportunities, and outcome documentation. The Specialist will also support ecological monitoring across the RGN project, particularly data collection on selected Colorado ranches. In a semi-arid region affected by drought, variable precipitation and forage, limited water availability, extreme weather, and development pressure, the role will help producers adopt practical grazing strategies that improve soil health, forage productivity, water infiltration, drought resilience, and whole-ranch viability. The Specialist will serve as a trusted local presence for producers, partners, and institutions, helping establish and grow AFT’s presence in Colorado. The position is based in Fort Collins or elsewhere along Colorado’s Front Range and is remote, with frequent statewide and regional travel. The role involves travel within Colorado and occasionally throughout the region, up to 25% of the time.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of grazing systems, rangeland management, forage resources, and water-resource challenges in Colorado or similar semi-arid Great Plains regions.
Knowledge of regenerative grazing, soil health principles, forage management, shortgrass prairie and rangeland ecology, and/or conservation practices that support drought resilience.
Demonstrated ability to build trust and relationships with farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
Experience delivering technical assistance, outreach, or education related to regenerative grazing, rangeland management, soil health, or conservation planning.
Experience implementing or managing field-based, producer-facing, or grant-funded agricultural, conservation, or outreach programs.
Excellent communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to engage diverse audiences and translate technical concepts into practical application.
Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with diverse rural communities and producers with varying experience, resources, and goals.
Ability to work independently while coordinating across remote teams, partners, mentors, and producer cohorts.
Willingness to travel frequently within Colorado and occasionally throughout the region, up to 25% of the time.
Ability to collect and organize field and program data, track participation and outcomes, maintain clear records, and document lessons learned.
Significant experience with grazing networks, agriculture, ranching, and conservation partners in Colorado.
Experience planning and delivering producer-focused workshops, field days, trainings, learning circles, or peer-to-peer education opportunities.
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in agriculture, rangeland management, rangeland ecology, animal science, natural resources, soil science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
At least 5 years of relevant experience working with agricultural producers, preferably in grazing systems, conservation programs, or extension/outreach roles.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing grazing plans, conservation plans, or related implementation plans with producers and technical or community partners.
Experience supporting applied ecological monitoring or partner-led research in rangeland, grazing, agricultural conservation, or natural-resource settings, including familiarity with field protocols, grazing records, ecological indicators, and communicating results.
Familiarity with state and federal programs that provide financial or technical assistance to agricultural producers, including conservation, soil health, drought resilience, grassland protection, and water conservation programs.
Experience recruiting, onboarding, coordinating, or supporting mentors, advisors, peer leaders, or producer cohorts in agricultural, conservation, extension, or community-based settings.
Familiarity with solar grazing, agrivoltaics, or compatible grazing management around energy infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain trusted relationships with ranchers and land stewards, understand local needs, support producer participation, and encourage adoption of regenerative grazing practices.
Identify and cultivate partnerships with universities, conservation organizations, producer groups, conservation districts, and agencies.
Lead local implementation and growth of the Resilient Grazing Network, including recruiting and onboarding mentors, coordinating mentorship, and aligning program delivery with AFT goals and regional needs.
Provide mentors with tools, training, coordination, troubleshooting, and guidance.
Recruit land stewards for mentorship, trainings, and peer-learning activities, particularly producers seeking to improve grazing management, soil health, drought resilience, forage productivity, water-use efficiency, and whole-ranch viability.
Organize mentor trainings and work with AFT staff and partners to adapt curricula, outreach materials, and training approaches to Colorado Front Range needs.
Provide direct technical assistance and resource navigation to producers transitioning to regenerative practices, including grazing management planning, soil health approaches, referrals, and connections to conservation programs and funding.
Develop and deliver workshops, field days, and learning circles addressing regional grazing, environmental, social, and economic challenges.
Contribute to communications and storytelling by elevating producer experiences, identifying case studies, and supporting outreach materials.
Assist land stewards with participant-level soil, forage, and grazing-related monitoring to establish baselines, assess change, and understand effects on soil health, forage production, and rangeland function.
Track program activities, producer engagement, mentor participation, outcomes, and lessons learned for continuous improvement, communications, and funding opportunities.
Coordinate with AFT’s evaluation team, university researchers, ranch managers, and technical partners on applied ecological monitoring, including field protocols and sampling, grazing records, site-condition documentation, and translating findings into practical management insights.
Collaborate with AFT staff to identify opportunities to engage audiences across Colorado and represent AFT at appropriate conferences and events.
Work with AFT’s National Smart Solar Team and Agrivoltaics Specialist to explore opportunities to incorporate grazing with solar energy generation in Colorado.
Represent AFT, as appropriate, to farmers, ranchers, partner organizations, agencies, policymakers, and the media in Colorado.

Benefits

Medical and prescription coverage
Dental coverage
Vision coverage
Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability
Voluntary life insurance
Healthcare and dependent-care flexible spending accounts
Health savings account
401(k) plan
13 sick days per year for regular full-time employees
15 vacation days during the first year, increasing by one day per year to a maximum of 20 days annually
Twelve fixed holidays, a week between Christmas and New Year’s when all offices are closed, and up to three floating holidays depending on hiring month
Remote work opportunity
Competitive compensation and benefits