Colorado Grazing Specialist

AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST•Fort Collins, CO

2d•$70,000 - $80,000•Remote

About The Position

American Farmland Trust (AFT) is seeking a Colorado Grazing Specialist to lead its on-the-ground grazing program development in Colorado. This role focuses on producer engagement and relationship building along Colorado's Front Range, supporting ranchers and land stewards in strengthening grazing management, improving rangeland health, and building long-term operational resilience. The Specialist will implement and grow AFT's Resilient Grazing Network (RGN), coordinating mentors, delivering peer-learning opportunities, documenting outcomes, and expanding regenerative grazing through mentorship, technical assistance, and partnership development. The position will also support ecological outcome monitoring on select Colorado ranches, helping producers adopt practical grazing strategies to improve soil health, forage productivity, water infiltration, drought resilience, and whole-ranch viability in a semi-arid region facing drought, variable precipitation, limited water, extreme weather, and development pressure. The Specialist will act as a trusted local presence, building relationships with producers, partners, and institutions to establish and grow AFT's presence in Colorado. The role is expected to be based in the Front Range with the ability to work remotely from a home office.

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, with 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 levels of 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% time).
Ability to collect and organize field and program data, track participation and outcomes, maintain clear records, and document lessons learned for reporting and continuous improvement.
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.
Minimum of 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 in collaboration with producers, technical assistance providers, universities, conservation districts, nonprofit organizations, agencies, or other 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 to producers or technical partners.
Familiarity with state and federal government 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 an agricultural, conservation, extension, or community-based setting.
Familiarity with solar grazing, agrivoltaics, or compatible grazing management around energy infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain trusted relationships with ranchers and land stewards to understand local needs, support producer participation, and encourage adoption of regenerative grazing management practices.
Identify and cultivate institutional partnerships with universities, conservation organizations, producer groups, conservation districts, and agencies to expand program reach, strengthen referral pathways, and support long-term impact.
Lead local implementation and growth of the Resilient Grazing Network, including recruiting and onboarding mentors, coordinating mentorship activities, and ensuring program delivery aligns with AFT goals and regional needs.
Provide ongoing program support to mentors, including tools, training, coordination, troubleshooting, and guidance as they help land stewards assess grazing systems, set goals, identify practical next steps, and connect with additional assistance.
Recruit land stewards to participate in mentorship opportunities, trainings, and peer-learning activities, with emphasis on producers seeking to improve grazing management, soil health, drought resilience, forage productivity, water-use efficiency, and whole-ranch viability.
Organize mentor trainings and collaborate with AFT staff and partners to adapt curriculum, outreach materials, and training approaches.
Provide direct technical assistance and resource navigation to producers transitioning to regenerative practices, including grazing management planning, soil health approaches, referrals to technical providers, and connections to conservation programs and funding opportunities.
Lead development and delivery of workshops, field days, and learning circles that address regional grazing, environmental, social, and economic challenges.
Contribute to storytelling and communications efforts by elevating producer experiences, identifying case studies, and supporting outreach materials.
Assist land stewards with participant-level monitoring, including soil, forage, and grazing-related data collection.
Track program-level activities, producer engagement, mentor participation, outcomes, and lessons learned.
Coordinate with AFT’s evaluation team, university researchers, ranch managers, and other technical partners to support applied ecological monitoring on participating ranches.
Collaborate with AFT staff to identify opportunities to engage with audiences across Colorado and represent AFT at appropriate conferences and events.
Collaborate with AFT’s National Smart Solar Team and Agrivoltaics Specialist to understand opportunities to incorporate grazing with solar energy generation in Colorado.
Represent AFT to farmers, ranchers, partner organizations, agencies, policy makers, and the media in Colorado.

Benefits

Excellent vacation
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.