NY Agricultural Stewardship Associate

AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST•Village of Cooperstown, NY

5d•$65,000 - $70,000

About The Position

New York Agricultural Stewardship Associate (Associate) supports and grows programs in New York state that assist farmland owners and farmers transitioning to or increasing adoption of regenerative farming practices on owned or rented land. Position Summary The New York Agricultural Stewardship Associate (Associate) is primarily responsible for assisting the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) New York Assistant Conservationist for Field Operations in Cooperstown, NY for providing targeted technical assistance and support. In addition, the Associate is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with farmers and non-operating farmland owners as well as state and federal agencies, universities, agricultural service providers, conservation leaders, and others to promote and implement strategies that engage farmers in adopting sound practices to protect water quality, respond to the growing impact of extreme weather events, and achieve other environmental benefits from well-managed farmland, while maintaining farm viability.

Requirements

A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in farming, land stewardship, or land management, or a college degree in a related field can substitute for up to 4 years of work experience.
A valid US driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
Ability to travel across the central region of New York state, mostly around Otsego County, visiting diverse farms and farmers to execute the job functions.
A deep working knowledge of Northeast agriculture or conservation and an understanding of the culture of farmers and farming.
Independent and reliable worker; willingness to conduct field-based work in all weather conditions and work effectively.
A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among a diverse group of stakeholders, both internal and external.
An intellectual curiosity, understanding, and enthusiasm for AFT’s mission.
Experience with public outreach, community engagement, and communications (digital and/or traditional).
Facility with the Microsoft Office Suite is required
BA or BS degree and a minimum of 3 years of related work experience in agriculture, environmental management, or natural resource planning. Additional work experience or an advanced degree in one or more of the noted disciplines may substitute for these requirements.

Nice To Haves

Proven ability to foster effective partnerships with Extension educators, soil and water conservation districts, USDA and state agency personnel and other professionals as well as training and supporting farmers and landowners is highly valuable.
additional experience with ESRI or other mapping software is preferred.

Responsibilities

Build relationships with farmers and farmland owners, including historically underserved producers, to promote conservation practices and connect them with NRCS financial assistance programs.
Conduct outreach through phone, email, and farm visits to assess resource concerns and recommend conservation strategies that align with landowner goals.
Assist NRCS field office staff guiding farmers through NRCS program participation, including conservation planning, contract development and management, and implementation support.
Provide technical assistance in the design, layout, and installation of conservation practices; identify barriers to implementation and connect producers with additional resources as needed.
Track and maintain accurate records of farmer engagement, program files, contracts, and follow-up actions.
Support coordination with NRCS staff and partner planners to streamline service delivery and ensure effective program execution.
Participate in internal team meetings, professional trainings, and NRCS field leadership sessions as appropriate.
Communicate the benefits of soil health and conservation practices, highlighting impacts on water quality, resilience, and climate mitigation.
Collect field data (e.g., soil health, biomass, mapping) and supporting the organized management of results.
Contribute to project implementation, goal setting, reporting, and funding proposals as part of a collaborative team.
Represent the organization at public events, field days, and educational programs to promote conservation goals and share success stories.

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.