Technical Assistance Provider

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture•Philadelphia, PA

4d•$68,250•Remote

About The Position

The Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) position is designed to equip farmers with the necessary resources to implement conservation practices, thereby fostering business growth and a healthy farm ecosystem. The assistance provided will be tailored to individual farm needs and specific practices. TAPs will guide farmers through customized enrollment processes, connecting them with services and support for conservation practice installation. Additional support will be available for market development, training, education, on-farm research, networking, and other avenues for market access or expansion, either directly from Pasa or through a farmer-selected contractor. This role reports to the Associate Director of Conservation Technical Assistance. It is a primarily remote, field-based position requiring seasonal farm site visits, some in-person workdays, travel for professional development, and 2-3 annual in-person staff retreats. Attendance at the annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Lancaster, PA, is mandatory. Residence within one hour of Springfield, Massachusetts, or Philadelphia, PA, is required, with a three-month relocation period for new hires. Compliance with Pasa’s remote employee policies is expected.

Requirements

Excellent communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
Relevant experience in environmental sciences or agriculture, or a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Basic understanding of ecosystem services in agricultural settings.
Relevant experience working on or with farms.
Familiarity with digital data collection and organization.
Passion for Pasa’s mission.
Commitment to advancing anti-oppression principles.

Nice To Haves

Working proficiency in English and Spanish.
Direct experience working with historically underserved farmers.
Familiarity with field-based geographic information systems.
Familiarity with Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Drive etc.).
Experience working with USDA/NRCS programs.
Specialized experience in pastured management grazing, agroforestry, riparian restoration, Forest Management Planning, and/or Wildlife Habitat/Habitat Connectivity Assessments.

Responsibilities

Build trusting relationships with farmers and advocate for Pasa’s mission.
Maintain knowledge of all Pasa programs and services, including available funding, to provide comprehensive support to farmers.
Offer administrative and technical guidance to farmers in developing resource conservation plans, including NRCS conservation practices.
Participate in and lead virtual and in-person training sessions.
Conduct and submit CPA52 environmental evaluations as required.
Prioritize and manage a high volume of enrollment cases.
Conduct farm site visits within a 2-hour radius of residence, and occasionally beyond as mutually agreed upon.
Collect farm and field-level information securely and efficiently using program technology tools.
Provide technical assistance and support for practice implementation in accordance with NRCS conservation practice standards.
Communicate field challenges to facilitate system improvements.
Engage with farmers through various methods including phone calls, emails, farm visits, and networking events.
Supervise conservation interns as requested.