Technical Assistance Provider

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture•Asheville, NC

4d•$68,250•Remote

About The Position

The Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) position exists to provide farmers with the resources they need to implement conservation practices that help farmers grow a thriving business and a healthy farm ecosystem. The technical assistance needed will vary by farm and by practice. TAPs will guide farmers through tailored enrollment processes, leading to services and support focusing on conservation practice installation. Other forms of support will be available to farmers including market development, training and education, on-farm research support, networking, and other pathways to accessing or expanding markets and will be provided by Pasa or a contractor of the farmer’s choosing. This position will be supervised by the Associate Director of Conservation Technical Assistance. This is a primarily remote, field-based position with seasonally fluctuating farm site visits, some in-person workdays, travel for approved professional development opportunities, and 2-3 annual in-person staff retreats. All employees are required to attend our annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference, held each February in Lancaster, PA. Residence within one hour of the following locations is required: Asheville, NC; Charleston, SC; Hudson Valley, NY; Baltimore, MD. Pasa does not provide relocation support. If hired, employees have 3 months to relocate. Employees must comply with Pasa’s remote employee policies.

Requirements

Excellent communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills
Relevant experience in environmental sciences or agriculture, or bachelor’s degree in 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 serve as an advocate for Pasa’s mission
Be knowledgeable about all of Pasa’s programs and services, as well as available funding, arriving at the farm gate with the full tool belt of Pasa resources for farmers to engage with
Provide administrative and technical guidance to farmers in developing a resource conservation plan, including a selection of NRCS Conservation practices
Participate in and lead virtual and in-person training
Conduct and submit CPA52 environmental evaluations as needed
Prioritize and manage a high volume enrollment caseload
Conduct site visits to farms within a 2-hour radius of your residence and occasionally outside of this radius as mutually agreed upon
Securely collect farm and field-level information with program tech tools in a timely and respectful manner
Provide technical assistance and practice implementation in adherence to NRCS conservation practice standards
Communicate any challenges that are faced in the field to facilitate system improvement
Connect with farmers in a variety of methods, from phone calls, emails, in-person farm visits, and networking events
Supervise conservation interns, as requested