Who We Are

American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and helped thousands of farm families make a go of it (primarily through programs that increase farm viability and/or enhance farmland access). Long a pioneering leader, AFT is now riding a new wave of growth, driven by agriculture’s most pressing needs and opportunities. 

The Position

The Implementation Specialist (Specialist) position offers an exciting opportunity to help farmers, ranchers, and other landowners implement conservation practices. In this role you will act in support of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), meeting with farmers, ranchers, and other landowners. You will assist farmers in initiating and completing conservation practice contracts, and in overcoming any barriers to implementing the practices that they have received funding for. This technical assistance will vary by farm and by practice, but might include helping to everything from initial site visits, and practice selection to finding more funding, consulting other technical experts, researching, and helping to find and select appropriate contractors, finding supplies or specialized equipment, coordinating with other government entities, and more, all in support of a wide range of agronomic and engineering practices. Appropriate training and certification will be provided by NRCS, such as Nutrient Management or Grazing Management Planning, based on the needs of the producers requiring implementation assistance.

The position will be based in East Texas either in with preference given to candidates that can work 3-5 days a week at NRCS offices in Canton, Athens Gilmer, Rusk, and/ or Tyler. You will work in a unique role, as an AFT employee, but in deep cooperation and frequent coordination with the funder, NRCS. A NRCS Assistant Conservationist for Field Operations and AFT’s Implementation Program Manager will work together to guide your workflow to assure it is integrated with NRCS’s needs and utilizes the full depth of both NRCS and AFT resources and expertise. You will work from a NRCS service center at least three days a week with the ability to work remotely on occasion. Your daily activities will be guided the local NRCS Resource Team Leader and District Conservationist. The initial focus of the position is to participate in required training, shadow NRCS staff, and develop skills to assist with all aspects of conservation practice implementation with farmers and ranchers. The overall goal is to provide targeted intervention to support contracts that are facing hurdles to implementation, with time it may also include promoting participation in conservation practices and agricultural land conservation via outreach and education with producers.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance and practice implementation guidance based upon NRCS guidelines and technical experience to ensure final conservation practices meet the goals and responsibilities of NRCS. Deliver technical assistance and conservation practice guidance in alignment with NRCS standards to ensure all implemented practices meet program goals and compliance requirements.
• Support landowners and producers to build an appropriate documented plan that details all stages of conservation practice implementation, including field investigations, site surveys, technical design, layout, and construction inspections.
• Provide technical and administrative assistance for Farm Bill programs, including conservation planning, application support, status reviews, case file management, and general administrative activities.
• Collaborate with Resource Team Leaders and District Conservationists in identifying priority clients for targeted outreach and intervention.
• Proactively engage farmers with existing NRCS contracts (via email, phone, or onfarm visits) to troubleshoot barriers and facilitate timely project completion.
• Identify limitations in practice implementation that cannot be met and communicate needed adjustments or modifications to NRCS staff.  Maintain detailed documentation of all farmer interactions, support activities, and progress toward contract completion, contributing to accurate program records.
• Assist field office staff with contacting program applicants for data collection and work with farmers, ensuring all required information is collected for contract completion.
• Build and maintain a comprehensive directory of local service providers and contractors to support efficient practice implementation.
• Participate in required NRCS and AFT training and travel extensively throughout assigned location to meet with producers and farmers.