TITLE: Northwest Arkansas Farms Fund Program Manager
LINE OF BUSINESS/DIVISION: Working Lands/ Farms Fund
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
REPORTS TO: Director, Farms Fund
NUMBER OF POSITIONS REPORTING TO THIS POSITION: None
LOCATION: Northwest Arkansas
JOB HIGHLIGHTS
The Farms Fund is a first-of-its-kind conservation program designed to buy and permanently protect threatened farmland around metropolitan areas while creating a patient path to farmland ownership for next generation farmers. The Northwest Arkansas (NWA) Program Manager will be based in the greater NWA region, and serve in a dynamic role launching the program in NWA and building on food systems work already underway in the region. The Program Manager will help to complement existing programs and serve an essential role in engaging farmers, identifying farmland for acquisition and long-term conservation, and building partner and funder relationships to support this program. The Program Manager will work cooperatively with landowners, farmers, government agencies, and other stakeholders to initiate projects, secure funding, and shepherd Farms Fund projects through the acquisition and disposition processes. This team member will work independently and under minimal direction while maintaining a high level of communication with the Farms Fund team based in Atlanta and nationally, with support from The Conservation Fund’s legal, fundraising and marketing and communications teams.
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING
To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- With support from the Farms Fund Director, manage all phases of Farms Fund land acquisition projects, including landowner and farmer outreach and engagement, farm project identification, development of project structure and strategy, real estate acquisition negotiation, internal approvals, supervision/direction of appraisers, surveyors, and other consultants, property purchase and close, and ultimate sale and conveyance of farm to farmers in the program.
- Provide technical assistance to applicant and enrolled farmers entering the program; resource sharing within farmer networks; coordinated support between partner organizations; access to USDA programs; as well as initial farm infrastructure assessment and baseline development, lease management, and home and property maintenance.
- Assess farm businesses and application materials; support farmers’ business planning, financial projections, and plan implementation and business growth, accessing of business and land financing resources and third-party technical assistance.
- Lead program management activities including legal and financial management of farmer activities and agreements, maintaining property land use designations, documentation of farm updates, internal coordination with legal, finance, marketing and communications, and government relations; and gathering of important farm business and farmland metrics for reporting.
- With support of Farms Fund team, seek, secure and coordinate acquisition and conservation easement funding for Farms Fund projects through local, state and federal agencies and private donors.
- Build, manage and grow relationships with private landowners, public agency leaders and staff, private funders, market procurement and other partners, and elected officials for support of the NWA Farms Fund program.
- Develop and manage an annual budget cycle for the NWA Farms Fund region
- Attend local and national conferences and events to expand outreach for Farms Fund and grow networks within the agricultural community.
- Support with regional and national scaling of Farms Fund program.
WHAT WE NEED YOU TO HAVE
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to manage multiple farmer and partner relationships;
- Familiarity with farm operations and business management to assist review of farmer applications and support enrolled farmers.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with an interest in building a program and growing a team.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the various financing and technical assistance resources available to farmers, including USDA resources and cooperative extension services;
- Experience with conservation easements, land transactions, purchase of development rights, and other land conservation and planning tools is preferred.
- The Manager must have the ability to work with minimal supervision, maintain his/her own schedule, coordinate with other staff, and demonstrate flexibility and the ability to shift priorities quickly.
- The Manager also must possess an attention to detail and the ability to work within deadlines. The physical and mental requirements described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to initiate and participate in fundraising efforts. Familiarity with grant writing and reporting preferred.
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse mix of individuals and groups as well as comfortably coordinate and communicate with those individuals and groups. Demonstrated ability to work as a team player with other staff members in a small office environment.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
- Highly self-motivated and entrepreneurial.
WHAT WE’D LIKE YOU TO HAVE
- Ideally has familiarity with existing local food system network within the metro Northwest Arkansas region;
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Work is performed in both an office setting and across project sites, including farms in Northwest Arkansas.
- Estimated travel: Travel within Northwest Arkansas will be required; occasional travel to other regions of Arkansas; some out of state travel.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The salary range for this position is $75,000 - $85,000, and the position is eligible for opportunities to earn performance-based bonus compensation. Please note: Salary range provided is an estimate and will be evaluated on an individual basis, taking into consideration the candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and education. The final salary offer will be determined accordingly.
The Fund offers a highly competitive package of benefits including:
- Employer contributions for medical, vision and dental insurance plans.
- Retirement plan discretionary company contribution.
- Company contributions to HSA account.
- Company-paid paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance.
- Continuing education benefit for approved programs.
- Employee assistance program (EAP).
- Generous paid vacation, sick and floating holidays.
- Voluntary Life Insurance, AD&D, Spouse and Child plans at group rates.
- Six weeks paid parental leave
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.
Frequently cited statistics show that women and people from underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they think they meet 100% of the criteria. If you meet many but not all the criteria and feel you may be a good fit for the role, The Conservation Fund encourages you to apply.
The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit corporation, is an Equal Opportunity Employer that fully and actively supports equal access for all people regardless of Race, Color, Religion, Gender, Age, National Origin, Veteran Status, Disability, Genetic Information or Testing, Family and Medical Leave status, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression. The Fund prohibits retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint, or otherwise oppose discrimination.
