California Region Director

The Oakville Bluegrass Cooperative is a collaboration of growers working to build healthy farm ecosystems and balance sheets.  Our mission is to make sustainable cropland management practices more profitable than conventional practices so they become the standard practice.  We research the most promising new techniques and tools, test them in the field, develop best practices for implementing them at large scale, secure the best terms from suppliers, provide technical assistance to members, and help members access financial assistance to support practice transition.  We develop new revenue streams to reward members for adopting cropland management practices that are best for the environment.

We started this work in the California central valley in 2024 with the support of a multi-year grant from the USDA.  Our initial focus is on promoting practices that cover all of the soil year-round with living roots and minimize soil disturbance, because that is the foundation for improving soil health.  To that end, we have established an exclusive partnership with the sole supplier of a novel permanent ground cover cultivar that is dormant from May to September, so it does not compete for water or nutrients during the cash crop growth season.  We have worked with co-op members to establish this perennial cover at more than 60 locations on over 1,200 acres to date.  We are starting a Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) credit sales program plan to generate income for members who adopt carbon-storing practices such as cover crops.  Going forward we will expand our efforts to make it profitable for co-op members to adopt practices that build soil health, conserve water, reduce synthetic inputs, increase above-ground and below-ground biodiversity, and integrate livestock where appropriate.

We are seeking a California Region Director to rapidly grow our regional member base and lead a small team to expand our regional impact.  The ideal candidate for this position is someone who:

• Has a track record of success growing revenues in a business that provides products or services to the agriculture sector.
• Has subject matter expertise in sustainable agriculture, intellectual curiosity about agronomy, and credibility with cropland managers regarding farming practices and financial challenges.
• Has demonstrated the ability to establish new customer relationships and strengthen relationships with existing customers by being outgoing, persistent and persuasive.
• Has managed a large pipeline of customer leads using a CRM, developing and executing contact plans that result in high rates of conversion to loyal customers.
• Is an optimistic leader and problem solver who people naturally turn to for insight and inspiration.
• Has built a high-performing team in a small organization.
• Thinks and acts like an entrepreneur.  The co-op is a startup organization.  It needs to innovate and improve and grow to succeed.
• Is located in Central California to enable extensive on site interaction with growers.
• Is passionate about making agriculture part of the solution to the environmental challenges we face.

The California Region Director will earn a base salary of $100-120k per year with the opportunity to earn incentive compensation by exceeding member growth goals.  The co-op provides a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance.  Employees receive 11 paid holidays and the organization does not limit paid time off provided it is planned, scheduled and approved.