Carbon Ranch Initiative Director

About the Carbon Ranch Initiative

The Carbon Ranch Initiative (CRI) builds capacity of ranchers and farmers, land stewards, and those who serve them, such as researchers and technical support providers, to test and implement evidence-based land management practices focused on mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, particularly in rangeland systems. Through a number of USDA-funded grants, the program works to improve local and rural food systems and economies through research, engagement, and technical support for the productive use of waste and increased soil health.

Who we’re looking for

The Carbon Ranch Initiative Director is a people-oriented facilitator and team leader who has experience in the nonprofit sector sustaining and evolving programs through fundraising and strategic planning. This person understands how to guide a remote team through complex projects, to direct field work for monitoring and measuring soil health, to navigate government grants, and to engage in nonprofit organizational development as part of a leadership team. They have a strong work ethic, professional demeanor and boundaries, a sense of humor, and care and compassion for coworkers. The Carbon Ranch Initiative Director is able to think creatively, is adaptable, can develop usable systems for a team to manage complex projects, and thrives with a degree of uncertainty. They have an understanding of different types of power and appropriate methods/approaches to support responsible use of power. They also are able address conflict skillfully as a source of transformation.

This person is passionate about soil health, range and livestock agriculture, and solving current food system challenges. The Carbon Ranch Initiative Director also has experience providing technical assistance to ranchers and farmers related to soil health, pasture planning, erosion control, and other critical aspects of regenerative land management. Finally, this person must have a vision for how farmer- and rancher-driven soil health education, technical assistance, network building, and research can move Southwestern livestock agriculture from extractive to regenerative.

The Carbon Ranch Initiative Director will be supervised by the executive director, will manage a team of 4-5 program managers, and will work as a member of the organization’s leadership team. They will also be responsible for finding opportunities to collaborate across programs within the organization.

About the work

The Carbon Ranch Initiative Director is responsible for the overall success and vision of the Carbon Ranch Initiative. Their programmatic tasks broadly include managing and directing the CRI team; developing and overseeing its budget, fundraising, and financial management; developing the program’s strategy and goals; and evaluating the program. They also will participate in organizational activities such as contributing to the work of the leadership team, which consists of all directors across the organization, and periodic presentations and collaborations with the nonprofit’s board related to the work of the program.

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and evaluate program mission, plans, and objectives
• Develop, implement, and evaluate program fundraising and income generation plans and objectives
• Develop and oversee program budget and financial management
• Maintain compliance with external regulations and internal policies as they apply to programmatic activities
• Oversee daily programmatic activities
• Supervise and evaluate program staff according to organizational policies and procedures
• Participate in leadership team activities including policy and procedure development and evaluation
• Report regularly to the executive director on finances, fundraising, work progress, evaluation, and program staffing

Management

• Coordinate Carbon Ranch Initiative team and contractors to achieve the strategic goals of the program
• Make sure team has the direction, support, and information needed to execute the work of the program
• Oversee program evaluation and evolution based on feedback from program stakeholders
• Hone the program mission and vision, and develop aligned work plans in partnership with the Carbon Ranch Initiative team and the executive director
• Create and manage the program budget to ensure financial sustainability and longevity
• Contribute to policy updates and implementation to support diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout Quivira’s internal and external working relationships.

Fundraising

• In cooperation with the executive director, expand the reach of the Carbon Ranch Initiative by designing, funding, and implementing new ideas that move forward research, education and outreach, and technical service provision and provide leadership training, networking, and capacity-building support for people interested in building healthy soils on working drylands
• In cooperation with the executive director and development team, build rapport with existing and potential major donors for the Carbon Ranch Initiative
• Facilitate program growth while maintaining high quality standards

Program implementation

• Help design, implement, and share protocols for information collection and management, analysis, and dissemination
• Help design, implement, and share curricula and other materials for education and outreach
• Help design, implement, and share protocols for planning, implementation, and other technical support services
• Help design and develop new and creative ways to advance program goals (e.g. conferences, newsletters, local outreach, collaboration, etc.)
• Maintain a growing network of partner organizations and established producers; help facilitate connections between current and future generations of food producers and land stewards around soil health
• Coordinate with program partners on collaborative grant projects

Outreach

• Contribute to regular communication with relevant stakeholders through phone calls, emails, newsletters, and meetings
• Publish technical guides and peer-reviewed manuscripts aimed at helping producers build soil health
• Regularly engage local, regional, and national agrarian communities through conferences, meetings, and other activities
• Represent Quivira and the Carbon Ranch Initiative at relevant events in the community and by actively seeking opportunities to present to relevant conferences

Qualifications and experience

We recognize and value the many ways to learn, grow, and succeed professionally, and acknowledge that individuals acquire skills, knowledge, and perspectives through diverse educational, professional, personal, and volunteer experiences. We take all relevant experiences into account when reviewing applications and ask that you share with us the unique strengths and experiences that you will bring to Quivira and to your work.

Required qualifications

• Experience with managing staff and budgets, particularly in a nonprofit environment
• Experience with information management for reporting, particularly for federal grants
• Experience writing grants and engaging in other types of fundraising
• Experience developing and managing team structures and culture
• Experience in embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion in workplace settings, including identifying how to resource this work in an ongoing way
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Experience supporting experiential education and providing technical assistance for a diverse range of learners
• Knowledge of soil science, soil health, and the relationship between agricultural practices and resilience to climate change
• Strong skills related to managing and working with diverse groups of people and cross-cultural communication
• An understanding of how conservation and agriculture have historically and currently impacted Hispanic, Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color
• Must be able to travel to remote locations where camping may be required for multiple days/nights at a time and drive long distances (up to 8 hours in a day)
• Flexible schedule to accommodate weekend, evening, and remote work
• Strong organizational skills and ability to coordinate with a diverse and busy group of staff, contractors, and partners
• Must live in Southern Colorado or New Mexico
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs. and work long hours bending and walking outdoors

Desired qualifications

• Experience with soil health monitoring and research
• Experience working with or within government agencies
• Experience with soil carbon-related practices related to regenerative agriculture
• Existing relationships or involvement in the agricultural community in the Southwest
• Experience working directly with ranchers/farmers or working on a ranch or farm
• Experience working in and communicating about agriculture, natural resource management, or both
• Experience in building culture and systems to develop staff capacity to engage in discomfort in transformative change
• Experience writing, presenting, or developing other public-facing communications related to soil health and regenerative agriculture
• Experience with G Suite (gmail, drive, calendar, etc.)
• Experience with project management software (e.g. Asana)
• Multi-lingual in Spanish or Native languages

Terms of employment

Quivira is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organization. We embrace and encourage applicants of all ethnicities, national origins, races, colors, socio-economic statuses, ages, gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, family or marital statuses, disability status, physical and mental abilities, political affiliations, religions, or veteran statuses.

• Reports to the executive director
• Full-time, 40 hours a week, salaried
• Salary range for director-level positions: $60,000 – $70,000 annually, depending on experience, paid bi-weekly. Quivira uses a wage scale to determine pay rates and ranges for all positions within the organization.
• This position is primarily remote, but requires that a candidate lives in southern Colorado or northern New Mexico. All employees currently work from home with access to a Santa Fe office on an as-needed basis. Candidates must be able to drive to the Santa Fe office for event supplies and preparation.
• Quivira offers a flexible work schedule, recognizing that employees have lives outside of work
• No relocation compensation
• After two months, benefits include health, dental, vision, simple IRA, paid time off, generous holidays, life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, and continuing education benefit