Working Lands Program Coordinator

WORKING LANDS PROGRAM COORDINATOR

The Working Lands Program Coordinator reports to the Working Lands Division Manager. This role supports working lands programming, including the Compact’s River Friendly Farms program, mine land reforestation, and other educational and conservation initiatives for farmers. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual seeking to make a positive impact on rural lands in the Cumberland River Basin.

Schedule:
This role is primarily a Monday – Friday office-based position. Approximately one day of the week is spent in the field, visiting farms, mine land sites, or doing other community-based work. Occasional weekend and overnight trips will be required.

Responsibilities:

Agriculture, 65%

• Assist in the administration of the Compact’s River Friendly Farms certification program.
• Visit farms and develop marketing materials for certified farms. Promote the program through strategic partnerships and media outlets. Write profiles, blog posts, and advertorial pages for certified farms.
• Maintain ongoing farmer education and conservation initiatives, including the River Friendly Farms Grazing School and Terra Firma farmers business course.
• Develop and implement new programming that helps farmers be better soil and water stewards.
• Work with a broad range of farmer-affiliated organizations, including The Farm Bureau, KY and TN Departments of Agriculture, NRCS, and more.

Mine Land Reforestation, 35%

• Build relationships with landowners and local land agencies in the Cumberland River Basin’s coal country.
• Find, hire, and manage contractors to complete reforestation initiatives.

Desired Attributes:

• This position has a strong relational focus. A successful candidate will be able to form professional but friendly relationships with all kinds of people.
• Results oriented: Success will lie in meeting goals of stream miles restored, farms certified as River Friendly, number of farmers educated, etc.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Well-organized and resourceful, with the ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks, assignments, and priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, G Suites, and social media platforms.
• Must be a team player and also be able to work independently.
• Experience with forestry and livestock are a plus. Experience in either farming or forestry is a requirement.
• Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle.
• Ability to travel within the Cumberland River basin.
• Meet the requirements of our background screening process.

Benefits:

• Salary: $45,000+ depending on experience
• 401K with employer match
• Generous time off policy: Eleven paid holidays and earned paid time off totaling 22 days per year as a combination of sick and paid time off
• Medical benefits
• Eligible for performance-based bonuses of up to 8%