Job Information
- Location: Charlotte, NC
- Close Date: 02/28/2025
- Hiring Organization: The Conservation Fund
- Contact Name: Krisztian Varsa
- Contact Email: kvarsa@conservationfund.org
- Job Website
Description
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. Farms Fund is an initiative of The Conservation Fund and continues a multi-decade long commitment to protecting working lands that generate conservation and economic value for local communities. The Carolina Farms Fund is successfully building on the trajectory of the Atlanta and Chicago-based Farms Fund programs, and The Conservation Fund is seeking an enthusiastic leader to implement the Farms Fund vision in the Carolinas.
The Carolina Farms Fund Program Manager will be based in the greater metro Charlotte region. The Program Manager will serve an essential role in leading the Carolina Farms Fund program, with initial focus on the Charlotte metro area – engaging farmers, identifying farmland for acquisition and long-term conservation, and building partner and funder relationships to support this program. The Program Manager works 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. The employee works 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.
Responsibilities
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 existing farm businesses, infrastructure needs, 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 Carolina Farms Fund program.
- 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.
Qualifications
- 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.
Salary/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.
