Farm Journal’s climate-smart ag division, Trust In Food, is gearing up to implement a $40M Climate-Smart Commodity grant program enrolling growers in at least 15 states and focusing on practices related to row crop, specialty crop, and cattle production.  Our project has a wide partner group providing support and technical assistance, and is designed to support producers in using data to quantify their positive impact and access climate-smart markets.

A key component of our grant is that we’ve committed to at least half of our enrollees coming from designated Historically Underserved communities. We’re looking for an Outreach Coordinator who will be responsible for working with key stakeholders and partners in the different regions to find, recruit and encourage participation from Historically Underserved communities in our Climate Smart Commodity Grant.

This essential role is ideally suited for a someone who loves building relationships with a diverse array of producers and stakeholder groups and is interested in helping build infrastructure and outreach to support Historically Underserved agricultural communities. 

A successful candidate must have proven hands-on experience working alongside Historically Underserved communities producers in farming and ranching operations of all sizes to build and implement authentically inclusive and producer-centered programming.  

The area Coordinator works across the entire project cycle, helping ensure a clear scope of work, lining up internal and external resources for delivery, directly interfacing with and working with farmers on the project through the life of the grant, and conducting evaluation of the project’s success at completion.. One who is high energy, self-motivated, and a resilient and creative problem solver. The position requires outstanding interpersonal communications skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and steward relationships with organizations with demonstrated track record of serving Historically Underserved producers.
• Organize efforts across partners and stakeholder groups to ensure that the producer outreach and enrollment process is clear, equitable, and designed with each producer’s unique operation and goals at the center.
• Support Farm Journal’s own efforts to engage and enroll Historically Underserved growers.
• Coordinate the ad hoc advisory committee for outreach, engagement and programming with the Historically Underserved community.

Skills + Attributes Required

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in relevant work
• Proven stakeholder relationship management skills
• Unparalleled client-facing and internal communication skills especially diverse communities.
• Working knowledge of conservation and climate-smart agriculture.  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge on small farm operation’s row crops or specialty crops
• Ability to manage competing priorities with high attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and task on a regular basis.
• Adaptable, flexible, thrives in ambiguous and evolving environments.
• Team Player. Belief that communication, collaboration and accountability are keys to be a great teammate.
• A compassionate and empathetic personality that cares about helping people and making life, climate, food, and farming better is a strong plus.