Responsibilities

General Admin, Producer Outreach, & Enrollment

• Conduct direct outreach to producers regarding the project and propose eligible participants per jointly determined criteria

• Work with project partners to enroll selected producers.

• Ensure that all enrolled producers remain eligible and compliant with program requirements for the full duration of the project period

• Support at least 15 producers in enrolling in NRCS Conservation Practices in accordance with NRCS specifications and standards

• Complete all required NRCS documentation, environmental evaluations, and verification activities

Funding

• Search for additional grants available to New York Fibershed for funding more farmers’ Carbon Farm Plans

• Assist farms in identifying and accessing other funding streams and incentive payments where possible to support CSA practice adoption

Technical Assistance for Producers

• Conduct on-site farm visits, as necessary, to support enrollment, verification, or compliance requirements

• Work closely with participating farms, carry out necessary studies and data-gathering, and write at least 4 new Carbon Farm Plans (CFP) for participating farms per year.

• Assist participating farms in planning to implement Carbon Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices identified in their Carbon Farm Plans.

• Recommend producer incentive payments for CSA practice implementation.

• Provide information needed to evaluate these recommendations to the project’s incentive review and decision-making panel

• Enroll a minimum of fifteen wool producers into the project, representing at least 1,900 enrolled acres and 1,500 head of sheep

Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV)

• Measure and monitor estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) benefit of implemented CSA practices using the COMET-Planner tool, COMET-Farm, USDA Entity Scale Methods, and/or soil tests

• Verify CSA practice adoption

Reporting

• Collect data and prepare quarterly project reports towards outcomes and goals, such as implementation acres, practices implemented, quantifiable GHG benefits, and farm productivity

• Collect and maintain all required producer information necessary for completion of the USDA Detailed Project Reporting Workbook, including:

  • Cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits including carbon stocks; CO2 CH4, N2O, other environmental benefits; and offsets and insets produced and sold.

  • Greenhouse gas monitoring, reporting methods, and verification (MMRV) methods along with the cost of these methods.

  • Detailed information about each participating farm, including producer name, farm ID, address, start date, underserved status, total area, total crop and livestock areas, livestock numbers and types, organic certification status, producer motivation, how they heard about the project, and funding sources and incentives they have received.

  • Detailed information about each field enrolled in the project, including field ID, location, contract start date, commodity, baseline yield, irrigation and tillage methods, and details about practices implemented on those fields.

  • Detailed descriptions of the technical assistance, MMRV assistance, marketing assistance, incentives, and all payments received, including cost of practice implementation and GHG monitoring, verification, and reporting.

Marketing Support

• Participate in educational activities, such as our annual Carbon Farm Tour, Sheep & Wool Festival, and Flock Event with GrowNYC

Qualifications

• B.S., B.A., and/or M.S. degree in Environmental Planning or Natural or Applied Sciences preferably wildlife biology, range, soil science, hydrology, animal science, agronomy, or forest ecology; or equivalent education and experience

• At least 5 years experience working in the field of natural resources, in the execution of grants, contracts and permitting

• At least 3 years of on-farm conservation planning; NRCS conservation planner certification preferred

• GIS mapping and data management, Microsoft Office, Google Suite and other technical proficiencies

• Knowledge of New York State ecology, native woody and grassland plants and wildlife, Carbon Farm planning, and/or NRCS Conservation Planning a plus

• Demonstrated experience working with land managers and agricultural producers in conservation planning, carbon farming planning, & implementation.

• Strong analytical, writing, research, and public speaking skills

• Self-directed and organized individual with ability to work independently to meet multiple deadlines

• Proven track record of developing successful partnerships and productive working relationships with partners.

• Ability to articulate complex and technical information in an accessible manner to a wide diversity of audiences, especially agricultural constituents

• Willingness and ability to travel around the State and work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and overnight travel

• Experience in the construction of projects including adherence to bidding procedures, prevailing wage requirements and budgets; Construction skills a plus

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills - ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical clients and partners

• Familiarity with grant proposals and contract creation and interpretation. Knowledge in accessing funding sources

• Exceptional ability to work productively both independently and in a collaborative team setting.

• Ability to communicate and work with a diverse range of people including private landowners and land managers, private contractors, government agencies, Tribal staff and citizens, general public, news media, and partner resource professionals

• Exceptional attention to detail and problem-solving skills. Motivation to gain and develop new technical skills

• Valid New York State driver's license, clean driving record, automobile insurance