Agricultural Program Specialist Sand County Foundation

Earth Day; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Sand County Foundation (SCF) seeks an Agricultural Program Specialist to support conservation projects and quantify outcomes, focusing on soil health, water quality, biodiversity metrics, and farm economics. You will work with funded partners and SCF staff, contributing to RCPP-related activities and broader SCF initiatives.

The role involves collaboration across a diverse portfolio, interaction with partners and funders, and opportunity to influence conservation strategies on working lands.

Qualifications

• Experience in water quality and/or biodiversity metrics.
• Geospatial data management experience.
• Knowledge of agricultural economics.

Responsibilities

• Provide programmatic and technical support as a member of SCF’s Agricultural Conservation team.
• Support funded partners to deliver and document project activities.
• Track and quantify environmental and economic outcomes from these projects.
• Support delivery of SCF’s “Farmer-led Fund” and USDA RCPP activities.
• Interact with SCF personnel, grantees, partners, and funders.

Skills

Water quality metrics

Biodiversity metrics

Geospatial data management

Agricultural economics

Job description

Sand County Foundation (SCF) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working at the intersection of agriculture and environmental improvement. We research and demonstrate conservation strategies that make economic sense for landowners. Our Leopold Conservation Award program recognizes and promotes the stories of conservation-minded farmers and ranchers to inspire other landowners to consider conservation opportunities on their land.

In 1967, SCF was built on the core ideas encouraged by Aldo Leopold, America’s foremost conservation thinker. Leopold inspired private landowners to adopt what he called a land ethic — a personal responsibility to treat land, water, and wildlife with respect. Today, as most of the land in the contiguous 48 states is managed by farmers, ranchers and forestland owners, SCF is inspiring a growing number of them to ethically manage the natural resources in their care.

Position Summary

The Agricultural Program Specialist will provide programmatic and technical support as a member of SCF’s Agricultural Conservation team. The position will focus a majority of time on two roles: supporting our funded partners to deliver and document project activities, and tracking and quantifying environmental and economic outcomes from these projects.

The Agricultural Conservation team manages a diverse project portfolio funded by both private and public grants, creating an energizing and dynamic work experience. This role will initially support delivery of SCF’s “Farmer-led Fund” and related activities funded by the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and will expand into other SCF projects over time.

Practices commonly supported in these projects include soil health improvement (cover crops, reduced tillage, crop rotations), rotational grazing, perennial buffers, and nutrient management.

An ideal candidate will have experience in water quality and/or biodiversity metrics, geospatial data management, and agricultural economics. This position will report to the Senior Director for Agricultural Conservation, but will have the opportunity to interact with all SCF personnel and board members as well as grantees, outside partners, and project funders.

View the full job description (pdf)