Agriculture Program Lead

Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A premier non-profit conservation organization is seeking an Agricultural Program Lead to guide its statewide agricultural vision. You will influence operations on key farms while promoting sustainable practices across Massachusetts. This role, which reports to the VP of Natural Resources, offers a chance to make significant contributions to land conservation and food production.

Qualifications

• Experience in management or director roles in agricultural or conservation settings.
• Strong understanding of agroecological practices and sustainable farming.
• Ability to lead teams and manage projects effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the statewide agricultural vision for 2,000+ acres.
• Influence care and operations of Trustees’ farms ensuring stewardship.
• Launch assessments of leased and fallow farmland for optimal use.

Skills

Agroecological practices

Natural resource stewardship

Project management

Food production knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Job description

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts’ premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts.Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households.We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org .

The Trustees is among the largest private farmland owners in the Commonwealth and currently owns 2,000+ acres of farmland across Massachusetts. These lands include farms leased to external partners as well as Appleton Farms in Ipswich and Powisset Farm in Dover - the two crop and livestock farms managed directly by the organization. The Trustees is fortunate to enjoy a large and engaged constituency across the state including visitors, members, supporters, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shareholders, and farmland lease holders.

Posting Information:

Note: This role will be hired as a manager or director based on experience and skills.

Job Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Job Type: Hybrid

Location: Statewide, MA

What You’ll Do:

As the Agricultural Program Lead, you will lead implementation of our statewide agricultural vision, positioning our 2,000+ acres of farmland to promote care of natural resources and habitat, sequestration of carbon, and production of local food. You will influence the care and operations of our two Trustees’ operated farms, Appleton Farms in Ipswich and Powisset Farm in Dover, ensuring stewardship of natural resources through agroecological practices and research. You will broaden that influence statewide by promoting agroecological practices to our leased farms, evaluating and activating our farmland statewide, and engaging with our Land Conservation team to advance farmland protection.

One of the first projects you will launch is a statewide assessment of our leased and fallow farmland to determine the highest and best use of the land to meet our broader organizational goals – goals that include production of local food, protection of native species and their habitats, sequestration of carbon, and stewardship of scenic, historic and recreational values on our farms. Secured funding will support a consultant to work with you to assess the agricultural viability alongside conservation values of our farmland, and result in a roadmap for changes to our land-use and leasing program.

The Agriculture Program Lead will report directly to the Vice President of Natural Resources as a member of the organization’s Natural Resources Team and supervise the Agroecologist and seasonal and part-time staff. This position will be hired at either the Director or Manager level depending on the skills and experience of the candidate.