Field Program Lead, Biofuels - AgOutcomes

Iowa Soybean Association; Ankeny, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision insurance

Onsite Fitness Center and golf simul

Cellphone and Wellness reimbursement

401(k) with generous match

Job summary

Iowa Soybean Association in Ankeny, Iowa, seeks a Field Program Lead to guide AgOutcomes Field Program Representatives in farmer recruitment, enrollment, and relationship management to meet program goals.

The role requires deep knowledge of enrollment requirements, eligible conservation practices, farmer payments, and data platforms, plus the ability to explain complex program needs to farmers and partners. Strong Midwest agronomy knowledge is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field.
• 3–5 years of agronomy or conservation experience.
• Strong understanding of Midwest cropping systems and conservation practices.
• Ability to work in a team and independently to meet deliverables.
• Experience with computer technologies and farm data platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Field Program Representatives for recruitment, enrollment, and relationship management.
• Establish enrollment goals and monitor progress toward acreage and project targets.
• Maintain expert knowledge of enrollment requirements, eligible practices, and data platforms.
• Serve as an internal SME on 45Z and low-carbon feedstocks and their impact on emissions.
• Train staff to communicate complex program requirements to farmers clearly.

Skills

Team Leadership

Midwest Agronomy

Low-Carbon Agriculture

Farmer Engagement

Data Management

Technical Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in agronomy/environmental sciences/related field

Job description

The Field Program Lead provides leadership and technical oversight for AgOutcomes’ Field Program Representatives, who serve as the primary farmer-facing representatives of AgOutcomes and the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (www.theoutcomesfund.com).

This position is responsible for ensuring the field team effectively recruits, supports, and enrolls farmers while meeting project-specific acreage, practice, data quality, and enrollment goals. The Field Program Lead will maintain a high level of expertise in enrollment requirements, eligible conservation practices, farmer payment structures, data requirements, and the AgOutcomes data management platform.

The Field Program Lead will also serve as a key internal subject-matter expert on low-carbon intensity (CI) agricultural feedstocks for biofuel markets, including 45Z-related opportunities. The position requires a deep understanding of Midwest corn and soybean production systems and the ability to evaluate how agronomic management, including nutrient management, tillage, cover crops, crop rotations, yields, and other practices, affect agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and feedstock carbon intensity.

The successful candidate will combine strong people leadership with practical agronomic knowledge, technical expertise, data-driven decision making, and an ability to communicate complex program requirements to farmers, staff, partners, and other stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead, coach, and manage a team of Field Program Representatives responsible for farmer recruitment, enrollment, relationship management, and program implementation.
• Establish and monitor individual and team enrollment goals, including acreage, project, geographic, and other program-specific targets, and hold the team accountable for results.
• Maintain expert-level knowledge of Soil & Water Outcomes Fund enrollment requirements, eligible practices, farmer payment structures, project requirements, and the AgOutcomes data management platform.
• Serve as a key internal subject-matter expert on 45Z and low-carbon intensity agricultural feedstocks, including the relationship between farm management practices, greenhouse gas emissions, and feedstock carbon intensity.
• Provide technical expertise on Midwest corn and soybean production systems, including nutrient management, tillage, cover crops, crop rotations, manure management, yields, and other agronomic practices.
• Train and support Field Program Representatives in communicating complex agronomic, low-CI, and program requirements to farmers in clear, practical terms.
• Monitor farmer enrollment pipelines and work with Field Program Representatives and other AgOutcomes staff to identify barriers, resolve complex enrollment issues, and ensure projects meet acreage and enrollment goals.
• Review and QA/QC farmer-provided agronomic and management data for accuracy, completeness, and reasonableness, and ensure consistent data collection across the field team.
• Manage and strengthen relationships with farmer referral partners, agronomists, crop consultants, agricultural organizations, and other partners that support farmer recruitment and enrollment.
• Provide AgOutcomes leadership with insight into farmer sentiment, agricultural production trends, low-CI feedstock and biofuel markets, emerging technologies, and opportunities to improve or develop programs..

COMPETENCIES

• Team Leadership and Accountability
• Midwest Agronomic Expertise
• Low-Carbon Agriculture and Technical Expertise
• Farmer Engagement and Relationship Management
• Technical Communication
• Data Analysis and Quality Control
• Project and Enrollment Management
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Planning, Prioritization and Organization

LOCATION

This position is based in our Ankeny, Iowa office.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• This position supervises a small team of Field Program Representatives.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in agronomy, environmental sciences, agricultural engineering, biological sciences, or related field.
• Minimum of three to five years of experience working in agronomy or conservation.
• Strong understanding of Midwest cropping systems and conservation practices.
• Capable of working in a team environment while working independently to achieve specific project deliverables.
• Understanding of computer technologies and farm data management platforms.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

BENEFITS

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• Onsite Fitness Center and golf simulator
• Cellphone and Wellness reimbursement
• 401(k) with generous company match

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact Human Resources

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.