Illinois Agricultural and Conservation Technical Specialist

Paycom - ATS; Effingham (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance coverage begins the 1st of a

Medical & Prescription Coverage

Dental Coverage

Vision Coverage

Company Paid Life Insurance

Job summary

American Farmland Trust in Effingham, Illinois, seeks an experienced Illinois Agricultural and Conservation Technical Specialist to support regional soil health and water quality initiatives. The role collaborates with farmers, landowners, agencies, and partners across the Midwest.

Based in Southeast Illinois with remote work options, the position reports to the Midwest Senior Program Manager and emphasizes technical design, stakeholder engagement, and program development within NRCS-aligned

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree and a minimum of 3 years of related work experience in agriculture or watershed/water quality outreach and planning.
• Midwest conservation and agriculture experience with nutrient management, soil health principles, and conservation cropping systems, including the USDA‑NRCS conservation planning process.
• Certified Conservation Planner and/or Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) certification is preferred.
• Experience developing events, outreach tools, and programming responsive to partner needs.
• Experience with public outreach and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance in conservation and agronomy to farmers, landowners, farm advisors and partners in adoption and management of conservation practices.
• Develop conservation practice recommendations and verify implementation according to NRCS standards.
• Create technical documents for farmer-led watershed programs, including presentations and reports.
• Engage farmers and partners to identify challenges and opportunities to improve soil health and water quality.
• Gather field-based data, including soil health assessments and sampling.

Skills

Agriculture outreach

NRCS coordination

Public speaking

Data collection

Microsoft Office

ArcGIS

Education

BA/BS degree

Advanced degree substitute for experience

Tools

ArcGIS

Job description

Job Details: Level: Experienced, Job Location: Effingham, Hybrid - Effingham, IL 62401, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 Salary/year, Job purpose

The Illinois Agricultural and Conservation Technical Specialist position offers an exciting opportunity to support the strategic agenda of a growing, forward-looking conservation organization. S/he will have the opportunity to work across teams within AFT’s Midwest Region, as well as with external partners including farmers, landowners, and agricultural professionals.

This is a permanent position that will support and build on AFT producer‑led programs in the Midwest, especially in Southeast Illinois. The Illinois Agricultural and Conservation Technical Specialist will work with farmers, farmland owners, state and federal agencies, agricultural service providers, and conservation leaders to coordinate across diverse partners and programs. Several of the programs will directly support the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This is a remote work position based in Southeast Illinois and will report directly to the Midwest Senior Program Manager overseeing water quality initiatives.

Position summary

The Illinois Agricultural and Conservation Technical Specialist will play an active role in supporting the development and execution of regional, farmer‑led soil health and water quality programming in Southeast Illinois (within 100 miles of Effingham County).

Duties and responsibilities

Technical Assistance

• Provide technical assistance in the form of conservation and agronomy expertise to farmers, landowners, farm advisors and partners in the adoption, implementation and management of conservation cropping systems practices, including necessary technical design standards for practice application.
• Develop conservation practice recommendations and verify implementation according to NRCS standards and specifications.
• Create technical documents for farmer‑led watershed programs, including delivering presentations and summarizing research and data for reports, fact sheets, and other materials.
• Engage farmers and agricultural service providers to identify challenges, needs, and opportunities related to conservation practices to improve soil health and water quality.
• Gather field‑based data, including soil health assessments, soil sampling, and forage or biomass sampling, as well as the organized management of field data.

Farmer Network Coordination

• Develop and launch farmer‑led watershed programs in priority watersheds in Illinois by engaging with farmer leaders and program partners and sharing information with a diverse group of stakeholders across multiple formats, such as webinars, networking events, educational workshops, and field days.
• Support establishment of farmer‑led watershed groups and ongoing efforts related to administrative needs, event planning, scheduling meetings, etc.
• Work with local partners to ensure success of farmer‑led watershed groups in increasing adoption of conservation practices that improve soil health and water quality.

Internal and External Partner Engagement

• Plan, host, and represent AFT at public meetings, field days, and educational events in the region.
• Participate in regular staff meetings and events, maintaining strong team culture among AFT staff.
• Help build positive relations with the team and external partners.

Fundraising and budget management This position does not have fundraising or budget management responsibilities.

Staff Supervision / Management This position does not have supervisory or management responsibilities but will occasionally oversee project tasks completed by other team members.

This is not necessarily an all‑inclusive list of job‑related responsibilities. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to require other or different duties be performed as assigned

Qualifications

The Illinois Agricultural and Conservation Technical Specialist must be entrepreneurial and a self‑starter, outgoing and energetic, organized, and capable of working well independently as well as part of a team.

• BA or BS degree and a minimum of 3 years of related work experience in agriculture or watershed/water quality outreach and planning. An advanced degree in one or more of the noted disciplines may substitute for 1 year of work experience.
• Midwest conservation and agriculture experience with nutrient management, soil health principles, and conservation cropping systems, including the USDA‑NRCS conservation planning process.
• Certified Conservation Planner and/or Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) certification is preferred.
• Experience developing compelling events, outreach tools, and/or programming that are responsive to partner needs and strategically relevant to target audiences.
• Experience with public outreach and community engagement.
• Must be able to work independently, deliver high-quality work in a dynamic organization under time pressure, and bring a collaborative, outgoing, professional, and innovative approach to tackling these issues.
• Strong interpersonal skillsand the ability to work in a team environment.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), including the ability to translate technical content for distribution to non‑technical audiences, with demonstrated commitment to high‑quality work.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. Preferred experience using ArcGIS and other spatial mapping tools.
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and knowledgeable about how those principles can be effectively applied in practice.

Working conditions/Travel

Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends to meet program needs and deadlines.

This position requires approximately 40% travel, primarily within Southeast Illinois, including the Embarrass and Little Wabash watersheds, to meet with farmers and partners. Travel will generally occur weekly, with overnight travel approximately once per month, and may include occasional travel throughout the Midwest. Future years may involve more extensive travel across Illinois. Mileage is reimbursed.

Candidates must currently live in or be willing to relocate to Southeast Illinois, within approximately 100 miles of Effingham County.

Degree of Supervision Received

Supervision, performing a variety of routine work within established policies and procedures and receives detailed instructions on new projects and assignments.

Degree of Supervision Given

Not applicable.

Compensation

American Farmland Trust offers excellent vacation, medical, retirement and other benefits. The salary range for this position is from $70,000 to $75,000 based upon experience.

American Farmland Trust offers a full benefits package for full time employees:

• Insurance coverage begins the 1st of the month following the date of hire.
• Medical & Prescription Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Company Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - Healthcare & Dependent Care
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401k Plan
• Sick Leave: Regular full‑time employees accrue 13 sick days per year.
• Vacation Leave: Accrue 15 days during the first year increasing by one day per year to 20 days per year maximum.
• Holidays: AFT observes twelve fixed holidays and a week between Christmas and New Years off during the year (all offices closed) plus a choice of up to three (depending on hiring month) floating holidays.

Why you should apply

• Be a part of a purpose‑driven, committed, knowledgeable, high‑performing, experienced and fun team
• A diverse and inclusive work environment
• A cause and mission you can be proud of
• Competitive compensation & benefits
• Remote work opportunity