Midwest Regional Director

Job purpose

Reporting to the Vice President of Programs, the Midwest Regional Director helps shape and carry out the strategic agenda of a growing, forward-looking conservation organization.

Position summary

The Midwest Regional Director provides strategic leadership for American Farmland Trusts programs in the Midwest Region (comprising Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri).

Duties and responsibilities

Program Leadership and Project Management:

- Develop and lead regional programs in the Midwest to advance AFTs mission to save the land that sustains us by protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land.

- Work closely with the Vice President for Programs and National Program Leaders to adapt and integrate AFTs national programs in new program development in the Midwest Region.

- Build and manage relationships and partnerships with external stakeholders, including agriculture, conservation, food and public health, environment, economic development and other constituencies.

- Work with AFT policy staff to identify policy priorities and create and execute strategies to achieve identified goals in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

- Support staff in establishing and maintaining strong relationships with key policymakers and other federal, state, and local government leaders from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

- Work with research staff to develop and execute research projects that inform and support AFTs programs and policy agendas in the Midwest.

- Ensure that project partnerships, activities, and deliverables further AFTs commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

- Develop and oversee implementation of annual division workplans and budgets.

Fundraising and Budget Management:

- Play a leadership role in fundraising for AFTs Programs in the Midwest Region.

- Coordinate with AFTs development staff regarding individual and institutional fundraising strategy, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

- Work with the development staff to develop and submit compelling funding proposals to institutional, corporate, and individual funders.

- Ensure that funders receive complete and timely reports and other deliverables.

Management and Administration:

- Lead the development of annual workplans and budgets for the Midwest Region.

- Supervise a team of AFT staff and consultants, and foster staff growth and development.

- Manage and support regional staff in effective project planning, delivery, and budget management.

- Ensure that goals identified in the Midwest Regional Workplan and staff individual development plans are met successfully.

- Build and manage relationships with external stakeholders to advance program, fundraising and communications goals

- Inform the development of new organizational processes, policies and systems as well as aid with effective adoption by staff.

- Support cross-division collaboration in project development, fundraising and project implementation.

- Complete staff reviews annually and manage the hiring of new regional staff.

- Manage project budgets, financial statements and reports.

- Complete other duties as assigned.

Thought Leadership and Communications

- Work with AFTs Communications staff and others to develop and implement strategies to raise the visibility of the organizations programs.

- Contribute to AFTs program metrics and other efforts to document and communicate about program impact.

- Serve as a spokesperson for AFT in the Midwest by delivering presentations and being a liaison with the media.

- Work with AFTs Communications staff to develop and implement strategies to raise the visibility of the organizations programs in the Midwest Region.

- Demonstrate thought leadership through op-eds, blog posts, articles and other communications on topics related to AFTs mission and agriculture in the Midwest.

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be a reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

Qualifications

- Must be outgoing and energetic and have direct professional experience working with primary constituencies, such as farmers, landowners, public officials, agricultural and conservation organizations, and land trusts.

- Must have knowledge of agricultural stewardship and viability, farmland protection, and/or farmland access and farm transfer techniques, preferably in the Midwest Region.

- Direct experience working with diverse communities of farmers and landowners.

- Must be entrepreneurial, self-motivated, and willing to work in a fast-paced work environment.

- Experience in developing programs as well as creating and executing effective fundraising strategies. Excellent communication skills (public presentation, phone, writing, and partner relations) and creativity are essential.

- Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, managing and evaluating projects and budgets – both individually and as a portfolio of several.

- Facility with the Microsoft Office is required – additional computer skills preferred.

- Proven experience with fundraising from individual and institutional funding partners, including requests of at least $500,000.

- Previous experience with supervising staff and consultants, including from remote locations, is beneficial.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

- Willingness to work independently and travel across the Midwest Region.

Education & Experience

BA or BS degree and a minimum of 10 years of related work experience in public policy, planning, agriculture, land conservation or natural resource planning. Or, 8 years of related work experience with an advanced degree in one or more of the disciplines noted.

Working Conditions/Travel

- Occasional work in the evenings or on weekends may be required to meet deadlines.

- Occasional travel may be required.

Direct reports

This position has management responsibility for the following roles: Midwest Deputy Director, Midwest Policy Manager, Midwest Farmland Protection Senior Manager, Midwest Operations Coordinator, and Midwest Solar Specialist.

This position is funded, in whole or in part, through grant funding and is contingent upon the continued availability and adequacy of such funding. If funding supporting the position is reduced, suspended, delayed, unavailable, discontinued, not renewed, or otherwise materially changed, AFT reserves the right, consistent with applicable law, to adjust the positions hours and compensation, place the employee on furlough, eliminate the position, or terminate employment. Nothing in this job description guarantees employment for any specific duration or modifies the at-will nature of employment, where applicable.

Compensation
American Farmland Trust offers excellent vacation, medical, retirement and other benefits. The salary range for this position is from $120,000 to $127,000 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

Timeline

To be considered applicants must submit a resume, answer all screener questions and include a cover letter explaining what they are a right fit for both AFT and this role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the role is filled.

Please apply directly through AFTs Paycom Career Portal using this link: Midwest Regional Director

If the link is unavailable, please visit AFTs Careers page and select this position to submit your application.