American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and helped thousands of farm families make a go of it (primarily through programs that increase farm viability and/or enhance farmland access). Long a pioneering leader, AFT is now riding a new wave of growth, driven by agriculture's most pressing needs and opportunities.
We believe diversity drives innovation. We are inclusive. We embrace differences. We recognize and respect the fundamental value and dignity of all our employees. We celebrate the unique traditions, heritages, and experiences our employees bring to the workplace. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive culture that promotes and values diversity, and where everyone feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to work every day.
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Reporting to the Vice President of Programs, the Director of Land Use and Protection Research will lead development and implementation of a land use and farmland protection research agenda that informs AFT's programs and public policy development.
The Director and the team will be part of AFT's internal virtual farmland protection unit, comprised of the Farmland Information Center, Land Projects, Legal Team and National Agricultural Land Network, and will work with unit members to identify and prioritize research questions that could advance national farmland protection and retention efforts and AFT's policy and program development. In addition, the Director will collaborate with other AFT initiatives and regional programs on interdisciplinary efforts that address other research and initiatives as they relate to various aspects of AFT's holistic mission, such as promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land.
As an integral part of the AFT Program Team, the Land Use and Protection Research Director leads the Land Use and Protection Research Initiative which includes and builds upon the existing Farms Under Threat (FUT) portfolio of projects. The Director will ensure that AFT's land use research addresses the top organizational priorities and is strategic, coordinated, efficiently delivered, well-received, academically defensible, and impactful.
Existing and ongoing work in the Farms Under Threat portfolio has focused on the effects of land-use change on agricultural land; future threats to agricultural land from development and climate change; the contributions of working agricultural land to wildlife habitat and connectivity; and other ecosystem services that working agricultural lands provide. Funding has been secured for upcoming work focusing on quantifying the benefits of permanently protected agricultural land, including climate benefits from avoided conversion. The Director will help set the future direction of the research, with topics potentially including: the economic contributions of agricultural land and protected agricultural land to communities; the impact of land-use regulations and permanent protection on development patterns, alternative methods of agricultural land and easement valuation, land ownership and transfer patterns and dynamics; future agricultural land needs at regional, national, and global scales and implications for land-use policy; and further exploration of threats that urban and low-density sprawl pose to agriculture, as well as threats from climate change and opportunities for mitigation. The Director will share learnings with the Policy team to help inform state and federal policy proposals.
What You'll Be Working On
Required Qualifications
This is a management position. All candidates must have demonstrated
Education & Experience
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PI186745565
American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. Since our…