Senior Climate & Soil Health Scientist in Washington, District of Columbia at American Farmland Trust

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Job purpose

Reporting to the National Climate and Soil Health Director, theSeniorClimate andSoil HealthScientistsupportsAFTs Climate and Soil HealthProgramby advancingconnectivity acrossresearch, science translation, partnerships, and implementation strategies that accelerate adoption of resilient soil health management systems. This includesa core focus onbiocharintegration, aswell asother climate-beneficial approaches.The position supports AFTs efforts to catalyze a new conventional agriculture:empoweringfarmers and ranchers across the nations diverse systemstoachieve on-farm and societal benefitsfromsystems that aresoil health promoting,biodiverse,climate-neutral or better,resilient, equitable, and environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.

Position summary

As an integralmemberof theClimateand Soil HealthProgram,theSeniorClimate andSoil HealthScientistleadsresearch,technical program development, science translation, partnership building, training, fundraising, and implementation efforts that bridge research and practice.The position includes research responsibilitiesbutis fundamentally a research-to-practice role focusedon usingscienceto fosteradoptionof resilient soil health management systems.The position helpsidentifyand address barriers to adoption and persistence, develops tools and resources that support decision-making, and advances emerging opportunities in biochar, PFAS, climate resilience, and related soil health innovation.The positionrequires a combination of scientific leadership,entrepreneurial spirit, innovation,excellent communication, and ability to collaborateacross disciplines,teams, anddiverse stakeholders.

Dutiesand responsibilities

Overall

The Climate and Soil Health Program is engaged across a growing portfolio of national and regional partnerships focused on advancing adoption of resilient soil health management systems.This role leadsprojectsand workstreamsthat require collaborating across multiple federal, academic, non-profit, industry and other partners,andcollaboratestodevelop new funded efforts that enable the translation from research to scientifically sound,economically viable, scalableimplementation ofsoil health management systems,includingbiocharintegration.Akey priority focus area for this position is tostrengthenAFT's leadership in addressing scientific, technical, economic, and implementation barriers that limit the sustainable production, integration, and scaling of biochar as a climate resilience and soil health management tool.

Scientificleadership forsoilhealth,biochar, and climate

• Research:Leadappliedresearch, literature review,technicalreview, dataanalysis, modeling, life cycle analysis, andimpact-oriented programmatic design and implementation, andprovide technical leadership for fundraising effortsrelating to biocharand soil health.Collaborate across the team to compile, analyze, and publish project data andresults.

• Science Translation & Technical Resources:Lead and collaborateonscience translation activitiesthat integrate research findings, producer innovations, and demonstration results intotransformative technical resources:decision support tools,guides, factsheets,manuals,peer-reviewed publications,curricula,trainingsand educational resourcesthatsupportsuccessfuladoption.

• Networks & Adoption:Contribute to development and continuous improvement of producer, advisor, mentor, and peer-learning networkfunctioningby integrating scientific findingsandAFTssocial, economic, and environmentalprogramevaluationresultsto strengthenfuturenetwork outcomes.

• Systems:Address adoptionneedsacrosssoil health practices inannual and perennial, high disturbance, and othersystemsacrossvaried agroecological zones,throughAFTson-farm trialsnetwork, technicalresources, andtrainingprograms.

• Training:Contribute scientific leadership and subject-matterexpertiseto Advanced Soil Health Training,Growing with Biochar Training,peer learning networks, mentor programs,livestock and grazing training,and other capacity-building efforts designed to multiply adoption.

• Evaluation:Collaborate on the design and implementation of impact measurement, evaluation, and learning systems that assess adoption, persistence, environmental, economic, and networkoutcomes.

• Emergingopportunities:Provide scientific leadership for emerging priority areas including biochar, PFAS, climate resilience, soil health systems, ecosystem services, and other strategically relevant topicsandentrepreneurialopportunities forAFT investment inpartnershipdevelopment,innovation, and scaling.

• Fundraising:SupportNationalClimate and Soil Health Directorand teamin fundraising efforts by developing compelling proposals and pitches and cultivating funder relationships.Mayserve asPIon future projects.

Stakeholderandpartnership management

• Build, steward and leverage partnerships for future impactwith producers, advisors, researchers, corporate partners, funders, and other stakeholders.

• Co-developapplied research-to-implementationagendas to ensure scientific work addresses practical adoption barriers and market opportunities.

• Lead collaborations with partners to develop transformative resources and programs nationwide.

Thought leadership,trainingand outreach

• Serve asanAFT representative andthoughtleaderinmeetings, workshops,conferencesand other external eventsreaching diverse audiences, advancingnational visibility andengagement aroundbiochar,soil health, climate resilience, and related topics.

• Help design, refine, deliver, and scale evidence-based curricula and learning pathways, includingtrainingsand associated peer learning networks.

• Collaborate with AFT'sPrograms andCommunications teamsto communicate andelevate thevisibility, impact, lessonslearned, andthought leadershipof AFT's Climate and Soil Health workthrough stakeholder engagement,presentations,publications,websites,blog posts, press releases, social media, and other communications channels.

• Provide input and technical review for relevant policy recommendations, platforms, andcommunications.

Programmaticand teammanagement

• Lead and manageteams of AFT staff and partners onassigned projectsor workstreams.Collaborateacross AFT, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),Agricultural Research Service (ARS),AmericanBiocharInstitute(ABI),federal, academic, non-profit, industry, corporate supply chain,and other partners.

• Provide leadershipandprogrammatic managementfor funded work, ensuringhigh qualitydeliverables,partner coordination, andprogress and final funder reporting.

• Support a strongteamculture of shared learning, innovation and problem solving among AFTnational and regionalstaff.

This is not 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,future fundraising will drive the direction of the program, andmanagement reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

RequiredQualifications

Scientificexperienceandsoilhealth andbiocharexpertise

• Significant scientific,technical,andappliedon-farmexpertiseinsoil health, soil function, and interactionsamongproduction systems, soils, climatic conditions,and management,including adaptation ofpractices to site-specificconditionsacrossdiverse agricultural production systems.

• Familiarity withsoil systems modeling as well as withmicrobial, ecological, and other soil science processes.

• Advanced understanding of soil health management systemsimplementation, biochar opportunities and challenges, and environmental co-benefits,climateinteractions, and technical barriers for producer adoption and success.

• Experienceadvancingsoil healthmanagement systemsthrough development and application ofmodels,tools, anddecision support resourcesandtechnicalguidancethat arebasedinresearch andproducerexperience.

• Demonstrated success conductingindependent researchandexecuting complex technicaltasksand quantitativeanalysesof complex agronomic or ecological datasetsusingR, SAS, or a comparable statistical programming language.

• Proficient in literature review, synthesis of scientific information, and regularevaluation of emergingsoil health research,technologiesandproducer innovations.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills forinter-organizational and inter-disciplinaryteam collaboration on technical resources and publications fordiverseaudiences.

• Demonstrated experience and success in grant writingand other forms offundraisingas well asachievingpeer, leadership, or donorbuy-in on critical projects.

Stakeholder,andpartnership management experience

• Demonstrated successindevelopingpartnershipswith researchers, farmers and ranchers,advisors,non-profits, corporations, agricultural retailers and industry, and government agencies.

• Dedicated to practicing, learning, and advancing efforts to expand access to resources and support among small, limitedresource, beginning and other farmerswhohave faced barriers that mayimpactpractice adoption.

Trainingand outreach experience

• Proficient trainer,facilitator,communicator, andpublic speaker torepresentorganizations work.

• Adept at developing educational materials and communicating complex scientific conceptsrelated to soil health systems, resilience, and biochar integrationto diverse audiencesofproducers, advisors, policymakers, and technical experts.

Programmatic and team managementexperience

• Ability to do high quality, independent work in a dynamic organization under time pressure.

• Proven history overseeingresearch and/orproject implementation and deliveryon time and within budget,leveragingspecialized knowledgeto achieve goals.

• High emotional intelligenceanddemonstratedability to collaborate, motivate others, and achieve shared goals in remote and team-based environments.

• Exceptional organizationaland communicationskills.

• Commitment toshared learning,creativity,innovationand problem solving.

AdditionalDesired Qualifications

• Experience with and/or knowledge of markets for carbon sequestration or other environmental services.

• Knowledge ofNRCS and othercurrent state and federal policies and programs related to agriculture, soil health,biochar,and climate mitigationand resilience.

Education & Experience

To qualify for thescientistpositionregardless of level,theincumbentmust have:

• Scientific and implementationleadership experience.

• Degreein agronomy, soil science,agroecology,conservation, agricultural sciences,or relatedfieldandcommensurateamount of experiencein soil healthand biocharmanagement.

• Mastersdegree andabout6years ofrelevantworkexperience; OR

• PhD degree and about2years ofrelevantworkexperience

To qualify for the senior level theincumbentmust have:

• Significant, large scale,multi-regional or nationalscientificand implementationleadership experience,successful fundraising,agriculturalproduction systemsexpertise.

• Mastersdegree andabout10 years ofworkexperience; OR

• PhD degree andabout6years ofworkexperience

Additional Considerations:

• Qualifications for the position described are more important than level of educational degree attainment.

This is a senior scientist role, with a salary range of $100-110k, for candidates who meet the qualifications above. If we don't find that exact fit, we're open to someone earlier in their career with strong potential to grow into it. For a junior hire, the range would be $90-$99k

Working Conditions

• This role involves some travel to meet with producers, agricultural services providers,researchprofessionals, and other agricultural and conservation stakeholders in indoor and outdoor locations, including visiting a variety of agricultural operations.

• Occasional evening or weekend work may berequiredto meet deadlines or attend events.

Travel

• Requires up to15% travel,potentiallyincluding tonational headquartersofficein Washington, D.C., other regional offices, and elsewhere in the country.

Degree of Supervision Received

• Direction: The incumbentestablishesmethods and procedures forattainingspecific goals andobjectives, receives guidance in terms of broad goals and approaches, andon organizational policies, and then leads and receives input from the team. Initial outlines andfinal resultsof work are typically reviewed.Incumbent exercises wide latitude in determining research and technical objectives and approaches to critical assignments.

Degree of Supervision Given

This position has no management responsibility at thistime butmay have potential to evolve into a management position.

Compensation
American Farmland Trust offers excellent vacation, medical, retirement and other benefits. The salary range for this position is from $90,000 to $110,000 based upon experience. This is a senior scientist role, with a salary range of $100-110k, for candidates who meet the qualifications above. If we don't find that exact fit, we're open to someone earlier in their career with strong potential to grow into it. For a junior hire, the range would be $90-$99k

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: Senior Climate & Soil Health Scientist

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