California Regional Director

California Regional Director

Reporting to the Western Managing Director, the California Regional Director (Director) provides strategic leadership for growing American Farmland Trust's (AFT) impact in California.

This role is ideal for a strategic leader who understands the intersection of agriculture and conservation and brings an entrepreneurial mindset to growing programs and partnerships. The Director will play key roles with program development, external relations, and fundraising while also working closely with the California Deputy Director to manage a high-functioning team to grow American Farmland Trust's impact in California.

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Cultivate partnerships with farm and ranch organizations, local, state, and federal agencies in California, universities, conservation organizations, corporations and others with aligned interests.
• Collaborate with the development team to engage individual donors, foundations, government agencies and corporate partners.
• Leverage external relationships to advance funding opportunities and strategic collaborations that grow AFT's programs and impact.
• Advance AFT's commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice through programs, partnerships and other means.
• Develop and lead programs in California to advance AFT's mission to save the land that sustains us by protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land.
• Collaborate with regional and national staff to inform and advance program, policy and research priorities.
• In coordination with AFT's national policy team, support the California Senior Policy Manager in developing and implementing a plan to advance AFT's state and federal policy priorities in California.
• Oversee the development and implementation of annual workplans and budgets for California.
• Lead a high-impact team in California that successfully achieves program, budget and other organizational goals.
• Support the recruitment, hiring, supervision, and creation of an inclusive environment for an entirely remote staff.
• Work with staff to develop and achieve annual performance goals and conduct performance evaluations.
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson with mainstream media, create public-facing communications and speak at public and private events.
• Lead staff in documenting and communicating about AFT's program impact in California and across the organization.
• Shape program messages and content for external audiences in California in collaboration with AFT's Development, Communications, and Corporate Partnerships staff.

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

Qualifications :

Education & Experience :

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

Working / Travel Conditions :

This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, and phones. Occasional work in the evenings or on weekends may be required to meet deadlines. This is a remote position based in California. Occasional travel may be required, predominantly within California.

Direct reports :

Compensation :

This position offers an annual salary of $125,000 - $130,000.

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

Why you should apply :