Sustainability Specialist

Landus Cooperative • Full-time • Des Moines, Iowa • 2m ago

Full-time

Description

About Us

As a farmer-owned cooperative headquartered in Iowa, Landus elevates and uplifts thousands of farmers in communities throughout rural America. By activating the power of data to connect key contributors across the ag supply chain, we’re helping farmers build sustainable and profitable businesses and activating a more secure food and fuel future for farmers and consumers alike.

About the Role

As Sustainability Specialist you will work with ag retail, landowners, and farmers across Iowa to execute and compile sustainability and conservation programs. Deliver increased farmer participation and engagement in programs and projects that improve production, profitability, and natural resource outcomes.

What will you do?

Serve as a sustainability, conservation and agronomy technical specialist providing technical assistance to farmers customers/members, landowners, and ag retail for designated projects across Iowa to include:
Identification of appropriate in-field and edge-of-field agronomy and conservation practices for soil and water resource management practices and systems to address resource concerns, farmer/landowner goals, and watershed project goals.
Execution of on-farm research, including collection of data and management information
Monitoring agronomic and conservation practice performance for continual improvement
Connecting farmers and landowners with financial assistance and securing necessary technical design standards for practice application
Build relationships and assist with watershed project development and coordination, serving as a technical agronomy and conservation liaison between watershed coordinators and ag retail across the state.
Build relationships and coordinate projects with project sponsors and a variety of audiences in the ag retail territory including farmers, landowners, local ag retail staff, Certified Crop Advisors, USDA Service Center personnel, local partners, and other commodity organizations.
Participate in partner meetings, trainings, events, and field days.
Prepare work plans, budgets, quarterly and annual reports, and support grant development.
Coordinate with other Landus departments and staff including communications and outreach, producer services and finance and accounting.
Exemplifies Landus values, embracing and building that culture throughout the organization.
Coordinate and manage execution of sustainability projects related to carbon sequestration. Carbon Intensity and traceability programs.

Requirements

Candidate Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (agriculture, business or similar discipline preferred). Two – four years’ experience and/or training in Conservation Agronomy.
Master’s degree in or related field.
Demonstrated leadership in the agriculture industry and clearly articulates vision, strategy and proposals.
Strong understanding of: agricultural industry and the ag retail system, cropping systems, conservation delivery systems, and promotion of conservation practices.
Capable of working in a team environment while working independently to achieve specific project deliverables.
Ability to work remotely and from affiliated office locations.
Understanding of computer technologies including data storage, statistical software, GIS, and monitoring equipment interfaces.
Demonstrated ability in coordinating projects with internal and external resources.
Able to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.
Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of an organization.
Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
Computer Skills, Knowledge of MS Office, Outlook, and databases.
Work with an open dialogue, an exchange of ideas, and the ability to accept direction and feedback positively.
Professional, friendly, and outgoing disposition; Ability to work respectfully with the internal team, as well as external partners is paramount to success.
Self-motivated and organized with attention-to-detail.

Licenses, Registrations, Certificates

Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) certification
Ability to attend in person meetings at the Des Moines location.
Travel as necessary to support business needs.

Location & Commitments

Frequent use of hands and fingers to prod, handle, feel, or reach.
Regularly required to talk or hear.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
Occasionally required to stand, walk, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Specific vision requirements include close vision and the ability to focus vision.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

Salary Description

$65,000-$75,000 annually