Practical Farmers of Iowa is Hiring a Senior Cover Crop Business Coordinator

About PFI

Practical Farmers of Iowa is a nonprofit organization that has worked to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities since 1985. We create learning opportunities via farmer-led events, on-farm research and educational content through our robust network of farmers. We also provide funding and technical assistance to help farmers adopt regenerative farming practices and grow farm businesses. Our vision is an Iowa with healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities.

This work has always been rooted in our value of welcoming everyone and creating a culture of mutual respect. We believe that a diversity of people, ideas and perspectives strengthens our ability to find creative solutions, enriches our understanding and broadens our impact. At Practical Farmers, we celebrate this diversity and are committed to ensuring that our policies and practices create an equitable and inclusive workplace. We take equal opportunity seriously and seek to empower and support all applicants and teammates.

Practical Farmers offers a flexible, supportive and fast-paced work environment. Professional development is a core part of our culture and team members are encouraged to take independent initiative to help fulfill our mission.

About the position

The farm viability department provides innovative, personalized support to help farmers achieve their goals. We partner with farmers to implement new on-farm practices, develop markets and create robust farm business plans. We make key connections across the food and agriculture supply chain, develop strategic partnerships and shape the policies that encourage resilient farms to thrive.

We’re seeking a senior cover crop business coordinator to manage our growing cover crop business accelerator program. This program offers one-on-one business support and financial assistance to help new and emerging cover crop businesses prepare for growth. As more farmers plant or express interest in cover crops, these businesses play a key role in providing the services farmers need to integrate cover crops into their operations.

In this role you’ll be responsible for delivering technical assistance directly to businesses, as well as growing and shaping the program to align with PFI’s business programming across enterprises. If you’re passionate about supporting sustainable farm-based businesses, growing rural economies and building effective business programs, this is your role!

You’ll support the farm viability department by:

• Providing business technical assistance to cover crop business accelerator participants. You’ll work directly with farmers in this program, coaching them on business planning, marketing and operations.
• Developing curricula and milestones for business accelerator participants. You’ll create both standardized and customizable business programming to ensure we’re helping farmers meet their business goals.
• Coordinating business networking. In this role, you will play a vital role in building a community of practice for accelerator participants, ensuring businesses have a peer support network they can tap into.
• Overseeing third-party contractors and business experts that support accelerator participants in various aspects of their business planning.
• Developing evaluation tools and reporting the metrics to funders and project partners. This entails implementing data collection methods and analyzing and compiling the results.

Duties

• Provide technical assistance for the cover crop business accelerator program
• Manage cover crop business projects
• Oversee contractors, staff members, volunteers and partners who conduct cover crop business accelerator projects and work
• Analyze cover crop business accelerator program data and report results
• Coordinate business-related events annually, mentorship between businesses, payments to businesses and promotion of PFI cost-share programs
• Develop and manage partnerships related to the cover crop business accelerator program that draw on both organizations' work toward PFI's goals
• Design and implement data collection tools for cover crop business accelerator program.

Required Qualifications and Characteristics

• Experience analyzing financials and developing profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cashflow statements
• Experience developing business plans and pro forma statements
• Confidence with Excel, spreadsheets and other business planning tools
• Consultation, teaching and training skills
• Project management skills
• Experience with databases or project management tools
• Able to strategically solve problems
• Able to communicate clearly
• Able to manage sensitive client conversations and information with tact, empathy and respect
• A passion for PFI’s mission

Desired Qualifications and Characteristics

• Experience developing marketing plans
• Knowledge of agricultural systems and sustainable agriculture concepts
• Experience supporting farm or food business plan development
• Knowledge of how to use and manage cover crops
• Familiarity with bookkeeping tools, such as QuickBooks

This is a full-time position based in our Ames, Iowa, office with potential for a remote schedule. Strong preference will be given to candidates who can work from our Ames office one to two days per week. The candidate must be in the Ames office at least once per month and be able to travel around Iowa and surrounding states to various farms on occasion. The salary range for this position is $54,500 to $60,000 with annual opportunity for merit salary increases and position advancement.

PFI values its employees and is a flexible and supportive work environment. We offer employees a competitive benefits package that includes employee health insurance with 100% employer-paid premium, generous paid time off, flexible hours, six weeks of fully paid parental leave and 4% automatic 401k contribution after one year of employment. We also encourage employee professional development and offer a range of specialty benefits employees can use to support their wellness, sustainability and financial goals. Examples of our specialty benefits include contributions towards spouse/dependent health insurance, stipends for remote workers, reimbursements for fitness costs, CSA subscriptions, student loans or eco-friendly purchases. Practical Farmers is a family-friendly employer.

Please apply by completing the application form (including contact information, cover letter, resume and references) at the bottom of this page. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.