California Water Resource Specialist

American Farmland Trust is seeking a California Agricultural Water Resource Specialist in San Joaquin, CA. This temporary position involves managing projects related to regenerative agriculture and groundwater recharge, providing technical assistance to farmers, and collaborating with various stakeholders. The role includes analyzing data, supporting policy initiatives, and promoting AFT's work. The position is part of a team dedicated to enhancing agricultural practices and protecting farmland.
Who We Are

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.




The Position

Reporting to the Senior Agricultural Specialist, the California Agricultural Water Resource Specialist, works as part of multi-disciplinary team to successfully deliver AFT’s outreach, research, policy, and technical assistance programs supporting regenerative agriculture, groundwater recharge, and farmland protection in agricultural regions in California.


This is a temporary position anticipated to continue through September 30, 2026. Continuation beyond this date is dependent upon the availability of additional funding.




What You’ll Be Working On

As an integral part of the CA regional programs team, the California Agricultural Water Resources Specialist works with the California team, national initiative staff and external partners to lead the development and execution of water resources efforts in California including implementation of AFT’s San Joaquin Land and Water Strategy and advancing holistic approaches to create more resilient water and land systems across the state.





Specific duties include:



Managing multiple projects to help achieve AFT’s San Joaquin Land and Water Strategy goals include collaborating with other AFT staff and partners to track progress on project deliverables
Providing technical expertise on a broad range of regenerative agricultural projects including groundwater recharge and infiltration practices, soil health management, and other related conservation practices.
Providing technical assistance to farmers and ranchers through outreach, creation of farm conservation plans and implementation of regenerative agriculture practices including aiding in the layout & installation of practices and evaluation of completed practices
Coordinating and linking research with different partners to leverage soil and water research projects, including methods development as well as translation and bridging outcomes relevant to farmers and water managers so projects simultaneously inform and drive high-impact conservation practice implementation on the ground.
Analyzing farm conservation practice data to evaluate achievement of goals, track project/on-the-ground progress, and to aid in adaptive management.
Contributing to AFT’s policy support related to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and other state water policy
Fostering collaborations among NGOs, agencies, academic institutions, water districts, and agricultural partners
Representing AFT externally with stakeholders through presentations at conferences.
Coordinating with AFT’s communications team to actively promote work, identifying and assisting with storytelling opportunities through social media, blog posts, profiles, fact sheets, videos and other mediums.Coordinating with other AFT program and development staff to develop annual program and budget goals and provide input on funding proposals, reporting and budget management.



The ideal candidate has working knowledge of California agriculture and water resource-related issues, management, and stakeholders (previous on-farm experience or related agricultural sectors is preferred) and possesses:



Previous experience or willingness to learn agricultural conservation planning and implementation issues and techniques
Interest in developing partnerships with the scientific community, farmers and ranchers, non-profits, corporations, agricultural retailers and industry, and government agencies
Familiarity with environmental outcomes quantification tools and methodologies preferred with prior research experience; experience analyzing conservation practice or water data to generate descriptive statistics to present information to project partners a plus
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to facilitate discussions among technical and lay audiences and translate technical information into plain language to various stakeholders
Direct professional experience working with farmers, farmland owners, water quality monitoring and/or modeling experts, state and federal agencies, soil and water conservation districts, and others is preferred
Dedication to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within AFT and across agriculture and the food system
A collaborative, professional, and innovative approach
Must be highly motivated with strong interpersonal skills
A desire to participate in a strong team culture of shared learning, innovation and problem solving among AFT staff
Spanish-English language fluency preferred; other/additional language skills are beneficial.



Education & Experience



Undergraduate degree with a minimum of 4 years of related work experience or a graduate degree with a minimum of 2 years of related work experience in water resources, agriculture, hydrology, soil science, environmental resource management, or related fields, preferred
Professional experience working directly with farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural and environmental organizations and stakeholders is strongly preferred.



Degree of Supervision Given

This position has no supervisory responsibility.

Compensation

AFT offers a competitive compensation package, including excellent vacation, medical, retirement, and other benefits. This position offers an annual salary of $65,000 - $70,000.

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 opportunities
Flexible scheduling

Timeline

To be considered, applicants must submit a resume, a cover letter explaining why they are the right fit for both AFT and this role, and complete all screener questions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled. Apply Directly Here: California Water Resource Specialist