Farm Viability Operations Associate

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. 

Job Purpose 

The Farm Viability Operations Associate (Associate) supports two divisions that operate under the National Farm Viability Managing Director: Smart Solar℠ and Farmer and Rancher Services (FRS), which includes Prosperity Partners consulting and Brighter Future Fund grantmaking. Across these two divisions, 16 staff guide solar development to protect farmland, award hundreds of grants annually to farmers and ranchers across the country, and provide fee-for-service conservation planning, engineering, and consulting services to farmers, landowners, and solar developers. 

That work generates more than 100 active contracts, 250 invoices, and 500 payments annually—a volume that requires dedicated coordination to keep organized, accurate, and moving. This is a new position created to meet that need. The Associate will build, adapt, and maintain the systems the divisions rely on to initiate and track contracts and financial activity, serve as the internal resource on contract and invoice workflows, and support the operational needs of staff—freeing program staff to focus on farmers and ranchers. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

The Associate works across AFT’s Smart Solar and Farmer and Rancher Services programs to manage contract administration, invoice and payment tracking, and operational systems. This position does not perform accounting functions or execute payments; it ensures that the program team’s contracting and financial tracking are well-documented, accurately maintained, and continuously improving. 

Contract Administration 

• Coordinate the full lifecycle of incoming and outgoing contracts—from initiation through execution, amendment, and renewal—across 100+ active contracts annually, including client service agreements, vendor contracts, and subcontracts. 

• Manage the division’s use of ContractWorks, maintaining a current and accessible contract library for Smart Solar and FRS program staff. 

• Serve as the division’s primary resource on contract administration workflows, providing guidance on documentation requirements, process steps, and compliance with organizational policies; coordinate with AFT’s national administrative and legal teams on contract questions and escalate issues to supervisors as appropriate. 

• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for contract management across the Smart Solar and Farmer and Rancher Services Divisions. 

Invoice and Payment Tracking 

• Track 250+ invoices annually across Smart Solar and FRS, covering both receivables from clients and payables to service providers and contractors. 

• Coordinate documentation for 500+ payments annually, ensuring accurate program-side records are maintained in Sutisoft and Monday.com. 

• Confirm that invoices are submitted, received, and routed correctly in coordination with program staff; troubleshoot payment status questions with vendors, clients, grantees, and AFT Finance; escalate discrepancies and unresolved issues to supervisors as appropriate. 

• Support the development of program-side payment schedules, projections, and financial summaries from contract and invoice records. 

• Support internal reporting, grant documentation, audit readiness, and year-end financial close through organized and up-to-date financial tracking records. 

• Maintain a clear alignment with but separation between program-side initiation and tracking and the accounting and payment execution functions, which remain with AFT Finance. 

Systems Development and Operations 

• In alignment with the procedures and systems led by AFT Finance and administration, lead the design and ongoing optimization of the division’s contract and invoice tracking systems, building or adapting workflows in Monday.com, Sutisoft, SurveyMonkey Apply, and ContractWorks to improve accuracy and support divisional reporting; integrate AI-assisted productivity tools, including Microsoft Copilot and Claude, into operational workflows. 

• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce bottlenecks and strengthen the divisions’ operational capacity; develop and update standard operating procedures as systems evolve. 

• Monitor data quality across operational systems and produce regular reports for division leadership and program staff. 

• Represent the divisions in AFT-wide operational conversations and working groups as relevant. 

General Operations Support 

• Serve as the divisions’ primary day-to-day point of contact with AFT Finance on contract and invoice workflows. 

• Coordinate scheduling for division meetings and provide logistical support for team events and convenings. 

• Support onboarding of new staff and contractors within the divisions, including documentation coordination, system access setup, and orientation materials; compile and organize operational data for internal reporting to program staff and division leadership. 

• Provide administrative support to staff as directed by the supervisor. 

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

Required 

• Organized and detail-oriented, with demonstrated ability to manage high volumes of concurrent records accurately and independently. 

• Understanding of basic accounting principles, systems, and terminology. 

• Experience coordinating contracts or tracking financial documentation at volume in a professional setting. 

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks, follow through with limited supervision, and adapt to changing deadlines and requirements. 

• Proficiency with project management, database, or contract management software. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

• Demonstrated openness to adopting AI-assisted productivity tools as a core part of daily work. 

• Commitment to AFT’s mission of protecting farmland and supporting farmers and ranchers. 

Preferred 

• Familiarity with Monday.com, Sutisoft, or ContractWorks. 

• Experience in nonprofit program administration or agricultural and conservation organizations. 

• Experience supporting federal program contracting or documentation (NRCS, EQIP, or similar). 

• Familiarity with AI productivity tools such as Microsoft Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini. 

• Basic understanding of agriculture practices and the producers AFT serves. 

Education & Experience 

A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in operations, contract administration, program coordination, or a related field; or 7 years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree. 

Working Conditions & Travel

This is a full-time remote position. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to meet deadlines. Occasional travel to in-person AFT staff meetings or divisional events is expected.

Degree of Supervision Received 

The Associate works under the general supervision of the Senior Manager of Grantmaking, and works closely with the National Farm Viability Managing Director, with increasing independence as systems and workflows are established. 

Degree of Supervision Given 

This position does not supervise staff but serves as the divisions’ primary resource on contract and invoice workflows, providing process guidance to the Smart Solar and FRS Divisions. 

Compensation 

AFT offers a competitive compensation package, including excellent vacation, medical, retirement, and other benefits. This position offers an annual salary of $70,000 - $75,000, depending on experience. 

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/Anticipated Start Date 

To be considered for this position, applicants must submit a resume, a cover letter outlining their interest in American Farmland Trust and explaining why they are a strong fit for both the organization and the role and complete all required screening questions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with an anticipated start date in early September. You must apply directly here: Farm Viability Operations Associate

Please note: If you are viewing this position on LinkedIn, do not apply using LinkedIn's Easy Apply/Quick Apply feature. All applications must be submitted directly through American Farmland Trust's application portal here: Farm Viability Operations Associate