Colorado Grazing Specialist

Colorado Grazing Specialist Colorado Grazing Specialist Fort Collins, Colorado (Anywhere on the Front Range) - Fort Collins, CO 80525 Apply Overview Salary Range $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 Salary/year Level Experienced Position Type Full Time Apply Description Job purpose American Farmland Trust (AFT) is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who steward it. Since 1980, AFT has protected millions of acres of farmland, advanced environmentally sound practices, and supported thousands of farm families. Position Summary: The Colorado Grazing Specialist will lead AFT's on-the-ground grazing program development in Colorado. This will include producer engagement, and relationship building along Colorado's Front Range, supporting ranchers and land stewards as they strengthen grazing management, improve rangeland health, and build long-term operational resilience. This role will focus on implementing and growing AFT's Resilient Grazing Network (RGN), coordinating mentors, delivering peer-learning opportunities, documenting outcomes, and expanding regenerative grazing through peer-to-peer mentorship, technical assistance, and partnership development. The person in this role will also support the monitoring of ecological outcomes across the RGN project, particularly supporting data collection on select Colorado ranches. Working in a semi-arid region shaped by drought, variable precipitation, forage variability, limited water availability, extreme weather, and development pressure along the Front Range, this position will help producers adopt practical grazing strategies that improve soil health, forage productivity, water infiltration, drought resilience, and whole-ranch viability. The Specialist will also serve as a trusted local presence, building relationships with producers, partners, and institutions to establish and grow AFT's presence in Colorado. The position is expected to be based in the Front Range with the ability to work remotely from their home office. Duties and responsibilities Grazing Management and RGN Program Support Build and maintain trusted relationships with ranchers and land stewards to understand local needs, support producer participation, and encourage adoption of regenerative grazing management practices Identify and cultivate institutional partnerships with universities, conservation organizations, producer groups, conservation districts, and agencies to expand program reach, strengthen referral pathways, and support long-term impact Lead local implementation and growth of the Resilient Grazing Network, including recruiting and onboarding mentors, coordinating mentorship activities, and ensuring program delivery aligns with AFT goals and regional needs Provide ongoing program support to mentors, including tools, training, coordination, troubleshooting, and guidance as they help land stewards assess grazing systems, set goals, identify practical next steps, and connect with additional assistance as needed Recruit land stewards to participate in mentorship opportunities, trainings, and peer-learning activities, with emphasis on producers seeking to improve grazing management, soil health, drought resilience, forage productivity, water-use efficiency, and whole-ranch viability Organize mentor trainings and collaborate with AFT staff and partners to adapt curriculum, outreach materials, and training approaches so they are practical, regionally relevant, and aligned with Colorado Front Range contexts Provide direct technical assistance and resource navigation to producers transitioning to regenerative practices, including grazing management planning, soil health approaches, referrals to technical providers, and connections to conservation programs and funding opportunities Lead development and delivery of workshops, field days, and learning circles that address regional grazing, environmental, social, and economic challenges, including drought, variable forage production, water availability, shortgrass prairie health, extreme weather, succession planning, business planning, and ranch viability Contribute to storytelling and communications efforts by elevating producer experiences, identifying case studies, and supporting outreach materials in collaboration with the project communications team Data collection and Ecological Monitoring Assist land stewards with participant-level monitoring, including soil, forage, and grazing-related data collection to establish baseline conditions, assess changes over time, and understand how regenerative grazing practices affect soil health, forage production, and rangeland function Track program-level activities, producer engagement, mentor participation, outcomes, and lessons learned to inform continuous improvement, communications, and future funding opportunities Coordinate with AFTs evaluation team, university researchers, ranch managers, and other technical partners to support applied ecological monitoring on participating ranches, including implementation of field protocols and sampling, integration of grazing records, documentation of site conditions, and translation of findings into practical management insights. Broader Colorado Engagement Collaborate with AFT staff, such as the Texas Regional Director and Western Managing Director, to identify opportunities to engage with audiences across Colorado and represent AFT at appropriate conferences and events Collaborate with AFTs National Smart Solar Team and Agrivoltaics Specialist to understand opportunities to incorporate grazing with solar energy generation in Colorado. Represent AFT, as appropriate, to farmers, ranchers, partner organizations, agencies, policy makers, and the media in Colorado. Qualifications Required Qualifications: Strong knowledge of grazing systems, rangeland management, forage resources, and water resource challenges in Colorado or similar semi-arid Great Plains regions Knowledge of regenerative grazing, soil health principles, forage management, shortgrass prairie and rangeland ecology, and/ or conservation practices that support drought resilience Demonstrated ability to build trust and relationships with farmers, ranchers, and rural communities Experience delivering technical assistance, outreach, or education related to regenerative grazing, rangeland management, soil health, or conservation planning Experience implementing or managing field-based, producer-facing, or grant-funded agricultural, conservation, or outreach programs Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and translate technical concepts into practical application Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with diverse rural communities and producers with varying levels of experience, resources, and goals Ability to work independently while coordinating across remote teams, partners, mentors, and producer cohorts Willingness to travel frequently within Colorado and occasionally throughout the region (up to 25% time) Ability to collect and organize field and program data, track participation and outcomes, maintain clear records, and document lessons learned for reporting and continuous improvement Significant experience with grazing networks, agriculture, ranching, and conservation partners in Colorado Experience planning and delivering producer-focused workshops, field days, trainings, learning circles, or peer-to-peer education opportunities Preferred Qualifications: Experience developing grazing plans, conservation plans, or related implementation plans in collaboration with producers, technical assistance providers, universities, conservation districts, nonprofit organizations, agencies, or other partners Experience supporting applied ecological monitoring or partner-led research in rangeland, grazing, agricultural conservation, or natural resource set