Office Location:

Lansing, MI, USA

Must reside in MI. Travel 20% throughout the lower peninsula, with one day in office per month.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube  or on Glassdoor.  

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Sustainable Supply Chain Specialist will support The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to influence local commodity supply chains and farmers to make strides toward long term agricultural conservation adoption in Michigan. The Sustainable Supply Chain Specialist’s programming areas have been strategically designed as pathways for gaining progress toward The Nature Conservancy’s long-term conservation adoption goals. The Conservancy will rely on this person to demonstrate the effective and sustainable nature of supply chain-driven farmer incentive models, help facilitate stronger farmer peer networks throughout the watershed, and add technical capacity in agronomy, data analysis and modeling, agricultural finance mechanisms or policy to our team.

The Conservancy has worked with agricultural partners in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay Watershed for over ten years to enhance on-farm conservation outcomes and improve water quality. We do this by co-developing with partners and landowners on new conservation practices, conservation delivery mechanisms and conservation learning opportunities. The Sustainable Supply Chain Specialist will advance TNC’s agricultural supply chain work and our farmer engagement program. This position will:

• Serve as programmatic lead for planning and implementing supply chain-based farmer sustainability programs across Michigan-based grain and row crop industries.
• Provide technical assistance to Michigan farmers as needed re: adoption of new regenerative practices.
• Generally, support and empower farmers to lead change via facilitation of peer-to-peer farmer learning groups and other means of influence.

We’re Looking for You:

This position will contribute technical support and assistance to Michigan TNC’s Regenerative Agriculture strategy, including planning and implementing new sustainable agriculture (ag) program work streams. This position entails a unique set of responsibilities, including building and stewarding strategic partnerships, working within budget to complete projects, and delivering regenerative ag programing at multiple levels within Michigan’s agricultural supply chain. 

The position requires an experienced collaborator willing and able to strategize, influence and thoughtfully deliver regenerative ag initiatives to Michigan’s private agricultural sector. They will help foster community and stakeholder support through effective engagement and communication, manage their time to coordinate tasks across multiple projects, effectively collaborate as part of a larger team, help adaptively manage ongoing programs toward greater success, set deadlines and manage tasks to completion. This is a two-year position with a possibility of extension. 

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Performs field work with minimal supervision and makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.
• Works collaboratively with farmers and external agricultural supply chain partners- specifically local grain merchandizers, processors, and cooperatives, as well as with internal technical, administrative, and professional staff with responsibility for performance management, training, and development. 
• Employee may be asked to work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, and with a diversity of stakeholders with varying and sometimes demanding schedules.  The employee will generally be responsible for maintaining professional customer service under a suite of demanding circumstances.

What You’ll Bring:

• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in agricultural or natural resource management or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience working with the Michigan agribusiness sector.
• Experience working with non-industrial private landowners.  
• Relationship building experience to work closely with a variety of partners, (e.g., farmers, agribusiness, academia, governmental, internal scientists.) 
• Experience negotiating.
• Experience completing tasks independently with respect to a timeline.
• Experience with communication via written, spoken and graphical means in English and/or other relevant languages.
• Experience using common software applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.
• Experienced in field work and data collection.                   

BONUS:

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability to obtain, professional Crop Advisor or agronomy certification.  
• Familiarity with principles of commodity production systems and commodity markets.

What We Bring:

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including: health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

Auto Safety Policy:

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.

Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers/recruitment/ under the FAQ section.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $62,000 - $67,000 for annual base salary. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Apply Now:

To apply for job ID 55159, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.