Farm and Ranch Business Advisor

Farm and Ranch Business Advisor Position Opening

Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) seeks an organized, compassionate, and resourceful problem-solver with a passion for helping agricultural businesses thrive to serve as an Farm and Ranch Business Advisor on our growing team. Job responsibilities include: providing business advising and succession planning support to Oregon farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners; facilitating family conversations and long-term planning; analyzing business health and financial viability; building relationships with agricultural partners and referral networks; and supporting program outreach and growth.

About Us

Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) is a statewide, 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that partners with farmers and ranchers to protect agricultural lands for the benefit of Oregon's economy, communities, and landscapes. We work collaboratively with regional and statewide partners to permanently protect farmland and ranchland in priority geographies across Oregon.

We also partner with regional leaders to:

• educate farmers, ranchers, service providers, and the public about protecting and passing on agricultural land;
• increase the capacity of peer organizations to protect agricultural land; and
• advocate for programs and incentives that support agricultural land protection.

Position Description

Compensation: $70,000 - $80,000 FTE equivalent DOE, plus generous benefits

Status: Negotiable .8 FTE to 1 FTE (exempt)

Reports to: Ag Business Support Program Director, who reports to the Executive Director

Location: OAT staff work remotely within the state of Oregon, with frequent virtual meetings and periodic in-person meetings in different locations of the state. This person should live in Oregon and be willing to travel throughout Oregon by car, on average, 1-2 days per week. Preference for someone living West of the Cascades.

Core Accountabilities

• Business Advising: Provide direct technical assistance to individuals and groups (e.g., families) that have a stake in agricultural businesses and land in Oregon. The Advisor will help clients develop a pathway toward business vitality, including business planning, financial management, profitability and cash flow analysis, and capital access.
• Succession Facilitation and Mediation: The Advisor will facilitate family conversations regarding needs, goals, vision, timelines, and related matters. As required and depending on the Advisor's skill set, they will also provide clients with mediation and conflict resolution services. This may include facilitation of similarly situated producers (e.g., beginning farmers and ranchers) to provide group training and peer-to-peer support on communications and removing roadblocks to success.

Secondary Accountabilities

• Fundraising: As needed, support development staff and supervisor on invoicing clients, seeking corporate sponsorships, and writing/reporting on grant funding for the program.
• Networking: Initiate and build relationships with organizations/individuals engaged in:
• Related business services to encourage referrals and learn about best practices
• Ag production, purchasing, distribution, and value-added services to facilitate programmatic outreach and potential corporate sponsorship opportunities
• Professional Development: Continued professional development is highly encouraged. OAT budgets $1,500 per employee per year for professional development, but additional funds can be made available, including a $5,000 tuition stipend.

Please note that the Advisor is not expected to be an attorney, accountant, or other licensed professional. What is required is an understanding of the big picture of business health and farm succession, a solid ability to "read the room," the ability to problem-solve, and a knack for helping individuals understand their ultimate goals and move towards them methodically. If you've worked with agricultural operations providing the services listed above, we encourage you to apply.

Desired Experience, Skills, & Attributes

• Direct experience working with farmers, ranchers, and/or agricultural landowners
• Personal or professional experience with business succession, financial analysis, and/or business planning, especially with agricultural businesses
• Experience in business or interpersonal counseling, facilitation, or mediation
• Case management experience
• Established relationships within the Oregon agricultural industry
• Ability to cultivate client relationships with follow-through and professionalism
• Being organized, self-motivated, and able to work independently to meet deadlines
• Discretion and attention to confidentiality
• Ability to serve people from all backgrounds and identities without judgment
• A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in both internal and external contexts
• Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Must have a valid driver's license and access to a vehicle, and live in Oregon

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, skills, or working conditions. Although it accurately reflects the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or require other or different tasks for any reason, including to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Employment at OAT is "at-will."

Leadership Profile

Oregon Agricultural Trust values our team members as whole humans. We treat each other with respect and compassion, honor each other's diverse backgrounds and perspectives, get excited about each other's successes and innovations, and enjoy working towards shared goals together. While we work remotely, we meet virtually each week for team meetings where we have fun, learn about each other, develop opportunities for cross-program partnerships, and strategize together. We also meet virtually at least every week with our direct supervisor and programmatic team to stay accountable and strategic in our activities. Leadership supports the personal and professional development and advancement of each of our team members through substantial professional development opportunities (including the ability to apply for tuition reimbursement) and regular performance meetings with supervisors.

Leaders on our team exemplify these core attributes:

Work/Life Balance - Enjoys working strategically towards organizational goals, with attention to excellence in all intermediate tasks, and sets boundaries where necessary to prevent burnout. Holds space for time outside of work, and asks for support when needed to balance work and non-work time and energy.

Integrity and Trust - Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn't misrepresent themself for personal gain.

Interpersonal Savvy - Is easy to approach and talk to; is a good listener; spends the extra effort to put others at ease; can be warm, pleasant, and gracious; builds rapport well with with people up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can defuse even high-tension situations comfortably.

Composure - Is cool under pressure; can handle stress; is considered mature; is not knocked off balance by the unexpected; doesn't show frustration when resisted or blocked; does not become defensive or irritated when times are tough; can be counted on to hold things together during tough times; is a settling influence in a crisis.

Process Management - Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; knows how to organize people and activities; understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient work flow; can see opportunities for synergy and integration where others can't; can simplify complex processes; gets more out of fewer resources.

Outcome Focused - Delivers the highest-quality products and services which meet the needs and requirements of internal and external customers; is committed to continuous improvement through empowerment and management by data; knows what to measure and how to measure it; leverages technology to positively impact quality.

Decision Quality - Makes good decisions based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of their solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time; sought out by others for advice and solutions.

Action Oriented - Enjoys working hard; is action oriented and full of energy for the things they see as challenging; seizes more opportunities than others.

Strategic Agility - Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.

Managing Vision and Purpose - Communicates a compelling and inspired vision or sense of core purpose; talks beyond today; talks about possibilities; is optimistic; creates mileposts and symbols to rally support behind the vision; makes the vision sharable by everyone; can inspire and motivate.

Benefits

OAT strives to support our staff with a generous benefits package, including*:

• Health, Vision & Dental Insurance: Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield Platinum Health and Vision Plan and Ameritas Dental Plan with orthodontic coverage. Employees receive 100% coverage for themselves, and employees pay no more than 50% of additional costs for: partner and child (max $400/mo) or partner or child (max $200/mo).
• 401K: Up to 5% employer match
• Life Insurance: $50,000 policy
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Health FSA and Dependent FSA: Available for employee contribution.
• PTO and Office-Closures: Starting at 20 days PTO per year and increasing to 30 days by year 6 with OAT. 16-17 days of office closure / holidays with flexibility for employee religious holidays. Plus other types of leave, including bereavement, medical & family, and a 6-week paid sabbatical after 7 years of employment.
• Stipends: $100/monthly for home office and $50/month for personal phone if no work phone. A $5,000 tuition stipend is also available to applicants who meet the criteria.
• Flexible Work Hours
• Plan features are not guaranteed and are subject to change.

Application

Open until filled. Résumés reviewed on a rolling basis. First interviews likely to begin late July. Apply early for best consideration.

Submit résumé and cover letter in one pdf to Nellie McAdams, Executive Director, via email at jobs@oregonagtrust.org. Questions by email only. No phone calls, please.

Prior to an offer, the applicant must complete a background check to OAT's satisfaction.

OAT is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or age.