Position Title: Project Manager Location: Stoneville, MS Duration: Full-time, permanent
Company Background
Delta F.A.R.M. (Delta Farmers Advocating Resource Management) is a non-profit conservation organization founded in 1997 to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of farming in the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta region of Northwest Mississippi. The organization accomplishes this mission by: 1) Providing technical assistance to farmer and farm landowner members operating over 1 million acres of land 2) Advocating for public and private conservation incentives for working lands 3) Facilitating agricultural and environmental research that supports sustainable farming practices and addresses natural resource concerns.
Job Description
Delta F.A.R.M. is seeking candidates for a full-time project manager. The project manager will be expected to work independently and collaboratively with other team members. The primary responsibility will be to manage the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality 319 projects. These projects seek to improve water quality in impaired watersheds by implementing best management practices (BMPs). The BMPs include water control structures, weirs, two-stage ditches, and cover crops, among others. The candidate is expected to meet with landowners to perform initial site assessments and develop and implement best management plans. These projects will involve ordering materials and contracting with welders, and heavy machinery operators to complete the job. The employee will oversee the project until completion and document before and after results. The candidate will be expected to write reports and have them delivered before deadlines. The project manager will also be expected to assist with ongoing cover crops and minimum tillage trials. Coordinating seed delivery, installing soil moisture sensors, planting cover crops, terminating cover crops, meeting and working with farm operators, and helping with data collection will be required. One of Delta F.A.R.M.s flagship programs is the Personal Conservation Assessment Tool (PCAT). This tool is used to help address various conservation challenges, defend the position of Delta producers as leaders in conservation, and leverage conservation funding from the Farm Bill for Delta landowners and producers. The candidate will eventually be expected to manage all data collected through the PCAT and encourage adoption by our farmer and landowner members.
A partial list of duties follows:
Manage Department of Environmental Quality 319 construction projects. Assist with cover crop and minimum tillage trials Work in coordination with project partners and stakeholders. Manage Personal Conservation Assessment data. Attend applicable training events and meetings. Provide technical assistance to Delta F.A.R.M. members. Plan and implement educational meetings and events. Produce and present educational materials, including articles, presentations, graphs, slides, maps, and social media material. Support internal grant writing efforts. Implement and manage assigned grants projects, including but not limited to construction, contracting, data collection, and reporting. Maintain timesheets and travel records by task and project.
Qualifications and Preferences
The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in an environmental, natural resource, or agricultural-related field of study. A Graduate degree or equivalent experience in the same areas is preferred but not required. Candidates must be excellent communicators and proficient in writing and data management. Candidates must be driven, organized, and work well with others. Candidates must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Candidates with ArcGIS experience are preferred. Candidates should be capable of towing trailers and operating ATVs safely and other standard field equipment. Candidates with a knowledge of row crop farming practices in the Lower Mississippi Valley are preferred. Candidates with experience working with row crop farmers receive the highest consideration.
Other Considerations and Expectations
The candidate will be working with 6-8 other professional staff members who share responsibilities between Delta F.A.R.M. and its sister organization, Delta Wildlife. The candidate will assist other staff supporting other projects, including those administered by Delta Wildlife, from time to time. While standard work hours are generally followed, some projects and assignments may require the candidate to work odd hours and weekends. Some overnight travel to training and conferences will be required. Near daily travel to and from the project sites will be required. The candidate will be expected to live in the Mississippi Delta. The candidate must have a valid driver’s license with no serious violations. The candidate may also be subject to a background check.
Compensation and Benefits
In addition to a competitive salary, Delta F.A.R.M. will provide comprehensive health care benefits, including cancer and dental, life insurance, and a retirement plan, as well as a company truck.
Contact Please send resumé to [email protected] Call Timothy Huggins, Executive Director, at 662-686-3370 for questions.