The Savanna Institute invites applications for an Agroforestry Technical Assistance Provider to help farmers in the Midwest adopt and expand agroforestry practices; design plantings; advise on implementation, management, and succession; and access financial and business support. This position will provide critical technical assistance related to two efforts: 1) Supporting established agroforestry systems through site visits, troubleshooting, and connecting farmers to technical and business resources and 2) Facilitating an on-farm research project examining whether tree-root inoculation can improve both plant and soil health in new agroforestry plantings. The position will work alongside our established Technical Assistance Provider team while serving as a bridge to our Partner Farm and Ecosystem Science efforts.

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Duties/Responsibilities

• Establishment Technical Assistance: Recruit and support farmers participating in on-farm research, coordinating site access, planting logistics, and maintaining relationships throughout multi-year research projects. Support establishment of new agroforestry plantings at research sites, including conducting follow-up visits and providing ongoing consultation and troubleshooting. This position will not be required to collect or interpret scientific data (30%)
• Management Technical Assistance: Consult one-on-one with farmers & landholders practicing agroforestry to conduct site visits, troubleshoot issues, share best practices, and connect to internal and external resources and expertise.  This work includes guidance on best practices for system maintenance (weed control, pruning, pests, and disease), harvest and post-harvest handling, and business financial support (30%)
• Events: Attend events as a Technical Assistance Provider, including giving presentations, attending field days, and presenting webinars (10%)
• Partnerships and Expert Review: Provide subject matter expertise to internal and external stakeholders, and build relationships with appropriate partners (5%)
• General Staff  Work & Admin: General SI staff work and administrative functions (staff meetings, time tracking, etc.) (15%)
• Projects: Other Adoption Team prioritized projects including program improvement and evaluation as agreed upon with your supervisor, given seasonal demands (5%)
• Ongoing Education: Ongoing training and education (5%)

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Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a field related to agriculture or forestry
• Direct on-farm experience with agroforestry, forestry, rotational grazing, or other related agricultural practices
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to maintain long-term relationships with farmers and coordinate across programs
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for occasional work-related travel
• Commitment to participating in a collaborative environment
• Appreciation for learning from both research and established practitioners

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with planting and managing trees and shrubs
• Experience with Farm Bill programs or other programs that provide technical and financial support to farmers
• Experience with GIS or equivalent tools
• Experience working with a high degree of autonomy and accountability
• Experience with farm enterprises and cropping systems
• Experience with client management

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Benefits

This position is eligible for the Institute’s benefits package. Benefits for full-time employees include 20 days of paid time off annually plus 11 civic holidays, 12 weeks of parental/disability leave annually, a dependent care flex spending account, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, reimbursement of healthcare costs (including ACA marketplace premiums) via an HRA plan, and a monthly home office stipend.

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About Savanna Institute

Founded in 2013, the Savanna Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works with farmers and scientists to lay the groundwork for widespread agroforestry adoption in the Midwest US. Inspired by the native savanna ecosystems that once covered much of this region, the Savanna Institute conducts research, education, and outreach to support the growth of diverse, perennial agroecosystems.

We seek applicants who share our passion for ecological and equitable agriculture as a nature-based climate solution and who are motivated to widen the circle of who has the opportunity to inform, support, and benefit from its development.