Illinois Farmland Protection Specialist – Chicago region

The Farmland Protection Specialist will be essential in accelerating the pace of permanent agricultural land protection in Illinois, emphasizing the Chicago metro region. This role is an exciting opportunity to work with innovative agricultural and conservation groups across the state to facilitate key programming to protect working lands, strengthen farm businesses, and support a new generation of farmers accessing land. The position is initially funded through a cooperative agreement with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The Specialist will be based in Illinois within a 75-mile radius of Chicago and will work closely with AFT’s Midwest Farmland Protection Manager and Illinois NRCS to support the promotion and administration of NRCS easement programs, specifically the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE).