Sr. Manager for External Affairs

Who We Are

American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families by improving farm viability and farmland access. Long an agroecosystems leader, AFT is now riding a new wave of growth, driven by agriculture’s most pressing needs and opportunities. 

Job Purpose

The New England Senior Manager for External Affairs deepens, expands and manages strategic relationships, messaging and impact in the six-state New England region through a combination of policy advocacy and strategic communication that engages policy, media, and program partners.

Position Summary

The Senior Manager for External Affairs advances AFT’s mission in New England by building strategic relationships that enhance the organization’s reputation and impact across the region. This public affairs role combines communications and policy advocacy to strengthen AFT’s presence and influence, ultimately building relationships and policy conditions in the region that promote farmland protection, farm viability and environmental sustainability. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Communications

• Articulate, curate and maintain an external messaging strategy, including media relationships, to communicate the vision and impact of AFT’s work to inspire and motivate allies and supporters.
• Design and oversee implementation of a strategic communication and outreach plan, including a media strategy, to support high-level outreach, impactful partnerships, and fundraising.
• Supervise contributions of the communications coordinator or program associate.
• Build relationships with New England staff and support strategic communication of both project outputs and staff expertise
• Create impactful written and visual communications to engage key audiences.
• Develop program messages and content for external audiences, including collaborating with the AFT Development, national Communications, and Corporate Partnerships staff
• Train and support staff to consistently use key messages through support on strategy, talking points, marketing visuals, and networking.

Regional Policy

• Advance AFT’s policy priorities in the region at the state and local levels in alignment with the AFT New England Policy Priorities (https://farmland.org/new-england-policy) and AFT’s National Policy positions (https://farmland.org/policy)
• Serve as AFT’s lead representative to New England state legislative leaders, allied advocacy groups and selected state agency officials
• Communicate complex policy issues to stakeholders (e.g., legislators and other policy makers, media, general public, AFT members and supporters,) in various settings to advance AFT’s policy positions
• Research, draft and edit legislative proposals related to agriculture, farmland conservation, and related funding, and/or advocate for them through written and oral testimony