Senior Civil Engineer

Who We Are

American Farmland Trust (AFT) 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. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect nearly 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families. Long a pioneering leader, AFT continues to evolve to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers nationwide, adapting its approach to ensure the continued strength and resilience of agriculture and rural communities nationwide.

Job purpose 

As an integral part of AFT’s Prosperity Partners consulting team, the Senior Civil Engineer (SCE) provides technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, landowners and others that advances conservation in agriculture and/or improves farm and ranch viability.  While significantly focused on delivery of services supported by NRCS, including its Technical Service Provider system, the SCE will also provide fee-for-service support outside of the NRCS framework to private clients.  This position, as AFT’s first engineering hire, will play a key internal leadership role in building out AFT’s engineering offerings, training and supporting colleagues, and designing the future of this work at AFT.  Additionally, this position has a key role in generating revenue in support of AFT’s programs. 

Duties and responsibilities 

The SCE performs a full range of project planning, design, contracting, and construction management functions on agricultural lands and associated projects across multiple states. While this position is deeply grounded in technical expertise and service, it also involves program management responsibilities. A collaborative working relationship with AFT technical field staff, other AFT staff, local, state, and federal agency personnel, private landowners, and other conservation partners will be an important aspect of the job.  They play a key role, with other senior members of the Farm & Ranch Services Division at AFT, in leading AFT’s fee-for-service consulting work. Specific duties include: 

Program management: 

• Engage prospective clients to help establish AFT’s portfolio of engineering products 

• Create standard operating procedures for all engineering products or services. 

• Build product descriptions and templates 

• Train other AFT field staff to conduct engineering field work, as appropriate. 

• Assist other program divisions in integrating engineering work into existing projects and programs at AFT. 

Engineering: 

• Prepare project scopes of work and budgets for engineering projects. 

• Develop topographic surveys, including collection of field survey data for design. 

• Develop, design, and prepare project plans, technical specifications, and cost estimates. 

• Help clients prepare bid documents, conduct pre-bid site conferences, and finalize contractor selection. 

• Conduct field inspections and perform construction management oversight. 

• Ensure that consultants and contractors adhere to project plans, specifications, and schedules. 

Fundraising & revenue generation: 

• Support the refinement of a business plan for AFT’s engineering work 

• Engage prospective clients to help establish AFT’s portfolio of engineering products 

• Both lead and support potential funding relationship development & management with NRCS, EPA, state agencies of agriculture, and producer groups 

• Help training and support other AFT staff to support the marketing, promotion, and scoping of engineering services 

• Proactively promote AFT’s engineering services with the goal of securing $200,000-in-fee for service contracts in FY 26 (ending Septemb