Sustainability On-Farm Specialist

Organic Valley Family of Farms

WI(remote)

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$29.23–$35.43 Per Hour
SKILLS
Best Practices, Communication Skills, Cross-Functional, Data Collection, Data Management, Detail Oriented, Diversity, Documentation, Environmental Sciences, Farming, Fitness, Funding, High Availability, Higher Education, Microsoft Product Family, Microsoft SharePoint, Organic Farming, Organizational Skills, People Management, Philosophy, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Project/Program Management, Record Keeping, Retail, Sales, Stewardship, Sustainability, Team Player, Technical Support, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
LOCATION
WI
POSTED
14 days ago

Location - Remote

This role is eligible to be performed remotely, however, if you reside within 100 miles of Organic Valley offices in WI, you will be expected to collaborate onsite in a hybrid fashion for 4-8 days per month. If you reside outside of 100 miles, you will travel in 4 times/year for intentional collaboration and connection.

Employee Type - Hourly

Bonus - This position is eligible for a 3% annual incentive bonus based on cooperative and individual performance.

Safety Sensitive - No

If a company is going to make a difference in today's world, it's going to have to think differently. At Organic Valley, our philosophy and decisions are based on the health and welfare of people, animals and the earth. We're a mission-driven cooperative, owned by family farmers, and we've been leaders in organic agriculture from the very beginning. Once pioneers of organic agriculture, we're now an established leader. Organic is all we do. We are driven by our mission to promote regional farm diversity and economic stability by the means of organic agricultural methods and the sale of certified organic products.

Summary of Role

Organic Valley is committed to creating positive, whole-system impact through its sustainability initiatives, including a public goal to be carbon neutral by 2050 (farm to retail dock). The Organic Valley Carbon Insetting Program (OVCIP) is the cooperative's pathway to reduce and remove on-farm emissions by incentivizing farmer-members to voluntarily implement new climate-smart farming (CSF) practices.

The Sustainability On-Farm Specialist supports the full farmer journey in OVCIP-from inquiry and enrollment through practice support, monitoring, and verification. With a focus on field execution, this role coordinates and carries out practice confirmation, monitoring and measurement, baseline and follow-up sampling, and the collection and review of Project Management Reports. The Specialist works directly with CROPP farmer-members (dairy, egg, and grower) and sustainability staff, partnering across teams (including Membership) to deliver a strong farmer experience.

This role also serves as a subject matter expert in manure composting and cropland practices, developing practical resources and providing hands-on guidance that helps farmers adopt practices that build soil health and increase carbon sequestration.

This position reports to the Manager of Funding & Engagement and works closely with the Manager of Sustainability Impact, Carbon Reduction Manager, and Stewardship and Impact Manager to plan and deliver field activities.

This role completes farm visits to support members implementing and monitoring CSF practices. Travel across U.S. member regions is required. Fieldwork averages 60-70% of time and may vary by season. Ideal candidate will be located in the upper Midwest.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Farmer Engagement & Field Execution (65%)

o Lead on-farm engagement across the full lifecycle (inquiry, enrollment, implementation, monitoring, and verification)

o Conduct farm visits, sampling (soil, compost, manure), and practice verification

o Support farmer recruitment, events, and respond to inquiries

o Partner with internal teams to deliver a strong farmer experience

  • Data, Reporting & Program Compliance (20%)

o Collect, review, and ensure completeness of Project Management Reports (PMRs)

o Gather baseline farm data and define project boundaries

o Maintain records and documentation within data management systems (e.g., Quickbase)

o Support USDA grant reporting and compliance requirements

  • Technical Expertise & Collaboration (15%)

o Serve as subject matter expert in composting and cropland practices

o Provide guidance on system design and implementation

o Collaborate with internal teams and external partners

o Stay current on industry best practices and support cross-functional initiatives

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

  • Travel to farms across U.S. member regions to assess baselines, verify CSF practice implementation, meet with technical partners, and support outreach/events.
  • Stay current on composting approaches (including compost bedded pack barns) with strong carbon benefits for small, organic, pasture-based dairies.
  • Stay current on cover crop and tillage practices with strong carbon benefits for small, organic, pasture-based dairies.0
  • Participate in department and sub-department team meetings.
  • Attend events on behalf of CROPP, such as CROPP Annual Meeting and Regional meetings as appropriate.
  • Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Bachelor's degree in sustainability, environmental science, agribusiness, or similar field preferred (not required).
  • 5 years of experience in sustainability, organic certification, organic agriculture, or related field required.
  • Subject matter expertise in manure composting and cropland practices for organic agriculture.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, especially with farmers.
  • Ability to travel to member-farms throughout the U.S.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (including Teams and SharePoint) and ability to learn cooperative databases.
  • Excellent organizational skills required.
  • Strong attention to detail.
  • Collaborative, positive, and solutions-oriented.
  • Ability to work independently.

Base hourly wage range: $29.23 - $35.43 per hour

This hourly wage range is exclusive of fringe benefits. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of discretionary bonuses. If you are hired at CROPP, your final base hourly wage compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience. Additionally, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that entry-level candidates to this role should expect to be at the lower end of the hourly wage range and hiring at the maximum of the hourly wage range is not typical.

Benefits

We believe when our people are strong, our mission is strong. Therefore, we offer a comprehensive and holistic Total Rewards package meant to strengthen employees' and their family''s total wellbeing. Here are some of the great benefits offered:

  • Comprehensive Health Insurance - Choice of plans for you and your family, including some that can be paired with an HSA (which CROPP contributes to on your behalf)

  • Supplemental insurances: we offer accidental insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance.

  • Time Off - 136 hours in the 1st year of employment prorated by start date. Plus 9 paid holidays, plus one floating holiday to use at will.

  • 6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave - For all gendered partners in childbirth or adoption.

  • Vision & Dental Insurance - Free annual eye exam, discounts on glasses/contacts, flexible dental network, adult ortho.

  • 401k - We match 100% up to the first 3% of an employee's contribution, and then 50% for 3.1%-5.0% of employee contributions.

  • Free services at five local Neighborhood Family Clinics.

  • Tuition Reimbursement - Up to $1,500 per year to support continuing higher education.

  • Life Insurance - $50,000 policy funded by CROPP for each employee. Supplemental voluntary coverage available for employees, spouses, and children.

  • Short-Term & Long-Term Disability/AD&D Insurance - $50,000 of life insurance coverage of $50,000 of AD&D coverage funded by CROPP for each employee.

  • Employee Assistance Program - Free and Confidential for employees, spouses, and dependents.

  • Free onsite fitness centers available 24/7

  • Free biometric screenings (cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure) and health coaching.

  • Financial advisors and seminars

  • Annual $360 Lifestyle Spending Account

  • Flexible Scheduling

  • On-site all-organic cafeterias

About the Company

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Organic Valley Family of Farms

Over the past three decades, we've created some beloved brands (Organic Valley and Organic Prairie), but in body, we are a pioneering cooperative (CROPP Cooperative) owned and guided by family farmers-almost 2,000 of them in 36 states, Canada, Australia and England, to be exact. Our professional staff counts about 950 souls, many of them based at one of our facilities in three small towns located in the stunning Driftless Region of Southwest Wisconsin. Here's where we churn butter, wrap cheese, ship products, create fun marketing campaigns, care for our customers, and serve our organic farmer-owners. We're busy folks, and there's no slowdown in sight.

Our two main office buildings are complete with organic cafés and fitness facilities and a full schedule of physical and mental wellness opportunities because we believe everyone deserves good food and a balanced life. Every day is casual Friday because we believe our people are at their best when they're comfortable. (In fact, shoes are optional.) We actively collect and act on business and culture ideas from all employees because as a cooperative, we believe none of us are as smart as all of us. (A saying heard frequently from our CEO.) Between all this and many other qualities that we don't have room to list here, it's no surprise Outdoor Magazine placed us in the 100 Best Places to Work in the USA.

COMPANY SIZE
500 to 999 employees
INDUSTRY
Food and Beverage Production
FOUNDED
1988
WEBSITE
https://www.organicvalley.coop/