Bio-Logical Capital, LLC

Research Manager, Regenerative Agriculture | Full Time

Category: Land Use/Planning/Conservation

Location: 2766 Mt Philo Rd, Charlotte, VT 05445, USA

About Bio-Logical Capital
We believe that healthy soils, sustainable food systems, and the people who work within them are the capital of our planet’s future. Hence our name. We believe that one of the biggest ways that we can influence climate change and healthy communities is through working in our food systems. Hence our work.

We support, collaborate, and work with stakeholders who share and sometimes challenge these values. We partner with landowners, investors, farmers, conservationists, food professionals, and municipalities to develop creative business solutions to complex challenges. We work across many scales and landscapes, from a few city planters to ranches, farms, and conserved areas that span thousands of acres.

Our current long-term projects include a 3,600-acre cattle and silvopasture ranch in Hawaii, a 400-acre diversified farm in Vermont, and a growing urban landscaping business in Colorado. In addition, we consult on family land succession plans, analyze, and manage food and agricultural investments; conduct large-scale ecological research studies, and develop and operate food businesses and critical infrastructure along the value chain. Although food and agriculture are often at the forefront of our projects, we also work in water stewardship, healthy human communities, ecological restoration, and landscape conservation.

About the role – Research Manager, Regenerative Agriculture 
Bio-Logical Capital (BLC) is seeking a Research Manager, Regenerative Agriculture to support innovative agricultural, ecological, and climate change research in Vermont, the North East, and in our projects across the country. You will help to design, coordinate, and manage multiple field research initiatives, including longitudinal research on soil health, water quality, field productivity, forage quality, and animal health at various locations, including at Philo Ridge Farm; a research hub and working farm in Charlotte, Vermont, which is managed by our Bio-Logical Capital team You will also coordinate field research, data collection, data analysis, and reporting for a national 2020 NRCS On-Farm Trials Soil Health Conservation Innovation Grant, as well as help design and coordinate data collection and grant writing on other BLC projects around the North East. From muddy field days to research presentations, you will work closely with a group of committed stakeholders including farmers, scientists, non-profit partners, state and federal agencies, farm owners, and investors.

You will be based at an office in the Champlain Valley of Vermont with several Bio-Logical Capital North East focused team members, and work closely with additional team members by phone, video, and Slack, as well as in-person during regular team visits to Vermont. We anticipate you will travel several times per year to the main Bio-Logical Capital office in Denver, Colorado, and occasionally to other Bio-Logical Capital projects outside Vermont.

Your responsibilities will include
Field Research and Data Collection

• Work alongside the Senior Scientist to develop and lead the near- and long-term research program at Philo Ridge Farm.
• Develop and implement research protocols and methods across field trials to address questions around soil health, pasture productivity, biodiversity, climate change, and ecosystem services.
• Manage data storage and maintain accessibility to collaborators as needed.
• Work closely with farmers and farm owners to develop and execute practice-based research initiatives.

Data Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination 

• Analyze data from field trials, complete statistical analysis, and build representative figures.
• Prepare manuscripts and written reports for diverse audiences.
• As needed, work alongside the Research and Ecological Design team to create and deliver site assessments across BLC’s consulting and management portfolio.
• Synthesize research findings to inform on farming operations and practices.

Project Management and Administration

• Recruit, hire, and oversee seasonal research interns and associates.
• Work with the Senior Scientist and additional members of the senior leadership team to set yearly progress goals for research in the North East.
• Develop and manage annual budgets for all North East based research projects.
• Identify and attend strategic conferences and gatherings to represent Bio-Logical Capital’s work at. Develop tangible goals and intended outcomes for each specific conference.
• Communicate with farmers, investors, and project stakeholders to plan, organize, complete research, and share results.

Grant Writing and Management – 

• Study and understand the history, structure, objectives, programs, and financial needs of BLC’s research program and projects
• Research grant opportunities from government and non-government agencies
• Alongside Research team members, draft grant proposals and supporting documents based on the funding requirements of the organization.
• Maintain positive relationships with fund providers and other stakeholders

Who You Are
We seek qualified candidates who identify with the descriptions below, with experiences and skills that will nourish our team and culture, and contribute to our growing impact:

• A Project Lead. You’re a confident and experienced project manager, leading and implementing a portfolio of interconnected and cross-functional projects with high attention to detail across multiple stakeholders.
• An Analog and Digital Synthesizer. Once you have collected all the details, you can wrap them up in a succinct written form and contribute to an engaging conversation, whether face-to-face, on the phone, or at a national conference.
• An Effective Collaborator. You have worked across cultural lines on a dispersed team, and you have the ability to operate in complex situations. You can easily gain trust from colleagues and are known for being supportive.
• A Flexible Thinker. You are not afraid to step outside your job description or comfort zone to help the team reach its goals. You are comfortable with shifting schedules and don’t expect every day to go “as planned.” You are happy to challenge someone’s assumptions and to have your assumptions challenged in return.
• A Humble Leader. Nothing is beneath or above you. You are quick to always lend a hand or two! You are able to earn influence without authority and naturally seek to support both small projects and large strategic goals.  You know what you know, and what you don’t know, and don’t shy away from questions.
• Mission-oriented. You are intrigued by the current work and eager to contribute to our team’s continued growth and evolution and to making a tangible positive impact in communities, food systems, conservation, equity, and climate change.

What you’ll need

• 6+ years of research and/or professional agricultural experience (we are background agnostic and are excited by PhDs and career farmers, or someone in-between).
• Experience managing staff, contractors, grants, and relationships with clients and/or funders.
• Experience managing projects and budgets and developing proposals.
• A proven track record of building and training high-performing teams, leading multiple client-facing projects, and authoring and managing team production of high-quality client deliverables.
• An agriculture and farming connection; can easily transition between research objects and the realities of farming.
• Ability to handle simultaneous deadlines and complete assignments with minimal supervision in a fast-paced workplace.
• Strong analytical skills, including Excel, GIS, Python, and/or R, with the ability to translate data and analysis into representative figures, maps, and/or visuals.
• Strong writing skills, including grant, manuscript, and white paper composition and submission.
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion. You’re always asking: “whose voice is not at the table?” You have experience working with diverse teams and successfully navigating cross-cultural communication in both local and global contexts, and you deeply value creating a workplace that is supportive of difference.

Compensation and Location
BLC provides a comprehensive benefits package, including generous health insurance for individuals and competitive rates for families/dependents, generous time off, SIMPLE IRA match, summer Fridays, family leave, and a collegial environment that supports professional development and wellness.

Compensation for this role starts at $85K and can increase based on the candidate’s level of experience.

The Research Manager must be already based in, or be willing to relocate to, the Vermont Champlain Valley (Burlington area). We can be rather flexible on relocation timelines and are able to offer a small amount of relocation assistance.

Deadline:

To Apply:

The Application Process
BLC has engaged Equitable Hiring Group to support this hiring process. To apply, please follow the link here. 

Pleas still apply, but do so ASAP!

When you apply, please remove the names of your undergraduate and graduate schools from your CV. There is no need to reformat your CV, but simplify it to “B.A. Economics,” for example. This “bias-free” process is aimed at opening this opportunity to more candidates, reviewing applicants on performance assessments instead of resume proxies (e.g., where you went to school). 

This evaluation process will follow practices shown to reduce bias in decision-making and may be different from other application processes you have experienced.

If you have any questions about the opportunity, please feel free to email abe@equitablehiringgroup.com.