Athens Land Trust is an innovative and adaptive community and conservation land trust in Georgia. We look for team members who are creative, deeply committed to advancing equity, and excited about embracing an evolving set of responsibilities and opportunities as the organization grows.
Athens Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.
Housing Counselor
Athens Land Trust is an innovative and adaptive community and conservation land trust in Georgia. We look for team members who are creative, deeply committed to advancing equity, and excited about embracing an evolving set of responsibilities and opportunities as the organization grows.
Job Responsibilities & Performance Standards:
- Provides assistance with financial counseling to ALT Affordable Housing Program clients.
- Manages client caseload, which includes:
- Developing strategies for addressing financial and business objectives;
- Interacting with clients, in a professional, responsive, helpful, and positive manner, within scheduled appointments as well as in follow‐up calls, correspondence and contacts;
- Providing consultation /guidance on finance/ housing issues;
- Advocating to creditors, attorneys, benefit providers, and other resources on behalf of clients;
- Ensuring client files are complete, including appropriate information releases, file documentation, proper computer database entry, and related correspondence.
- Ensures that proper documentation is maintained for the Housing Counseling Program, including case files for individual clients and homebuyer education workshop participants; maintains web-based Client Management System;
- Ensures that all reporting (CDBG, HUD, various grants), are completed and accurate.
- Leads monthly Homebuyer Education Workshops
- Assists with obtaining funding through grant writing
Technical Competencies:
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and administrative skills including meticulous attention to detail and demonstrated accuracy and timeliness in record keeping, problem solving and follow through;
- The ability to successfully manage multiple assignments independently including being able to set priorities and meet deadlines;
- The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people;
- Flexibility to be both a team player and a self-starter, comfortable in a supporting role and in working independently;
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including strong verbal and written communication skills;
- Proficiency in Excel, Word, cloud software (e.g. SalesForce.com) and /or interest to learn new technologies and systems;
- Certification for HUD Housing Counselor- is expected to be obtained within 3 months of hire.
All ALT Employees:
- Be in the office according to a predetermined schedule to answer email and messages, prepare detailed timesheets, coordinate with fellow staff
- Participate in grant management including grant writing support and reporting
- Write newsletter articles, and brochure and educational materials related to ALT’s programs and activities
- Attend weekly staff meetings
- Be part of a team-provide support for all staff members in their respective duties
To apply, please send a resume and a letter of interest to Dr. Tawana Mattox at tawana@athenslandtrust.org.
Farmland Transition Coordinator
The Farmland Transition Coordinator is charged with growing ALT’s efforts to protect farmland and support farmers through successful farmland transition. The Farmland Transition Coordinator will join the Farmland Protection and Outreach team within the Conservation department to further support farmers in Georgia with the most critical component of farming: viable and affordable farmland. Responsibilities include developing partnerships for effective farmland transitions, developing tools and educational programs to support farmers in successful transitions maintaining and growing the GAFarmLink website, and identifying and assisting farmers interested in acquiring or transitioning their land with development of farm access or farm transfer planning.
Specific duties are as follows:
- Manage and grow GAFarmLink. Keep the FarmLink website up to date with
statewide events, services, and resources, as well as with current property and
farmland seeker postings - Serve as Project Manager for BFRDP project “Strengthening innovative tools and
resources for farmland access, transfer, and succession for beginning farmers in
northeast Georgia”. Ensure that all deliverables and reporting are on track. - Develop and conduct stakeholder meetings and be a statewide leader and policy
advocate on farmland transition training and support - Cultivate, facilitate, motivate, and coordinate strong relationships with and among a
diverse network of statewide and national partners to create a Georgia farmland
access coalition - Use farmland access and farmer support tools to break down historic financial and
land ownership barriers which have prevented underserved groups in Georgia from
fair access to land and resources. Locate and develop sources of funding to support
Black farmers in land ownership and tenure across Georgia. - Arrange 1:1 meetings, both in-person and virtual as required, and farm visits with
farmers interested in acquiring land or transitioning their land and help them
establish farm transfer plans. - Support farmers in accessing legal support as needed for estate planning, ethical
lease drafting, and title clearing. - Maintain records of activities and coordinate with the Farmland Protection and
Outreach Manager and other ALT staff as needed. - Take initiative to stay up to date on all USDA and other national, state, and local
programs to connect farmers with relevant resources and leverage opportunities to
better support socially disadvantaged farmers. - Support the Conservation team with additional tasks as needed.
All ALT Employees:
- Participate in grant management including grant writing support and reporting
- Write newsletter articles, and brochure and educational materials related to ALT’s
programs and activities - Attend weekly staff meetings
- Be part of a team – provide support for all staff members in their respective duties
Qualifications:
Candidates must have work experience in a relevant field such as public policy, administration, legal
assistance, agriculture/natural resources, conservation, or food systems. Demonstrated knowledge of
outreach methods, partnership building, policy advocacy, presentation techniques, provision of
services and referrals. Experience or background in basic organizing principles. Possess knowledge of
a broad range of farming service and assistance providers. Demonstrated ability to work as a
member of a team and to work effectively with partners and staff. Ability to use computer systems
and the internet. A valid driver’s license and reliable insured transportation required.
Preferred Qualifications:
● Excellent organizational, administrative, and communication skills are essential. Strong
personal commitment to agricultural justice and farming practices in Georgia. Knowledge of
Adobe program suite and basic web design skills.
Compensation
The salary range is ~$45,000, based on experience. This is a three-year grant funded position with
the potential to extend, contingent upon funding availability. ALT offers a comprehensive benefits
package that includes health insurance, PTO, additional paid holidays, and a flexible work schedule.
Depending on the candidate, this position could be remote.
Apply
To apply, please send a resume and letter of interest to Mallory O’Steen at
mallory@athenslandtrust.org by December 17th, 2021.
Youth Development Programs
Our Youth Development programs are unique. We offer three paid job skills training programs, the Young Urban Farmers the Young Urban Builders and the Young Conservation Stewards Each program provides paid training and education for high-school aged youth in Athens-Clarke County.
Our approach incorporates on-site training, exposure to new opportunities, leadership development and classroom education, that delivers both specialized and general job skills, and community involvement to help ensure that the next generation of leaders are invested in where they live. We work to create personal connections between the youth in our programs and leaders in the community and the respective industries that are vital to increased job placement and social capital once they have graduated from their program.
Young Urban Farmers: 2021-2022 School Year
We are now accepting applications for the Young Urban Farmers program for the 2021-2022 school year, with a projected start of late August to Early September, 2021.
Young Urban Farmers (YUF) duties and responsibilities will include: Learning and implementing sustainable agricultural skills which will involve working in several community gardens as well as the Williams’s Farm, the Athens Land Trust’s urban farm. YUF will also learn entrepreneurial skills and create a business plan for a product that could be produced and sold at the West Broad Farmers Market.
The YUF must:
- Commit to the program for the dates of September 2021 to August 2022
- Have a reliable mode of transportation to and from the work meeting place.
- Transportation to alternative work locations after meeting at the scheduled meeting place may be provided by the YUF Coordinator.
- Be prepared to work in a wide range of weather conditions.
- Be aged 16 to 20 (or 15 with a valid work permit) and enrolled or completed CCSD high school or GED program. Must be a Clarke County resident.
YUF participants are expected to attend all regularly scheduled program days. Participants will work an average of 12 hours a week paid $9/hr for the time they are present and engaged at the worksite, rounded to the nearest quarter hour.
To apply, please download and complete the application. Applications can be submitted at the Athens Land Trust office:
685 North Pope Street, Athens, GA 30601 or emailed to John Anderson at john@athenslandtrust.org. Applications can also be completed through Google Forms in lieu of email or a paper copy. Click here to access the Google Forms application.
Young Urban Builders: 2021-2022 School Year
We are now accepting applications for the Young Urban Builders program. The Young Urban Builders program was started in 2018 as a way to address youth unemployment and perform owner-occupied rehabilitation in the West Broad Neighborhood.
The program is designed to provide job training and experience while working on community projects and aiding in neighborhood revitalization. YUB students are involved at all stages in the rehabilitation process to allow for a variety of skills to be developed.
YUB duties and responsibilities include:
- learning and practicing workplace and tool safety
- proper use and maintenance of tools
- developing strong work ethics and basic job skills
- reading blueprints and interpreting written instructions
- using measurement tools and applied mathematics
Requirements:
Students must be between 16 and 25 years of age.
To apply:
Please download the application here and email it to Colin Blodorn, the Young Urban Builders Coordinator at colin@athenslandtrust.org or mail it to our office at 685 North. Pope Street, Athens, GA 30601. Applications can also be left in our secure dropbox at our office. We are accepting applications until all positions are filled.