Director of Media Relations

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 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and helped thousands of farm families make a go of it (primarily through programs that increase farm viability and/or enhance farmland access). Long a pioneering leader, AFT is now riding a new wave of growth, driven by agriculture’s most pressing needs and opportunities.

Job Purpose

Reporting directly to the VP of Communications the Media Relations Director develops and implements AFT's media relations strategy, and contributes to general AFT communications efforts, working across AFT departments, especially with program staff.

Position Summary

As an integral part of the AFT Communications team, the Media Relations Director develops and implements policies and procedures for the relations between the media and AFT. The Media Relations Director works to expand understanding of AFT’s business, performance, and strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project/Program Leadership and Execution

• Contributes to the development and leads to the implementation of AFT's media relations strategy.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with key members of the media, particularly agriculture reporters.
• Serves as primary point of contact for members of the media and a liaison between media and AFT's subject experts.
• Leads project execution by setting priorities, defining deadlines, and coordinating across teams and with external partners to ensure collaborative and timely delivery of outcomes.
• Applies subject matter expertise to lead high-impact projects and processes, ensuring effective design, implementation, and d