Sustainable Agriculture Economist Job Listing at The Nature Conservancy in United States of America (Job ID JR102435)

Description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Sustainable Agriculture Economist will join the Science and Standards team to support regenerative agriculture initiatives by conducting economic and market assessments that help advance practical, scalable conservation outcomes in working lands and agrifood systems. In this role, you will contribute to project teams that assess market dynamics for agricultural commodities, identify opportunities that could enable more resilient and diversified production systems, and synthesize findings into clear decision-support materials.

They will work in a collaborative, matrixed environment alongside conservation practitioners, scientists, other economists and financial specialists, corporate engagement staff, and external partners. Your analyses will help teams understand market conditions, supply chain considerations, risk factors, and the economic feasibility of regenerative farming approaches, turning complex information into actionable insights that can inform strategy development and partner engagement. You will also support the Science and Standards team as it develops recommendations for companies on how to better align their sustainability and business strategies, working closely with NatureVest's Financial Advisory team to provide analyses and guidance on how enhancing the resilience of their sourcing regions and supply chains can strengthen core business strategies, reduce exposure to operational and reputational risks, and unlock long term economic returns.

More specifically, the Sustainable Agriculture Economist will support ongoing efforts to understand market dynamics that influence the diversification of agricultural landscapes. This will include assessing current market conditions, risks, and opportunities related to minor crops that could be scaled across the Upper Midwest to enhance socio-economic and environmental outcomes. In addition, this role will lead economic analyses evaluating the impacts of regenerative and conservation practices at both the farm and landscape levels, generating practical insights to inform effective strategies that support agricultural producers.

This is a temporary, remote position for 12 months. Candidates need to be based in the United States.

Note: Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as this position may close once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates has been identified.

Responsibilities & Scope

• Conduct market, farm, and landscape level economic analyses (i.e., Return on Investment, profits and losses, statistical regressions and projections on key variables), to assess opportunities, risks, and enabling conditions that influence regenerative and diversified agricultural systems.

• Evaluate supply chain dynamics, policy landscapes, and non-cost factors relevant to the adoption and scaling of target cropping systems.

• Synthesize data from industry sources, prior analyses, and stakeholder input into concise insights that support strategy development and decision-making (if primary data is needed, this will be collected in collaboration with other team members).

• Prepare high-quality written reports and presentations that communicate key findings and recommendations to internal and external audiences.

• Coordinate with cross-functional teams and partners to gather information, validate assumptions, and support efficient project execution.

• Collaborate with external consultants and contribute to the development and preparation of follow‑on proposals or RFPs for additional analyses and strategic work.

Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. We are seeking a curious, analytically strong, and mission-driven early-career economist/analyst who can turn data and research into practical insights that support regenerative agriculture outcomes. If you enjoy solving problems, can communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, and are comfortable collaborating across disciplines and teams, this opportunity is ideal for you!

• Master's degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Agricultural Business, or a related field.

• 1 year of relevant experience (internships, fellowships, research assistant roles, or full-time experience) supporting market research, or economic analysis, consulting, or applied research.

• Familiarity with agrifood supply chains and topics such as regenerative agriculture, crop diversification, sustainability markets, corporate sustainability, and conservation finance.

• Demonstrated experience preparing well-structured reports and building presentation materials for professional audiences.

• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, including the ability to locate, clean, interpret, and synthesize secondary datasets and industry sources and to document assumptions, limitations, and citations with rigor.

• Strong writing and communication skills—able to translate technical insights into clear takeaways.

• Ability to coordinate across teams and stakeholders in a decentralized environment.

• Fluency in English (additional languages a plus).

   

• Experience with market landscape analysis (e.g., market sizing, segmentation, competitor/actor mapping, trend analysis).

• Exposure to policy analysis (e.g., incentives, programs, standards, regulatory context) and ability to summarize implications for market adoption.

• Comfort working with imperfect data and triangulating insights from multiple sources.

• High attention to detail, strong project management habits, and excellent organizational skills.

• Proficiency with analytical tools such as Excel and at least one of R, Python, Stata, or similar (or a strong willingness to learn quickly).

Note: Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as this position may close once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates has been identified.

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $65,000- $85,000. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate's actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We're rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it's career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there's many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube   to hear stories from staff or visit  Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant's unique experience. Please apply – we'd love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you'll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We're proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.