Ecosphere Fellow

Ecosphere Fellow

Who We Are + What We Do

The Land Institute co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, regenerative grain agriculture at a scale that matches the enormity of the intertwined climate, water, and food security crises. An independent 501c3 non-profit founded in 1976, the organization seeks to reconcile the human economy with nature's economy, starting with food. The transdisciplinary team of scientists and global partners are developing new perennial grain crops, like Kernza, and diverse cropping systems that function within nature's limits while researching the social transformation required for a just, perennial human future.

Position Description

As the Ecosphere Fellow, you will collaboratively lead the next iteration of The Land Institute's fellows program, focused on envisioning the human future within the ecological limits of the ecosphere: Earth's dynamic mantle of life that is our home. Building on the organization's rich intellectual history and the work of inaugural fellow Stan Cox, you will work with colleagues and partners to design, facilitate, and reflect on a 2026 fellows program that engages a broad range of voices and carries forward a culture of deep inquiry. You will actively participate in the fellows program through your own research and publications.

Leveraging your experience and expertise, you will ensure the fellows program has a strong scientific foundation and is on the forefront of emerging ideas about what reconciling the human economy with nature's economy might look like and require. This is a two-year, full-time position. This transdisciplinary research role is grounded in the organization's Perennial Cultures Lab, reporting to the Director, and requires highly cooperative, cross-functional and public engagement. You will join a dynamic, growing organization and contribute to how people across the movement for perennial agriculture understand and navigate the reality of limits.

Primary Responsibilities + Expectations

Manage the fellows program - 40%

• Collaboratively design the goals, approach, and structure of the next iteration of the fellows program, in alignment with organizational and lab strategy and values
• Build and implement tactical plans to meet goals while working within budgeted resources (fellows program and individual research budgets) and timelines
• Manage the selection process for additional visiting fellows
• Create and facilitate compelling, accessible program activities (discussions, presentations, events, etc.) that engage fellows, staff, collaborators, partners, and community members, with in-person activities focused in our home hub region of the central Great Plains
• Integrate fellows program activities into organizational events, including Prairie Festival, by collaborating across programs and on organizational teams
• Serve as the main point of contact for visiting fellows and program activities
• Coordinate with colleagues to manage logistics for visiting fellows and program activities
• Contribute to outreach and communications about fellows program opportunities and activities
• Build and implement an inclusive feedback, reflection, and evaluation process for this iteration of the fellows program to optimize effectiveness and inform strategies and priorities

Conduct and communicate relevant research - 40%

• Research the academic and journalistic literature on climate, ecology, energy, economics, social change, just transition, planetary boundaries, and other issues relevant to the global ecological emergency
• Communicate with the researchers, modelers, reporters, writers, artists, and advocates who produce that literature
• Develop novel lines of inquiry and perform research in your area of expertise with relevance to envisioning the human future within ecological limits
• Share research results and findings, through publications, media interviews, presentations, and other program activities, in ways that are accurate, compelling, and accessible to multiple audiences

Participate in growing a strategic, inclusive learning culture - 20%

• Provide input on organizational and lab strategy
• Connect mission, strategy, and values to your activities and choices
• Practice organizational competencies (see below)
• Collaborate and consult as you make decisions
• Engage in individual and group reflection and evaluation
• Give and receive feedback and apply lessons learned
• Participate in staff and lab meetings, organizational events and teams, and lab cross-training
• Seek understanding of programs and activities across the organization
• Share updates and results from your work
• Participate in co-mentoring
• Engage in professional development

Organizational Competencies

• Mission Driven: You are passionate about the mission of The Land Institute and are interested in aligning your skills and personal genius to benefit this work.
• Courageous: You do not retreat or shy away from hard things. You face challenges and conflict with professionalism, grace, and resolve.
• A Boundary Spanner: You bring an interdisciplinary skill set and you model self-awareness in your own preferences. You are motivated to always be learning and you adapt to span boundaries with people across a range of different perspectives.
• Inspiring and Inspired: You are inspired by the people around you, finding and harnessing the genius in your colleagues to meet the organizational objectives, and you are inspiring to others through example and your own genius applied.
• Growth Mindset: You have the vulnerability to know what you don't know, admit your flaws, and learn from others to grow and develop yourself and the organization.
• A Creative Collaborator: You believe in the power of a diverse collective to generate ideas and solutions. You excel at strategic thinking, being open to new perspectives, and managing innovation. You bring a playful, positive approach to the work and like meeting new people and deepening connections with those you already know.
• Excited by Change: You embrace nascent and evolving situations and enjoy engaging new people, ideas, and possibilities. You think about change holistically: internal, external, organizational, and cultural. You like iterating systems, building efficiency and operationalizing design. You are willing to jump in and contribute to new projects as needed.

Who You Are

• You hold a Ph.D. with research experience in one or more issues relevant to the global ecological emergency, such as climate, ecology, energy, economics, social change, just transition, and planetary boundaries
• You have a track record of publications or other public-facing results generated through your ongoing research and creative practice
• You are highly collaborative and cooperative
• You have strong relationship-building and communication skills, especially in building bridges across different fields, perspectives, and identities
• You have developed and managed projects that involve multiple disciplines or communities
• You have demonstrated experience designing, facilitating, and managing the details of events that effectively engage diverse audiences
• You are excellent at time management and prioritization
• You have a keen interest and experience in quickly gathering, synthesizing, and applying insights through feedback and reflection processes
• You have a proven ability to create and deliver public presentations using visual, verbal, and written content to convey information

Hours

• Generally available to work forty hours per week via in-person and digital meetings, primarily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central Time on weekdays when most of our staff and collaborators are working
• Some evening and weekend hours will be needed for conferences, special events, and public program activities
• We are flexible for caregivers who might need to provide rides or support, attend appointments, or be available for caregiving

Location + Travel

• Based at The Land Institute's main campus in Salina, Kansas, USA
• Estimated travel is 10% of the time for fellows program activities, conferences, partner visits and collaborations, and organizational and lab meetings
• Primary travel will happen in the United States
• You will have a laptop computer and access to commuter vehicles along with appropriate travel budget and mileage reimbursement

Environmental + Working Conditions

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer and phone
• Work in a general office environment
• Travel in varying conditions (10%)

Compensation + Benefits

The Land Institute offers an excellent benefits package and competitive salary commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is $75,000-94,000 annually.

• Remote-friendly work environment
• Paid parental leave
• Competitive, equitable compensation
• 403(b) Retirement
• 403(b) Employer contributions
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employer-Provided Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Accidental Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid holidays
• Generous paid time off
• Complete laptop workstation and set up for remote work

To apply: We encourage all interested applicants to apply, even if they don't meet every requirement, as we value diverse experiences and a strong willingness to learn. Please submit your resume/CV and letter of interest by May 1, 2025.

The Land Institute is an equal opportunity employer and embraces the opportunity to provide employment to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. We are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Pay Range: $75,000 - $94,000 per year