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Family Business Facilitator

Spokane, WA (HQ)

AgWest Farm Credit is a member-owned financial cooperative that provides financing and related services to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, commercial fishermen, timber producers, rural homeowners and crop insurance customers in a seven-state territory in the Western United States. AgWest is part of the 100+ year-old Farm Credit System – the leading provider of credit to American agriculture.

AgWest champions the growth and advancement of agriculture, the value of rural communities, and the vital contribution our customers make to the economy and society. We serve customers in 59 locations throughout the West.

We are in search of a Senior Family Business Facilitator to join our Learning and Research department in Spokane, Washington (Headquarters). This full-time position reports to the VP, BMC and Advising and serves as a facilitator for family-owned businesses, providing guidance on strategic and succession planning, governance, and conflict resolution to support long-term business continuity. It also oversees facilitation program operations to ensure strategic alignment, drive improvements, and deliver solutions that meet evolving customer and business needs.

Within the next decade, nearly half of AgWest’s customers will transition their business to the next generation—and they’re looking to us for help. This is a unique, high‑impact role where you will serve as a trusted resource and facilitator during one of the most critical, complex and sensitive chapters in a family business’s journey. In this role, you’ll work one‑on‑one with families in facilitated planning sessions, develop practical resources that support all customers and deliver Business Management Center programs. The work is deeply relational and strategic—helping families align around people, business, and ownership decisions—while directly advancing AgWest’s Purpose and Promise: to help our customers thrive and succeed. If you’re willing to travel, have a passion for business strategy and family enterprises, and are energized by work that makes a lasting difference, we encourage you to apply or reach out to Carl Sohn to learn more about this impactful opportunity.

To learn more about AgWest's Family Business Planning, please follow the link below. 

Family Business Planning  

After an initial in-office training period, this position is eligible for workplace flexibility and a one-time home office stipend. Employees are expected to continue working from their office location a minimum of 50% or 60% of the time depending on location.

Compensation Information

The base salary range for this position in Spokane, Washington is:

Typical starting range: $80,000 - $125,000
Full base salary range: $80,000 - $142,000
Annual performance-based incentive target is 10%, 12% or 15% of base depending on experience.

Job Requirements

  • Facilitation and Instruction
    • Facilitate multi-day family business planning sessions to address business strategy, succession, governance, family dynamics, talent development, asset allocation and conflict resolution.
    • Design governance frameworks that clearly separate family, employment, and ownership decisions.
    • Develop succession roadmaps and talent development plans for next-generation leaders.
    • Educate families on asset transition philosophies and estate planning best practices; guide strategic decisions on growth, diversification and capital allocation.
    • Deliver family business and succession planning workshops through in-person events, webinars, and live webcasts.
    • Present to customer, industry, and internal audiences in both large and small group settings.
  • Client Engagement
    • Build and manage a pipeline of prospective clients through outreach, promotion and referrals from field staff.
    • Conduct intake calls and stakeholder discussions to assess program fit, recommend offerings, and negotiate terms.
    • Serve as primary point of contact for staff, third parties and program inquiries. Conduct client intakes and ensure smooth onboarding, including facilitator assignment.
  • Program and Process Administration
    • Oversee facilitation program operations, including systems, processes, planning and resource allocation.
    • Ensure annual priorities and budget are aligned with strategic goals.
    • Drive continuous improvement by identifying gaps and implementing enhancements to maximize program impact.
    • Develop new tools, content, and offerings to meet evolving customer and business needs.
  • Perform all duties and maintain all standards in accordance with company policies, procedures, and internal controls.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, organizational development, agriculture economics or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Generally requires five to seven years' experience in business development, agricultural finance or relationship management, with exposure to strategic business planning, succession planning, or advising family-owned businesses
  • Strong relationship management and consultative skills with experience guiding customers through complex, high-stakes decisions
  • Strong knowledge of agricultural operations, industry production cycles, and multiple commodities throughout the AgWest territory
  • Proven ability to facilitate complex discussions with diverse stakeholders in both group and one-on-one settings
  • Ability to quickly build trust and establish credibility with individuals and groups, including customers, staff and external stakeholders
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience delivering content to varied audiences
  • Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines
  • High emotional intelligence, adaptability, active listening and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to navigate sensitive family dynamics with discretion and professionalism
  • Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%, including overnight travel throughout the AgWest territory

Preferred Requirements

  • Certification in family business advising, succession planning, or governance (e.g., FFI Certificate or equivalent)
  • Experience in program development and continuous improvement initiatives
  • Experience in succession planning, governance design, or family business consulting
  • Familiarity with estate planning concepts, governance frameworks, and talent development strategies

Benefits Offered by AgWest

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
  • Basic term life and AD&D insurance (fully paid for by the company)
  • Paid days off annually: 15 vacation*, 15 sick, 12 holidays and 3 volunteer
  • 401(k) plan (6% match plus 3% employer contribution)
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Wellness Program
  • Jeans are welcome at work every day at AgWest! 

*Vacation accrual rates increase with tenure.

Details about insurance and retirement benefits are available at:  https://www.farmcreditfoundations.com/fcfbenefits

#LI-Hybrid

Job level and starting annual salary will be based on a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, education, certifications/licensure, internal equity, location, business needs and market demands. The listed compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the posting date. AgWest reserves the right to adjust compensation for all positions and modify or discontinue benefits programs at its sole discretion, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender orientation, national origin, marital status, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by law.

When you apply for a position with AgWest Farm Credit, we collect personal identifiers (from your resume and other application information you submit), such as your name, email address, mailing address, telephone number(s) and employment and education related information. This helps us evaluate job applicants for hiring opportunities, and, communicate with them. 

To comply with federal regulations for equal employment opportunity and affirmative action (EEO/AA), we track our applicants by gender, race/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, and the position for which they applied. You will be presented with a voluntary self-identification form as part of this application; we wanted you to know why we collect this information and what we do with it.  Please be aware that this information is kept separate from your application, and not utilized in the selection process. 

For more information about the information AgWest Farm Credit collects, please see the AgWest Farm Credit California Privacy Policy.

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