Agriculture Division Director (EEX02A)

State of Arkansas • Little Rock, AR

10h

About The Position

As the largest industry in Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation. The Department is organized into five Divisions: Forestry Division, Livestock and Poultry Division, Natural Resources Division, Plant Industries Division, and Shared Services Division.The Agriculture Division Director is a senior executive position responsible for department-wide leadership, coordination, and oversight of a division within the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. The position supports the Secretary by ensuring consistent policy implementation, regulatory compliance, fiscal management, and personnel practices across operations. This role provides strategic guidance to division leadership, supports legislative and executive initiatives, and helps coordinate responses to high-impact issues affecting agriculture statewide.The Agriculture Division Director serves as a senior leader within the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, providing strategic oversight, policy direction, and operational leadership across the Department’s divisions including Food and Nutrition Services, Animal Health, Forestry, Natural Resources, Plant Industries, and Shared Services.
This position works closely with the Secretary and Chief of Staff to fulfill the Department’s mission, statutory responsibilities, and the Governor’s priorities into coordinated programs, policies, and initiatives. The Director ensures alignment across regulatory, operational, and service-delivery functions while maintaining compliance with state and federal laws, fiscal controls, and personnel policies.
The Agriculture Division Director provides executive oversight to Division Managers, offering guidance on program planning, staffing, performance management, and inter-division coordination. The position plays a role in legislative initiatives, including development of agency priorities, preparation of briefing materials, and engagement with legislative committees and stakeholders.
The Director represents the Department with state and federal agencies, industry and commodity organizations, local governments, and the public. During emergencies or high-impact events, including animal disease response, wildfire incidents, natural disasters, or food system disruptions, the Director supports coordinated response efforts and continuity of operations.

Requirements

• Comprehensive knowledge of public administration principles, including executive leadership, organizational management, budgeting, and personnel administration.
• Strong understanding of agricultural policy, natural resource management, regulatory enforcement, food systems, and the role of agriculture in economic development.
• Ability to lead multi-division organizations and manage competing priorities in a politically and operationally sensitive environment.
• Ability to analyze legislation, regulations, and policy proposals and assess impacts across multiple program areas.
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to brief executive leadership, legislators, and external stakeholders clearly and effectively.
• Demonstrated skill in strategic planning, problem-solving, negotiation, and consensus-building across diverse internal and external partners.
• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, public administration, business administration, natural resources, political science, or a related field.
• A minimum of five years of experience in executive leadership, senior management, or public administration, with demonstrated experience overseeing complex programs, regulatory functions, or large organizations.
• Experience working with legislative bodies, executive leadership, or governmental oversight entities is required.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience overseeing or administering large-scale food and nutrition programs, including programs funded or regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, such as child nutrition, commodity distribution, farm to school, or emergency food assistance initiatives.
• Experience developing and implementing initiatives that integrate locally produced agricultural commodities into institutional food systems, including school meal programs and other public nutrition settings.
• Experience coordinating food and nutrition programs with agricultural promotion, research, and market-development efforts, including collaboration with research and promotion boards, commodity organizations, and agriculture branding programs.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, and policy frameworks governing food and nutrition programs, including procurement, eligibility, program integrity, and audit requirements.
• Experience managing federal grants and cooperative agreements, including compliance, reporting, allowable cost requirements, and coordination with federal, state, and local partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and coordinate services across agencies, school districts, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners to advance food access, nutrition outcomes, and agricultural market development.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with legislators, executive leadership, and external stakeholders on food security, nutrition policy, and agriculture-related initiatives

Responsibilities

• providing strategic oversight
• policy direction
• operational leadership across the Department’s divisions including Food and Nutrition Services, Animal Health, Forestry, Natural Resources, Plant Industries, and Shared Services
• works closely with the Secretary and Chief of Staff to fulfill the Department’s mission, statutory responsibilities, and the Governor’s priorities into coordinated programs, policies, and initiatives
• ensures alignment across regulatory, operational, and service-delivery functions while maintaining compliance with state and federal laws, fiscal controls, and personnel policies
• provides executive oversight to Division Managers, offering guidance on program planning, staffing, performance management, and inter-division coordination
• plays a role in legislative initiatives, including development of agency priorities, preparation of briefing materials, and engagement with legislative committees and stakeholders
• represents the Department with state and federal agencies, industry and commodity organizations, local governments, and the public
• supports coordinated response efforts and continuity of operations during emergencies or high-impact events, including animal disease response, wildfire incidents, natural disasters, or food system disruptions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director