NASS Associate Director, Producer Engagement

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture•Mobile, AL

16d•$85,000 - $100,000•Remote

About The Position

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is seeking a new team member who is passionate about American agriculture to join its National Agriculture Statistics Survey (NASS) cooperative agreements team as an Associate Director, Producer Engagement. The Associate Director, Producer Engagement will lead a program area within NASDA's NASS program to increase awareness of NASS surveys and their value to producers, agricultural organizations, and the broader agricultural industry. Working closely with the Senior Director, this position will establish, lead, and evaluate a multi-state producer engagement program designed to strengthen trusted agricultural partnerships, increase survey participation, and improve response rates across NASS surveys, with potential expansion nationwide. The position is responsible for developing engagement strategies, managing staff, building stakeholder relationships, and measuring program outcomes to support NASS data collection efforts.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
Thorough understanding of U.S. agriculture required.
Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in agricultural communications, stakeholder engagement, membership outreach, public affairs, producer relations, or a related field, preferably within agriculture.
Minimum of 5 years of supervisory or team leadership experience, including staff development, coaching, performance management, and project oversight.
Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with agricultural organizations, government agencies, industry associations, Extension services, commodity groups, or producer organizations.
Experience developing and implementing outreach, engagement, or communications strategies designed to achieve measurable outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to analyze data, evaluate program performance, and develop recommendations based on measurable results.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment and make informed decisions.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation and public speaking abilities.
Superior interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a demonstrated ability to work effectively across all levels of an organization and with diverse external stakeholders.
High level of independence and initiative in managing day-to-day responsibilities.
Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven work environment and effectively manage multiple priorities.
Demonstrated ability to review, edit, and ensure the accuracy of written communications, outreach materials, and reports.
Experience with email marketing, newsletter development, and distribution using Mailchimp or similar platforms.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.

Nice To Haves

Degree in agriculture, communications, public affairs, or a related field is preferred.
Familiarity with USDA NASS surveys, agricultural data collection, or producer outreach programs strongly preferred.
Experience working with federal or state government agencies, agricultural associations, or producer organizations preferred.

Responsibilities

Hire and manage a team of coordinators in priority states, overseeing daily operations and providing guidance and support to ensure high performance and adherence to organizational policies and standards.
Work with the Senior Director, NASS Program, to develop and execute NASDA's producer engagement strategy focused on increasing awareness of and participation in NASS surveys.
Collaborate with coordinators to develop state-specific engagement plans that leverage trusted agricultural stakeholders and partnerships to increase producer response rates.
Develop and monitor performance metrics to evaluate engagement activities and survey promotion efforts.
Develop and maintain relationships with state departments of agriculture, commodity organizations, Extension services, producer groups, and other trusted agricultural stakeholders.
Identify opportunities to leverage existing agricultural networks to improve awareness of and participation in NASS surveys.
Analyze response-rate trends and engagement data to identify opportunities, measure program effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
Prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for USDA NASS, NASDA leadership, and state partners demonstrating program outcomes and return on investment.
Collaborate with NASDA NASS program staff and communications teams to coordinate messaging and outreach activities during data collection periods.
Coordinate with USDA NASS communications staff to align messaging, priorities, and outreach strategies.
Manage budgets, contracts, and work assignments to ensure activities align with program objectives and financial goals.
Ensure timely communication of information, expectations, and program updates to assigned staff.
Oversee vendor relationships and review vendor performance and deliverables.