Director of Farming Innovations

Rodale Institute•Kutztown, PA

About The Position

Rodale Institute is seeking a Director of Farming Innovations to oversee farming operations and Farm Innovations teams across its U.S. campuses. This hands-on leadership role combines production agriculture, applied research, and people leadership. The Director will be a thought leader in regenerative organic agriculture and will build and mentor the national Farm Innovations team, establishing consistent, science-based, forward-thinking farming practices across Rodale locations. The Director will collaborate with the Executive Team on organizational strategy and present the Farm Innovations team’s work to the Board of Directors. The role brings together Consulting, Research, Education, and regional campuses, and partners with Marketing to communicate how Rodale tests, integrates, and scales new farming practices. Working closely with the Chief Scientific Officer, the Director will ensure research trials at all campuses are implemented on time and within project scope. This role suits an experienced farm manager or agricultural operations leader who can work effectively in the field, lead teams, and represent the organization publicly. The Director will translate research into practical farming methods and develop scalable, teachable systems for farmers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on farm management experience.
At least 10 years of progressive experience in farm management or agricultural operations, including direct supervisory experience.
Demonstrated expertise in organic and/or regenerative farming practices.
Experience building, leading, and mentoring teams, ideally across multiple locations.
Strong project management, budgeting, and operational planning skills.
A forward-thinking, innovative mindset and a record of anticipating trends and turning ideas into practical results.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including experience bringing multiple teams or departments together around shared goals.
Experience contributing to organizational strategy and presenting to senior leadership or a board of directors.
Willingness and ability to travel regularly, including internationally, to Rodale campuses.
Annual travel to Regional Resource Centers and select conferences is expected.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day farming operations across Rodale Institute’s U.S. campuses, ensuring consistency with organic and regenerative organic standards and practices.
Set and manage annual farm operating plans, crop plans, budgets, and capital equipment needs with farm managers and research and finance leadership.
Ensure farm infrastructure, equipment, and land resources are maintained and used effectively.
Monitor yields, soil health indicators, input costs, and labor efficiency, and drive continuous improvement.
Develop a vision for making Rodale’s farm campuses destinations for inspiration and model farms for the regenerative organic movement.
Build, lead, and mentor a national Farm Innovations team, including farm managers and farm staff.
Establish standards, training programs, and career development pathways for farm personnel.
Foster collaboration, safety, and continuous learning among geographically dispersed farm teams.
Serve as a hiring partner and people leader for farm operations roles across the network.
Identify, pilot, and scale new farming techniques, technologies, and regenerative organic practices across Rodale campuses.
Partner with research and science teams to turn research trial findings into practical, farm-ready protocols.
Partner with Marketing to communicate the development and scaling of Rodale’s farming innovations.
Partner with the Visitor Experience team to ensure campuses demonstrate high standards in regenerative organic farming.
Represent Rodale Institute at industry conferences, farmer trainings, media engagements, and partner events.
Keep current with regenerative organic agriculture, precision farming tools, and climate-resilient practices, and bring relevant ideas to the organization.
Attend and speak at conferences and through Rodale Institute Education channels, serving as an educator and thought leader for the regenerative organic movement.
Lead communication and collaboration among Consulting, Research, Education, and regional campuses around shared priorities and farming innovation.
Establish cross-team communication rhythms, including meetings, updates, and shared reporting.
Connect farm teams across campuses with Education, Research, and Consulting teams, sharing best practices and lessons learned.
Meet regularly with programmatic partners St. Luke’s, Cornwall Manor, Augusta Health, and Phoebe Ministries to ensure farming operations are on budget and within partnership scope.
Collaborate with the Education team to make farms effective, safe, and instructive learning environments for farmer training programs.
Coordinate with research scientists to support the integrity and execution of on-farm research trials.
Support Rodale’s broader strategic goals, including the 10 million Acre Solution.
Participate in organizational strategy development with the CEO and Executive Team, contributing the Farm Innovations perspective to long-term planning and priority setting.
Present the Farm Innovations team’s progress, results, and future innovation priorities to the Board of Directors.
Champion the Farm Innovations team’s work within the organization and with external partners.