Program Manager, Agriculture

Polk State College•Clear Springs - Advanced Technology Center, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Manager provides ongoing leadership in developing agriculture science education courses and initiatives at Polk State College and reports to the Dean of Workforce Education. The role guides the effective implementation and evaluation of new agricultural courses that may lead to a program, provides leadership for a future FFA student leadership initiative, and participates in agriculture planning committees as needed. The position develops and administers agricultural education initiatives for middle-school, high-school, and non-traditional college students to support career readiness in agriculture, food, and natural resources. It develops curriculum frameworks and leads CTE agriculture pathway program oversight, training, in-service, leadership, and workgroup activities. The Program Manager collaborates with college and external stakeholders on curriculum, student success strategies, and connections among agriculture and other academic areas, and serves as a liaison to post-secondary agriculture education and occupational preparation programs. This is an on-campus position; remote and hybrid options are unavailable. Weekend and evening work may be required, as may work during college closures and periodic attendance at program-related workshops or state and national conferences. The role reports to the Dean of Workforce Education.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, education, a CTE-related field, or another closely related accredited field.
Three years of experience designing and developing curriculum, curriculum frameworks, and instructional resource materials.
Experience in education or training systems, including project management, instructional design, assessment, and program evaluation.
Leadership experience in a public garden, regenerative agriculture, conservation, or destination/hospitality operations.
Strong understanding of agricultural science.
Curriculum development skills.
Entrepreneurial and start-up mindset.
Knowledge of state and federal agricultural policies, grants, market trends, and compliance requirements.
Demonstrated ability to leverage multidisciplinary internal and external contacts to support program growth.
Project or program management experience in an educational setting.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or industry certifications in any agriculture discipline.
A combination of education and related professional work experience may be considered year for year.

Responsibilities

Develop and administer agricultural education initiatives with middle schools, high schools, and non-traditional college students to support career readiness in agriculture, food, and natural resources.
Design and develop curriculum frameworks for new agricultural courses and program initiatives.
Provide oversight of Career and Technical Education programs in the agriculture education/science pathway.
Manage the design and implementation of agricultural education training, in-service activities, and leadership; lead the agricultural education workgroup.
Understand connections among federal, state, and local agencies, high schools, and career preparation, particularly for occupations in the agriculture education/science pathway.
Partner with program coordinators, administrators, and instructors on curriculum and strategies supporting college enrollment, retention, progression, and graduation goals.
Lead communication on integrating agriculture with other academic areas, including course development, field experience, and state assessments.
Collect, create, and organize technical materials such as industry standards, curriculum, Agriculture Education and FFA participation data, and assessments for program development and implementation.
Serve as a liaison to post-secondary programs in the agriculture education/science pathway, including community and technical colleges, private career schools, apprenticeships, and other occupational preparation programs.
Consult with the Dean, program coordinators, and internal and external leaders to support program progression and growth.
Provide comprehensive CTE curriculum strategies and advise the Dean on program practices, emerging trends, and needs.
Provide leadership for a future FFA student leadership organization initiative and participate in agriculture planning committees as needed.