Senior Farm Viability Manager

Practical Farmers of Iowa • Ames, IA

1d • $76,000 - $80,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Practical Farmers of Iowa is seeking a diligent, collaborative and mission-driven leader to serve as the senior farm viability manager. For more than 40 years, Practical Farmers has equipped farmers to build resilient farms and communities across Iowa and beyond.?The senior farm viability manager plays a critical role in coordinating this work by supporting managers, aligning processes, securing funding and ensuring high-quality execution across the department.

Requirements

• At least five years of experience managing complex projects with multiple timelines and stakeholder requirements
• At least five years of experience supervising managers or team leads
• Demonstrated experience overseeing programs with diverse eligibility rules, timelines and deliverables
• Knowledge of Midwestern agriculture and sustainable farming systems
• Experience in one or more of the following:
• -Business and market development
• -Farmer technical assistance
• -Financial assistance or cost-share programs
• -Food system program management
• Strong skills in:
• -Project management: ability to manage 22-25 concurrent multi year projects
• -Workflow and process design
• -Staff supervision and coaching
• -Meeting facilitation
• -Budgeting and financial oversight
• -Fundraising, grant writing and reporting
• -Data management
• Understanding of program management structures
• Ability to oversee complex, multistakeholder projects
• Ability to align programs strategically across teams
• Ability to cultivate relationships with funders and partners

Nice To Haves

• Minimum of seven years of professional experience
• Willingness to travel several times a year to foster relationships with funders and key stakeholders
• Deep knowledge of multiple farming sectors
• Familiarity with specific conservation programs (MMRV, prairie strips, etc.)
• Experience evaluating programs and making data-driven decisions
• Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships with a wide diversity of farmers
• Advanced communication or public speaking skills
• Systems thinking and organizational development skills
• Ability to learn quickly, manage competing deadlines and give and receive feedback

Responsibilities

• Facilitate teamwork within the farm viability department.
• Foster a collaborative, supportive and accountable team culture.
• Oversee contractors, staff members, volunteers and partners who conduct business development, market development, technical assistance and financial assistance projects and work.
• Lead, coach and support three program managers who oversee about 25 programs across business development, market development, technical assistance and financial assistance.
• Ensure accurate and timely tracking, reporting and evaluation for all programs.
• Manage farm viability projects.
• Oversee delivery of 22 to 25 concurrent multiyear projects that engage over 4,000 farmers annually.
• Design and implement processes to ensure consistency and efficiency of farm viability work
• Develop and refine departmental workflows, tools and processes that improve clarity, efficiency and cross-team coordination.
• Manage capacity and budget efficiently to complete work.
• Monitor staff capacity and budgets across all projects, identify gaps and advocate for additional resources when needed.
• Oversee departmental spending and ensure that funding and personnel are aligned with project commitments.
• Develop and oversee farm viability vision and strategy to achieve strategic plan.
• Ensure PFI programs are strategically aligned, well coordinated and executed with consistency and high quality.
• Develop evaluation processes and make decisions based on evaluation results for farm viability.
• Represent the farm viability department in organization-wide planning and evaluation efforts.
• Write proposals for grant and/or fee-for-service funding opportunities.
• Write or cowrite grant proposals and fee-for-service contracts.
• Facilitate collaboration between departments and teams to achieve farm viability project deliverables.
• Coordinate with other PFI teams to ensure smooth communication, shared priorities and efficient execution of multiteam projects.
• Facilitate change management for the farm viability department.
• Other duties as assigned or volunteered to support the department or team projects.

Benefits

• employee health insurance with 100% employer-paid premium
• generous paid time off
• flexible hours
• six weeks of fully paid parental leave
• 5% automatic 401k contribution after one year of employment
• contributions towards spouse or dependent health insurance
• stipends for remote or hybrid workers
• reimbursements for wellness costs, local food purchases or CSA subscriptions, student loans or eco-friendly purchases

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed