Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Program Manager, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships

Title: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Program Manager

Appointment: Full-time, P&A, Job code 9741PD, Ed Pro 5-Ed Prog Dev & Implmt

Office Location: St. Paul Campus

Pay Range: $80,000 - $95,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Extension Area: Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP)

Reports to: Assistant Statewide Director, U of M Regional Partnerships

Apply By: November 14, 2025

This position provides leadership, coordination and support to the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) sustainable agriculture and food systems focus area. The person in this position provides strategic vision and leadership for sustainable agriculture and food system work at the University-community interface. That means staying abreast of current scientific knowledge, leveraging and catalyzing research and resources within the University of Minnesota and its mission as a land-grant institution, and supporting community ideas, issues and needs as an important source of innovation. This position supervises people, and provides leadership and management of a portfolio of internally and externally funded sustainable agriculture and food systems projects that build community-University partnerships in Greater Minnesota. The aim is to generate positive, substantive impacts that advance sustainable agriculture and food systems in each of the five RSDP Regions in Minnesota through robust and authentic community-University partnerships.

Statewide sustainable agriculture and food systems program and project portfolio management -- 40%

• Set strategic direction for statewide sustainable agriculture and food systems work, informed by RSDP Regional priorities, projects and insights.
• Identify, prioritize and pursue external and internal funding to support RSDP's statewide sustainable agriculture and food system efforts. Serve as principal investigator on projects.
• Monitor sustainable agriculture and food systems research, trends and opportunities to provide resources and science-based findings to RSDP staff, work groups and community members.
• Collaborate on multi-disciplinary alignment across the RSDP's four focus areas, eg: working with clean energy colleagues and researchers on a farmer-led agrivoltaics project.
• Direct implementation and achieve deliverables for the statewide deep winter greenhouse program, including grant management, educational programming and farmer/researcher engagement.
• Direct additional statewide sustainable agriculture and food systems grant projects as identified.
• Build interdisciplinary research teams of faculty and community members to address statewide sustainable agriculture and food system priorities.
• Conduct outreach and education to community audiences and serve as public interface for RSDP sustainable agriculture and food system projects.

Regional Coordination -- 35%

• Collaborate with the five RSDP Regional Executive Directors to design and implement research, education and outreach for community-led, regionlly-based sustainable agriculture and food system partnerships.
• Lead the management and coordination of statewide and cross-regional projects that emerge through the RSDPs project solicitation process.
• Design and implement sustainable agriculture and food systems education and networking opportunities, including webinars, workshops and presentations, for RSDP staff, regional boards and work groups.
• Attend RSDP Regional board and work group meetings as needed and appropriate.

Supervision -- 10%

• Establish and lead processes for the efficient and effective operation of the statewide sustainable agriculture and food systems team.
• In consultation with RSDP Statewide director, establish statewide sustainable agriculture and food system program strategic priorities and goals;
• Recruit, retain, and develop statewide sustainable agriculture and food system staff and conduct annual performance reviews of direct reports
• Serve on the RSDP leadership team and contribute to the overall well-being of the organization and staff.

Relationship development and maintenance -- 15%

• Collaborate with Regional staff to identify, engage and recruit University faculty and staff in the Twin Cities and coordinate campuses for regional boards, work groups, partnerships and projects
• Develop and maintain relationships and partnerships with University of Minnesota faculty staff, and students, which the RSDP's term as "in-reach" to the University.
• Attend and represent RSDP at on-campus and metro-area events as appropriate

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in agricultural sciences, urban and regional planning, policy, public health, rural development, sustainable food systems or related fields
• Four years of professional experience managing integrated projects with diverse stakeholders on topics like food systems, environment, community development, natural resources, or related disciplines
• Federal and state grant writing and management experience
• Experience in local foods and sustainable agriculture initiatives
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders and participatory processes.
• Ability to effectively work with undergraduate, graduate students, and faculty from a variety of disciplines
• Supervisory experience
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Experience with Microsoft and Google Suite applications
• Valid driver's license and own means of transportation with required liability insurance to be utilized for frequent travel throughout Minnesota. Travel may include periodic overnight stays. Mileage and sustenance reimbursement are provided according to University policy.
• Ability to work flexible hours including occasional evening and weekend work.
• When not in the assigned office location, must be reachable with a number that will be published in the Extension staff directory.
• Ability to work in different buildings, outdoors, and in varying weather conditions
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in in agricultural sciences, urban and regional planning, policy, public health, rural development, sustainable food systems or related fields
• Adaptive leadership skills
• Experience with rural development
• Professional networks with diverse members of urban and rural stakeholders associated with agriculture and local foods networks
• Experience with meeting facilitation
• Experience with interdisciplinary and community-engaged scholarship
• Budget management experience
• Program design skills
• Qualitative and quantitative research skills

The University of Minnesota Extension's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) brings together community and University knowledge and resources to drive sustainability in four focus areas: agriculture and food systems, clean energy, natural resources and resilient communities. We support local projects through five regional boards made up of community members and University faculty and staff. These projects foster innovation, deepen understanding and build relationships that empower Greater Minnesota communities to advance their future sustainability.

We also support multi-region food systems work across Greater Minnesota and provide clean energy programming through the Clean Energy Resource Teams. Across RSDP's work, the Partnerships strive to advance diversity and inclusivity, recognizing and understanding the issues to be intertwined with sustainability. Find out more about RSDP at https://extension.umn.edu/regional-partnerships.

University of Minnesota Extension is a major outreach arm of the University of Minnesota with a mission to serve the public through applied research and education. Our mission is to make a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota. Extension strives to attract and retain high-quality, passionate employees, and weave diversity, equity and inclusion into all aspects of Extension's programming and employee engagement. Find further information on the Extension website.

Pay Range: $80,000 - $95,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click Apply and follow the instructions.

Please include the following attachments with your online application:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume/Vitae

Contact information for three professional references and college transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable) will be required during the interview process.

Please note: This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Additional documents may be attached after the application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section. See full application instructions.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please email employ@umn.edu or call 612-624-UOHR (8647).