Job Description Summary & Additional Information
Job Description Summary:
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) invites applications for a 12-month, renewable, full-time Program Manager to work with its National Reporting, Coordinating, and Communications Office (NRCCO) located in College Park, Md. SARE is a program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that offers farmer-driven, grassroots grants and education programs. SARE’s NRCCO operates under cooperative agreements from the USDA through the University of Maryland (UMD) in its College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station. More information can be found at: https://www.sare.org/.
The NRCCO is primarily responsible for creating and managing the distribution of print and digital technical guides and educational resources for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agricultural service providers. The office manages five ongoing work plans simultaneously, typically completing around 8 to 10 written and digital outreach products focused on various topics within Sustainable Agriculture, annually. Additionally, the NRCCO supports SARE's regional grant and outreach programs by directing national program efforts and providing opportunities for cross-regional information sharing among its partners. This support includes maintaining a digital grant management system, developing the SARE websites, providing communication resources, and coordinating national SARE workshops, program meetings, and outreach initiatives.
The Program Manager will be a key member of a collaborative, supportive team, responsible for developing written and digital educational and outreach resources focused on various sustainable agriculture topics. This role also involves assisting to develop promotion plans, write press releases, and identify effective outreach channels and new educational formats. Additionally, the Program Manager will assist with creating engaging online and in-person educational opportunities for national SARE partners and stakeholders. These include contributions to programs like SARE Fellows and National Continuing Education, as well as occasional workshops, conferences, or meetings. This position provides ample opportunities to engage with NRCCO colleagues and other national partners, who enthusiastically support sustainable agriculture, farms, and ranches. The role requires annual out-of-state travel.
Overall, the Program Manager will provide a creative and professional perspective to sustainable agriculture outreach while balancing daily operational tasks and long-term program objectives. This position reports to the SARE Associate Director at UMD and requires collaboration and frequent communication with NRCCO and UMD colleagues and national SARE partners.
Preferred Qualifications:
- M.S. in sustainable agriculture, natural resource conservation, agriculture education, or related fields.
- Experience with agriculture outreach programing or Cooperative Extension.
- Previous experience maintaining website content and using various design and editing software like: Adobe Creative Suite, InDesign, Photoshop, Bridge, Illustrator, and Wordpress.
- Familiarity with publication and photo management and/or digital accessibility?
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: Proven ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including composing and editing educational resources (written, in-person, digital,
and/or video) across various topics in sustainable agriculture, with a focus on plain language principles and practical information sharing. - Strong facilitation and organizational skills: Experience planning educational engagements and leading discussions (in-person and virtual).
- Technical proficiency: Intermediate proficiency with various computer software packages, and experience working in shared cloud-based work spaces, digital meeting platforms, and various database systems.
- Strong organizational and time management skills: Ability to independently organize, and prioritize tasks, handling multiple projects and duties efficiently and with flexibility. Excellent attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills, and a positive attitude.
- Strong work ethic: Demonstrated ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, with a commitment to meeting deadlines, achieving high-quality results, and a desire to learn new things.
- Customer service orientation: Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders, providing excellent customer service. Ability
to work effectively in a semi-remote, collaborative team-based environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Content Development and Distribution
- Contributes significantly to the production of all print and digital media projects (e.g., books, bulletins, promotional materials, web pages, press releases) from start to finish, including managing the print production process.
- Leads the team in researching and identifying best avenues for outreach and communications. Advises staff on how social media and/or new and notable outreach and communication strategies, including artificial intelligence (AI) programs, can be used to advance the NRCCO’s mission.
- Interfaces with the NRCCO team to ensure timely development, design, and editing/proofreading of print and online digital content prior to being publicly available.
- Collaborates with the NRCCO team and national SARE Outreach Steering Committee to select and develop content for publications, digital media, and other educational resources.
Meeting and Workshop Coordination
- Co-develops and delivers engaging educational opportunities at in-person and online programs for national SARE partners and stakeholders (e.g., SARE Fellows Program, SARE Outreach Steering Committee).
- Assists with planning, facilitating logistics and communication with any guest speakers, organizing technology resources, developing and distributing materials, and other tasks associated with workshops and meetings in-person or virtual events.
- Provides logistical support at in-person and virtual events, including note taking.
Collaboration and Team Responsibilities
- Travel to 1 to 3 out-of-state, multi-day trips per year.
- Contributes to managing and developing SARE NRCCO’s shared information and reference resources.
- Engage with NRCCO, UMD and national SARE groups and individuals with timely responses via email, instant message, and phone correspondence.
Physical Demands of Position:
Sedentary work. The employee will frequently lift and/or move items weighing up to 20 pounds. Set up and teardown of research machinery, project displays, tables, and chairs may be necessary at workshops.
Additional Job Details
Required Application Materials:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Names and contact information for three professional references
- 1-2 pages of professional and/or creative writing samples.
Best Consideration Date:
August 28, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Experience: Three (3) years of professional program management or higher education experience.
Other: Additional work experience as defined above may be substituted on a year for year basis for up to four (4) years of the required education.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
Knowledge of business acumen to understand key business drivers, organizational communications, and data.
Skill in oral and written communication.
Skill in the use of Microsoft Office products.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion.
Ability to develop and administer new policies and procedures.
Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.
Job Risks
Not Applicable to This Position
Department
AGNR-AES-Agriculture Experiment Station-Associate Dir.
Worker Sub-Type
Staff Contractual (C2) (Fixed Term)
Salary Range
$82,000 - $87,000
For more information on Staff Contractual CII benefits, select this link.
Background Checks
Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.
Employment Eligibility
The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.
The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.
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