Program Manager

Position description

The Program Manager oversees NACD's Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative, serving as the primary point of contact and lead for all associated workstreams, contractors, and subawardees. Grant administration, monitoring and forecasting project budgets and finances, and compliance are essential parts of this role. This position is limited term and tied to the period of performance of NACD’s AMP award, which is currently through April 2029.

Grant Administration & Reporting

• Manage the day-to-day administration of NACD’s 12+ Subaward Agreements and contracts, serving as the primary point of contact for assigned recipients and NACD staff.
• Manage grant finances, monitoring and forecasting budgets and cash flow needs across the AMP portfolio including federal funding, non-federal match, and the substantial producer incentive budget.
• Collect, review, and consolidate required reporting from Grantees (e.g., monthly and quarterly financial reports, requests for reimbursement, biannual progress and detailed progress reports), and maintain accurate program metrics across the portfolio.
• Develop reporting materials and storytelling content (e.g., producer profiles, case studies, and outcome narratives) that support both compliance reporting and the broader effort to elevate AMP's impact internally and externally.
• Update and maintain NACD’s grant system of record, as needed, to accommodate changes, operational efficiencies, users/licenses, and other needs.
• Provide leadership to and coordination with other NACD staff and/or contractors who may also have roles and responsibilities to carry out aspects of this grant.

Market Development & Expansion

• Support market feasibility studies, business case development, and analysis of market dynamics that inform where and how AMP-style market opportunities can be replicated or expanded.
• Support identification and development of opportunities to grow markets beyond the local level, connecting NACD projects and producers to regional and national market channels.
• Help subrecipients and producers translate relationship-building and market intelligence gathered at these events into concrete opportunities.

Natural Resource Compliance & Impact Analysis

• Lead submission, tracking and coordination of CPA-52 environmental evaluations across all projects, including training, Q&A, spot checks, and follow-up with NRCS, as needed, to ensure forms are approved in a timely manner.
• Support subawardees in navigating NRCS practice standards, interim/alternative standards, and variance requests.
• Lead or support efforts to quantify local conservation and economic impact of AMP-funded practices and market activities, including data to support feasibility studies and future program design.
• Monitor producer eligibility compliance (FSA Farm Records, AD-1026 certification, Subsidiary Print documentation, foreign person certification) as it relates to practice implementation and natural resource outcomes.

Soil Health Champions & Producer Leadership

• Develop new Soil Health Champions Programming, with a focus on developing producer leaders who can mentor and influence their peers to scale adoption of conservation systems and practices.
• Help design and coordinate peer leadership and capacity-building activities that strengthen producer-led networks.
• Work to ensure Soil Health Champions activities support not just conservation outcomes but producers' long-term economic resilience — connecting champions to market opportunities, incentive structures, and other AMP resources.

Strategic Scaling & Member Playbook Development

• Partner with AMP Grantees to capture lessons learned, promising practices, and common pitfalls across the portfolio of subawards.
• Translate these lessons into a practical playbook and set of tools that help NACD's broader membership — beyond current AMP Grantees — understand how to participate in similar market opportunities for producers.
• Contribute AMP insights and recommendations to NACD's strategic planning discussions, helping shape how market-development work is positioned across the organization going forward.
• Build relationships with NACD members and state associations to socialize the playbook and identify districts positioned to take on similar work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (agriculture, natural resources, economics, public administration, or similar) or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience in agricultural market development, conservation program delivery, or a related field, ideally with exposure to USDA NRCS programs or other federal conservation initiatives.
• Working knowledge of federal grant compliance (2 CFR Part 200) and experience managing grant programs.
• Demonstrated experience or strong interest in feasibility analysis, market dynamics, and translating program data into strategic recommendations.
• Familiarity with NRCS practice standards, environmental evaluation processes (e.g., CPA-52), and conservation practice implementation.
• Ability to cultivate relationships with a range of stakeholders — producers, conservation districts, buyers, and supply chain partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate lessons learned and program data into clear playbooks, reporting, and storytelling content.
• Ability to manage multiple Grantee relationships, contracts, and workstreams with sound judgment and attention to detail.

If based in the Washington, DC area, the position is expected to report into the NACD office in Washington, DC 3x/week. It is otherwise a telework position operating on local time, although some meetings may be required outside of local working hours to accommodate colleagues and members in other time zones.

Health Insurance:

BlueChoice Advantage Platinum 500 - Single coverage – 100% of premium paid by employer. Family plans are available at the employee’s expense.

Dental and Vision:

Dental (Metlife) and Vision (VSP) Single coverage – 100% of premium paid by employer. Family plans are available at the employee’s expense.

Enrollment takes effect on the first day of the month following the employment start date for all health benefits.

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance:

MetLife AD&D/Life Insurance

All full-time employees are provided (at no cost) death and dismemberment insurance along with basic life insurance benefit of 1 times their annual salary. Employees are eligible on the 1st of the month following the date of hire.

Flex Plan:

Annual enrollment to set aside pre-tax funds for qualified health, dependent care, parking and transportation expenses.

Retirement Plan:

TIAA Cref Retirement

There are two components to the 403b contribution pension plan. Eligibility requires the employee must be 21 years or age.

1. Employee contributions can be effective immediately through payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis.
2. Employees are eligible for a minimum of 2.5% employer match contributions with a one-to-one match of an additional 5%, not to exceed 5% after 6 months of employment.
3. The Vesting Schedule for Matching Contribution and Employer Contributions is: 0% after less than 1 year or employment; 30% after one year of employment; 70% after two years of employment; and 100% after three years or employment.

Paid Holidays/Sick Time

13 paid federal holidays

10 days sick leave (520 hours eligible for carryover annually)

Vacation Time

Minimum 10 days paid vacation increases after two full years of employment and increases every two years thereafter. (80 hours eligible for carryover annually)

Professional Development

Each staff member can receive a stipend for allowable expenses up to $1,000 upon successful completion of the continuing education or professional development activity.

Telecommunications Stipend

Monthly telecommunication stipend for phone and/or internet expenses.

Application instructions