Program Manager, USDA Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP)

TITLE: Program Manager, USDA Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP)

LOCATION: Remote, within the United States

DEPARTMENT: The Wallace Center

This role will be fully remote, however, preference will be given for applicants residing in: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC, Wisconsin.

Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. Winrock matches innovative approaches in agriculture, natural resources management, clean energy, and leadership development with the unique needs of its partners. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world. The Wallace Center is a unit of Winrock International working to advance a more regenerative, equitable and resilient U.S. food system.

BACKGROUND:

The Wallace Center at Winrock International works to bring together diverse people and ideas to co-create solutions that build healthy farms, equitable economies, and resilient food systems. We envision a future where all communities have the power to nourish themselves and regenerate ecosystems through just food and agricultural systems.

DESCRIPTION:

The Wallace Center is recruiting a full-time Program Manager for its U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Advancing Markets for Producers project. The project supports the production and marketing of conservation-grown rice, primarily in Arkansas and Missouri, through providing voluntary incentives to U.S. growers to implement improved practices. Riceland Foods is a key partner.

Essential responsibilities will include:

Program Management

• Working in close cooperation with the Project Lead and other staff and Winrock support units (Awards Management, Procurement, Human Resources, Information and Communications Technology, and Finance) to provide management, administrative oversight, and leadership to achieve outcomes of the project.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, responsive, self-directed and able to connect individual projects and decisions to broader programmatic vision and ultimate impacts.
• Tracking project activities and progress against targets and goals. Ensures accuracy, quality, and timeliness of mandatory deliverables and collaborates in production and approval of final deliverables. ·
• Demonstrating creativity, initiative and resourcefulness in problem solving and idea generation.
• Significantly contributing to project management across the program, including updating, analyzing, and enhancing project management tools. ·
• Supporting the preparation of work plans, reports, working budgets, budget forecasts, implementing project planning and analyzing project successes to build on lessons learned.

Administration and Implementation

• Complying with organizational processes and policies to ensure compliance and alignment.
• Ensuring Winrock and USDA specific policies and practices are followed and provide guidance on relevant rules and regulations.
• Contributing to other team efforts as needed.
• Completing other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Content and Metrics

• Ensuring the project achieves its stated project outputs and outcomes, and the supporting data is accurately reflected in the USDA Detailed Project Reporting (DPR) spreadsheet and other reporting mechanisms.
• Contributing to monitoring and evaluation by reviewing and approving assigned producer and partner information and documentation. ·
• Contributing to outreach, by writing content, giving presentations, or participating in other aways to highlight activities, important relationships, and impacts of the project.

Leadership and Representation ·

• Traveling to field sites to assist team members and partners with technical and operational management and implementation.
• Contributing substantially to Winrock’s reporting to USDA.
• Managing partner relationships, including sub-awardees, to ensure they are positive and productive and compliant with USDA rules and regulations and reporting requirements.
• Contributing to new business development efforts
• Potential supervision of staff

The Program Manager is a motivated candidate who is talented at multitasking in a fast-paced nonprofit environment. This individual should have the focus to handle many complex, evolving responsibilities with a high degree of autonomy, accountability, and attention to detail. This includes engaging in relationships with a range of stakeholders and partners in the domestic agriculture sector. Experience with large U.S. agriculture and supply chain projects is preferred.

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

• Demonstrated Work Experience o Must have a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrates technical knowledge of relevant thematic topics and thought leadership in a relevant subject area (e.g conservation agriculture, rice value chain, agriculture premiums or incentives).
• Experience with federal government awards - ideally experience with USDA projects focused on U.S. agriculture systems
• Experience working with U.S. farmer groups
• A demonstrated knowledge of NRCS practices

· Education

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required or combination of relevant experience and education.

· Technical/Computer Skills

• Ability to demonstrate the highest level of ethical standards at all times.
• Effective use of Microsoft Office and other technologies essential to doing business.
• Demonstrated skills in project management to achieve targets within scope, budget, and on time.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for project management, donor and partner relations, and new business development.
• Ability to meet deadlines, manage multiple demands, and work under pressure while ensuring quality.
• Strong individual time management and organizational abilities for completing detailed administrative, communications, and other assigned tasks.
• High-level cultural competency and ability to work with a broad range of partners and participants respectfully and productively.
• Comfortable working in a flexible, high-paced environment; able to work well in teams
• Ability to lead and motivate staff.

· Required Travel

• Willingness to travel domestically, approximately 2-4 trips per year.

· Communication Skills

• Fluent English is required.

SALARY/BENEFITS : The salary range is $80,000 - $90,000 and will be commensurate with experience and/or level of education. Winrock offers competitive pay and an excellent benefits package.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Please submit a resume and cover letter by October 23, 2026.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes, and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law.

Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization.

No phone calls, please. Candidates selected to move forward will be contacted by email.

Winrock offers competitive pay and an excellent benefits package.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law.

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.