Farmlink Project Senior Manager of Agricultural Relations Remote · Full time Company website

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Each year in the United States, billions of pounds of food go to waste while over 47 million Americans experience food insecurity. The Farmlink Project is a national nonprofit that connects farms with surplus produce to hunger fighting charities feeding communities in need, reducing carbon emissions and inspiring the next generation of changemakers in the food system along the way.

Job Summary

The Senior Manager of Agricultural Relations is responsible for advancing Farmlink’s core commitment to supporting farmers by serving as a critical agricultural subject matter expert, ensuring that the agricultural surplus conditions, market dynamics, and operational solutions influencing Farmlink’s efforts have been incorporated into organizational strategy, ongoing innovation, and day to day operations. 

The Senior Manager of Agricultural Relations will engage directly with producers across commercial agriculture, as well as trade associations, agricultural groups, and government entities. This leader will bring deep experience in agricultural economics and the U.S. farm landscape, paired with firsthand agricultural experience and strong credibility within the farming community. They will translate on-the-ground farm realities into scalable, systems-level strategies, while building trust in Farmlink’s surplus recovery initiatives. Through these relationships, they will work under the direction of the Head of Policy & Advocacy ensuring farmer perspectives are effectively integrated into policy strategy and positioning Farmlink to advocate for policies, programs, and funding that benefit farmers while increasing the flow of surplus food to communities in need.

The ideal candidate is both a relationship-builder and a systems thinker: someone who can navigate complex stakeholder dynamics, represent Farmlink authentically across the agricultural sector, and drive large-scale efforts with impact.

The Senior Manager of Agricultural Relations will report directly to the Head of Policy & Advocacy, contributing their agricultural expertise to our advocacy work, as well as strategically across the organization. The Senior Manager of Agricultural Relations will also work closely with the Food Program Operations team.

Responsibilities

Agricultural Industry Knowledge & Market Insight  (~45%) 

• Forecast, track, and analyze specialty & commodity crop markets, production economics, farm income trends, weather patterns, and surplus availability across states and regions to inform organizational strategy, programs, and advocacy efforts with the ability to forecast 90-day to 3-year horizons. 
• Partner with organizational leadership and Programs team to design, test, and scale Farmlink’s on farm food recovery strategy
• Serve as the organization's agricultural subject matter expert, building Farmlink team’s fluency of agriculture industry and the experience of the farmer from the farmer’s pipeline to the consumer 
• Apply systems thinking across the commercial agriculture value chain to inform organization wide strategy and decision-making.

Agricultural Industry Relations & Partnership Development (~35%)

• Develop and steward relationships across diverse agricultural stakeholder groups from the small farmer to agricultural giants to enhance programmatic strategy, fundraising opportunities, and organizational readiness for on farm recovery growth and ongoing advocacy while articulating Farmlink’s vision clearly and authentically to diverse farmer and producer audiences
• Build grower coalitions (include growers, trade associations, and key industry organizations) in support of organizational strategies and efforts.
• Act as a visible ambassador for the organization, representing our mission and agricultural industry perspective across key forums from development partners to policymakers. 

Advocacy Support & Analysis (~20%)

• Use agricultural industry intelligence to support the identification and development of policy and advocacy opportunities and actionable insights that address the needs of farmers and hunger-fighting communities.
• Convene agricultural stakeholders for government conversations and facilitate collaboration across growers and industry groups to support organizational policy & advocacy priorities.
• Prepare agricultural economic briefs for government and agricultural industry audiences, as well as government meeting strategies and asks.  
• Inform policy opportunities annually, spanning not only farm-based recovery but also broader policy areas such as state and federal tax donation laws and related regulatory frameworks.
• Integrate understanding of state and federal programs and regulations that impact efforts connecting farmers with the hunger-fighting charity systems (e.g. TEFAP).
• Contribute to growing state, regional, and national charity networks to support advocacy initiatives as directed by the Head of Policy & Advocacy. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Studies (Agronomy, Ag Econ etc.)  or lived farm or ranch experience in a decision-making capacity, such as owner-operator, partner, senior family operator, or grower cooperative/packing operations leader
• 10+ years of experience in agricultural economics, commercial agriculture markets, and/or navigating surplus situations (unharvested acres, price collapses, loss of traditional markets); or an equivalent combination of formal education and experience
• Experience analyzing market trends, production economics, and/or government agriculture programs
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling insights for diverse audiences, experience with forecasting or modeling preferred
• Demonstrated operational experience beginning with planting all through the food pipeline (harvest crews, packing, cold storage, trucking, client)
• Knowledge of grower/shipper food safety standards such as FSMA, GAP, PRIMUS, and AIB. 
• Proven track record of building and maintaining relationships across farmers, industry groups, and engaging with local and state officials (NRCS, FSA etc.) 
• Must be proficient at navigating information resources including: USDA NASS, WBSCM, and industry publications
• Familiarity with federal and state agriculture policy and funding mechanisms
• Familiarity with the hunger-fighting charity sector desirable 
• Ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Proficiency using Google Suite
• Must have high speed internet and a quiet, dedicated workspace for external and team calls. In addition to high speed internet, you must have strong phone service with internet access and text messaging. 
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically (approx. 9-12 trips annually) for conferences, grower & agency visits, donor meetings, industry associations, and government meetings 
• Will require periodic farm and field visits where conditions will vary, including the  necessity to stand and walk for extended periods across a variety of terrain as well as potential to optionally lift up to 50lbs
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and will be required to drive at night and in various weather conditions