[Hiring] Associate Director, Producer Engagement @National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Role Description

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is seeking a new team member who is passionate about American agriculture to join its National Agriculture Statistics Survey (NASS) cooperative agreements team as an Associate Director, Producer Engagement.

The Associate Director, Producer Engagement will lead a program area within NASDA's NASS program to increase awareness of NASS surveys and their value to producers, agricultural organizations, and the broader agricultural industry. Working closely with the Senior Director, this position will establish, lead, and evaluate a multi-state producer engagement program designed to strengthen trusted agricultural partnerships, increase survey participation, and improve response rates across NASS surveys, with potential expansion nationwide. The position is responsible for developing engagement strategies, managing staff, building stakeholder relationships, and measuring program outcomes to support NASS data collection efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required. Degree in agriculture, communications, public affairs, or a related field is preferred.
• Thorough understanding of U.S. agriculture required. Familiarity with USDA NASS surveys, agricultural data collection, or producer outreach programs strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in agricultural communications, stakeholder engagement, membership outreach, public affairs, producer relations, or a related field, preferably within agriculture.
• Minimum of 5 years of supervisory or team leadership experience, including staff development, coaching, performance management, and project oversight.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with agricultural organizations, government agencies, industry associations, Extension services, commodity groups, or producer organizations.
• Experience developing and implementing outreach, engagement, or communications strategies designed to achieve measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, evaluate program performance, and develop recommendations based on measurable results.
• Experience working with federal or state government agencies, agricultural associations, or producer organizations preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment and make informed decisions.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation and public speaking abilities.
• Superior interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a demonstrated ability to work effectively across all levels of an organization and with diverse external stakeholders.
• High level of independence and initiative in managing day-to-day responsibilities.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven work environment and effectively manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to review, edit, and ensure the accuracy of written communications, outreach materials, and reports.
• Experience with email marketing, newsletter development, and distribution using Mailchimp or similar platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.

Requirements

• Consideration will be given to candidates who explicitly address how their experience meets the minimum and preferred qualifications in their cover letter and resume.
• Applications without a cover letter and/or resume will not be considered.

Benefits

• PTO for vacation, sick leave, and volunteer hours
• 401k - 100% match up to 4%
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development
• Employer-paid: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance

Interview Process

• Applications received through 7/6/26
• Interviews (possible 2 step interview process) – 7/9/26 – 7/17/26
• Anticipated start date - 8/3/26

Salary

The hiring range is $85,000.00 - $100,000/yr based on experience.

Work Schedule

This is a full-time (40hrs/week), exempt remote position. Working hours are generally Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm local time.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Ability and willingness to travel as necessary to support program objectives, build stakeholder relationships, and oversee field activities.
• Remote work environment.
• Physical ability to work on a computer at a desk for long periods.
• Physical ability to occasionally lift to 25 pounds.