Program Manager

The Program Manager position is a cornerstone role within the Regenerate Ventura County (RVC) Initiative, supporting the development of a regionally rooted, equitable Regenerative Organic food system. This position is responsible for managing the day-to-day implementation of partner-facing program activities, coordinating workplans and timelines, cultivating and stewarding strategic partnerships that advance agroecological transition, and ensuring that program activities, deliverables, and community engagement efforts are executed with clarity, accountability, cultural relevance, and measurable impact. 

The Program Manager will work closely with program leadership, the Rodale Institute's agronomic consulting and market development teams and local partner organizations to bridge on-the-ground farmer support with broader systems-building efforts, connecting farmers, institutions, community-based organizations, and emerging cooperatives.  The program Manager will help translate strategic priorities into coordinated action by aligning partners, schedules, budgets, reporting systems, outreach activities, and cross-functional staff contributions.

This position ensures that the Regenerate Ventura County Initiative functions as a coordinated, partner-driven ecosystem, where farmers are supported not only in transitioning to Regenerative organic practices, but in accessing the markets, infrastructure, and community networks necessary for long-term success.  By managing program implementation, aligning partnerships, delivering on commitments and expanding outreach, this role directly contributes to building a resilient, just, and economically viable regional food system.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:Program Management, Planning & Internal CoordinationDevelop, manage, and maintain program workplans, timelines, meeting cadences, task trackers, and implementation calendars for partner relations and community outreach activities
Coordinate cross-functional execution across agronomy, market development, business technical assistance, communications, research, education, and local partner teams
Monitor progress against program goals, flag implementation risks or capacity gaps, and support timely problem-solving with program leadership and partners
Organize and facilitate internal and partner-facing meetings, including agenda development, notes, follow-up items, and accountability tracking
Support program budgeting and resource coordination for outreach events, partner activities, communications assets, and community engagement needs
Maintain clear systems for documentation, file organization, partner records, reporting inputs, and institutional knowledge related to the RVC Project.

Strategic Relationship BuildingIdentify, engage, and maintain relationships with a network of regional partners including farmer groups, community-based organizations, food hubs, institutional buyers, government entities, and technical assistance providers
Clearly communicate the value of Regenerative Organic practices, certification pathways, and program participation to prospective partners
Serve as a consistent and trusted point of contact for all partner organizations
Coordinate partner roles, timelines, scopes of work, communication expectations, and shared accountability structures to support smooth program implementation

Grant Alignment and DeliverablesManage and track all partner-related deliverables tied to grants, contracts, and collaborative agreements
Ensure alignment between partner activities and program goals, including but not limited to: acres transitioned to organic/regenerative management, number of farmers engaged and supported, adoption of climate-smart and soil health practices, local food access and economic impact
Support preparation of reports for funders (e.g., CDFA, philanthropic partners), ensuring accurate and timely documentation of outcomes and learnings
Coordinate across internal teams (agronomy, market development, business technical assistance) to fulfill contractual obligations
Maintain program dashboards, tracking tools, and partner updates that help leadership assess progress and make timely decisions

Community Outreach & Network DevelopmentSupport outreach efforts that reflect the program’s commitment to “bilingual everything,” ensuring accessibility for Spanish-speaking and Indigenous-language communities where possible
Translate complex program strategies into accessible, community-centered messaging
Ensure outreach planning, materials, and event logistics are coordinated in ways that reduce participation barriers and support farmer trust

Public Communication & Field-Based EngagementRepresent the initiative at field days, workshops, community meetings, and regional convenings
Collaborate with partners to design and implement outreach events that connect farmers to technical assistance, markets, and cooperative opportunities
Create and execute bi-monthly emails to Rodale databases that promote and showcase the center’s ongoing progress, activities, farmer and consumer resources, and impact
Generate ongoing photo and video assets that showcase the impact of our work
Develop supporting materials (such as print, digital and social) that promote Rodale Institute’s work in Ventura County
Work with Rodale Institute’s PR Manager on a year-long PR and promotional plan to gain exposure for the RVC Project in and through regional and national media
Collaborate effectively with the Marketing and Communications, Research, and Education teams to ensure that the RVC Project is representing Rodale Institute to the highest standard
Develop outreach calendars, asset timelines, approval processes, and content tracking systems to ensure communications are delivered consistently and on schedule

Development & Ecosystem BuildingCultivate relationships with potential donors, collaborators, and aligned institutions to expand program outreach and sustainability
Identify and advance opportunities for cooperative development, shared infrastructure, and regional aggregation/distribution networks
Strengthen connections between producers and buyers, supporting the growth of localized, values-based supply chains
Track emerging ecosystem-building opportunities and coordinate next steps with program leadership, partners, and internal teams

Experience & Qualifications: Experience working in regenerative agriculture, organic systems, community food systems or related fields
 Demonstrated success in partnership development, community engagement, or program coordination
Experience managing complex programs, timelines, deliverables, partner communications, and cross-functional workstreams
Experience with grant deliverables, reporting, and cross-partner coordination
Comfort using project management, reporting, database, and communications tools to coordinate tasks, document progress, and track outcomes
Strong understanding of farmer-facing programs, especially for small-scale and historically underserved producers
Ability to work across diverse stakeholder groups, including farmers, nonprofits, agencies, and institutional buyers
Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accountability to partners, funders, farmers, and internal teams
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Spanish proficiency strongly preferred

Compensation & Benefits:This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position at $75,000 annually
This position is eligible to participate in Rodale Institute’s benefits programs
Rodale Institute offers 100% paid medical premium for full-time employees and their dependents; sharing premium cost for dental & vision plans; a 403(b)-retirement savings plan; life insurance and AD&D coverage; and 100% paid short and long-term disability coverage
Rodale Institute has a competitive time off program, plus 5 floating holidays for full-time employees, and 12 company paid holidays

Travel:Regular travel throughout Ventura County, CA is expected
This position will work remotely from a home office

Other Expectations: To be trustful and respectful to all staff and visitors
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity or handicap.