Agriculture & Co-Op Education Director

Job Purpose:

The Ag & Co-op Education Director leads implementation of the organization's efforts to educate future cooperative leaders and active farmers and ranchers. The position is developing and leading programs that connect college students with cooperative internship opportunities, developing and supporting a pipeline of future co-op directors, and building partnerships and collaboration among cooperatives to strengthen and promote the impact of cooperatives. The role will also lead development and hosting of webinars, workshops, the Evolution Ag Summit and other high-impact educational events for active farmers and ranchers.

The Ag & Co-op Education Director receives strategic direction from the Sr. Director of the Foundation and partners with the Government Affairs team to deliver timely, relevant, and impactful educational opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cooperative Education
  • Lead and implement a collegiate cooperative internship program.
    • Partner with the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives to develop program standards, resources, expectations and evaluation processes to ensure high-quality experiences for both students and participating cooperatives.
    • Recruit participating cooperatives and assist them in creating quality internship opportunities aligned with student interest and academic requirements.
    • In partnership with the Youth Education Director, promote internship opportunities, facilitate recruitment and support participants.
  • Develop and lead a future co-op directors training
    • Develop and lead a comprehensive future co-op director training program that builds knowledge, skills and readiness for service as a co-op director.
    • Identify emerging leaders, support new directors, and support continuing education, networking and professional learning opportunities.
  • Lead, guide and support a statewide network or coalition of cooperatives committed to promoting cooperative businesses and their impact on North Dakota.
    • Convene cooperative leaders and facilitate collaboration on shared educational, workforce, communications and community/consumer engagement initiatives.
    • Seek and advance opportunities for cooperatives to collaborate on public education, community engagement and leadership development.
    • Identify grant, sponsorship, partnership, and other funding opportunities that support cooperative education and leadership initiatives.

• Agriculture Education
  • Grow educational programs that support on-farm decision-making, including workshops, summits and webinars.
  • Manage the Evolution Ag Summit, including developing topics and agendas, recruiting speakers, and managing event execution.
  • Host succession planning workshops and develop new initiatives to support farm succession decisions.
  • Plan and host webinars that provide timely, relevant, and high-impact updates on farm programs.
  • Evaluate emerging trends in agricultural markets and design new programs that support farmers' and ranchers' readiness to respond.

• Building and Managing Partnerships
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with partners with universities, cooperatives, Extension, government agencies, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.
  • Stay abreast of developments and changes in government programs and market trends by conducting research and attending seminars, workshops and events.
  • Represent the organization and its cooperative and agricultural education initiatives at college/career fairs, events, meetings and other activities.
  • Collaborate with the NDFU Communications Team to develop communications and marketing strategies to promote NDFU and NDFU Foundation initiatives.
  • Partner with the NDFU and NDFU Foundation teams to deliver education and information at NDFU and Foundation events.
  • Develop material and activities to educate consumers on family farming and ranching.

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • Strong facilitation, presentation, and written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
  • Ability to build relationships and work with all ages, skill types, and levels of personnel and members
  • Ability to analyze data and produce reports
  • Knowledge of cooperative principles, cooperative business structures, governance, and the role cooperatives play in communities and the economy
  • Knowledge of program development, implementation, and evaluation
  • Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with NDFU Foundation staff, NDFU leadership, cooperatives, and external partners

• Education and Experience Required:
  • Bachelor's degree in agricultural economics, farm management, agricultural education, leadership development, nonprofit management, organization development or a related field.
  • 3-5 years of professional experience in program development, adult education or training, leadership development, cooperative organizations, nonprofit or coalition management, or community engagement.
  • Demonstrated experience developing and managing programs, partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
  • Strong familiarity with agriculture and North Dakota's cooperative business sector is strongly preferred.

• Working Conditions
  • Position may be based in either Bismarck, ND, or Jamestown, ND.
  • Flexible schedule; must be available for some day, evening and weekend work.
  • Travel as needed.