Practical Farmers of Iowa is Hiring a Business Development Viability Manager

About PFI

Practical Farmers of Iowa is a nonprofit organization that has worked to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities since 1985. We create learning opportunities via farmer-led events, on-farm research and educational content through our robust network of farmers. We also provide funding and technical assistance to help farmers adopt regenerative farming practices and grow farm businesses. Our vision is an Iowa with healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities.

This work has always been rooted in our value of welcoming everyone and creating a culture of mutual respect. We believe that a diversity of people, ideas and perspectives strengthens our ability to find creative solutions, enriches our understanding and broadens our impact. At Practical Farmers, we celebrate this diversity and are committed to ensuring that our policies and practices create an equitable and inclusive workplace. We take equal opportunity seriously and seek to empower and support all applicants and teammates.

Practical Farmers offers a flexible, supportive and fast-paced work environment. Professional development is a core part of our culture and team members are encouraged to take independent initiative to help fulfill our mission.

About the Position

The farm viability department provides innovative, personalized support to help farmers achieve their goals. We partner with farmers to implement new on-farm practices, develop markets and create robust farm business plans. We make key connections across the food and agriculture supply chain, develop strategic partnerships and shape the policies that encourage resilient farms to thrive.

We’re seeking a business development manager to manage and grow our long-standing business development programs like the Savings Incentive Program, Cover Crop Business Accelerator and our work in advancing value chain coordination and land access. This team currently oversees projects that support farmers defining their farm business goals; learning how to improve their branding and marketing; and determining how to transition the farm or gain access to land to start farming. This team offers business coaching, and supports new and advanced farmers and landowners as they take steps towards realizing their farming goals.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for ensuring execution of our programs that support the next generation, as well as exiting farming who have farm businesses in Iowa and surrounding states. If you’re passionate about getting more farmers onto the landscape and ensuring successful food and farm businesses in rural, urban and peri-urban settings in Iowa and surrounding states while supporting a team who helps farmers meet their goals, this is your role!

Duties

• Manage one to two business development projects directly and oversee staff who manage projects that provide financial assistance and/or business coaching to farmers and landowners. Current projects include:

o Savings Incentive Program

o Labor4Learning

o Cover Crop Business Accelerator

o Value Chain Coordination

o Produce Safety Cost-Share

o Empower Farmers Program

o Land Access Navigators

• Write proposals for grant and/or fee-for-service funding opportunities for the business development program.
• Develop and manage partner relationships related to farm viability that leverage those organizations’ work toward PFI’s farm viability goals.

o Manage relationships with Food Finance Institute, Good Roots, ISU Extension and Outreach Farm, Food and Enterprise Development and others.

o Fundraise to sustain existing programs.

o As needed, fundraise to sustain and expand support for the administration team as PFI’s business development programs grow.

o Maintain funder relationships and steward new ones.

o Negotiate and maintain major investments from funders like Builders Initiative, Walton Family Foundation and Walmart Foundation and develop new foundation contacts to fund business development programming.

• Design and implement processes to ensure consistency and efficiency of farm viability work.

o Build a process for processing payments to farmers in large batches, working closely with PFI’s administration, analytics and finance teams.

o Ensure consultations are high-quality with clear outputs, outcomes and next steps (including hard referrals as needed).

o Design and oversee reporting for government-, state- and foundation-funded grant sources.

• Facilitate teamwork, business coaching and customer service within the business development team.

o Ensure consistency in the business development team’s approach to coaching and supplement with a group of trusted, cultivated content experts to support farm business acumen in:

o Strategic business development

o Farm succession

o Land access

o Farm transfer

o Market development

o Value-added agriculture

o Supply chain development

o Financial planning and analysis

o Branding and marketing

o Work closely with PFI’s administration and analytics team to ensure work is complete and processes are clear and effective.

• Manage capacity and budget efficiently to complete work.

o Determine needed funding for existing programs and staff.

o Track expenditures to stay within budget.

o Ensure cash flow for program payments prior to paying participants by conferring with finance.

• Develop evaluation protocols and make decisions based on evaluation results for business development.

o Lead the strategic visioning process for the team.

o Encourage discussion and contributions to the vision.

o Create a clear plan of implementation.

• Oversee contractors, staff members, volunteers and partners who do business development projects and work.

Required Qualifications and Characteristics

• Familiarity with basic and advanced business coaching, business operations, financial planning, setting goals, growth opportunities, strategic planning, operations, pro forma financial projections, etc.
• Knowledge of midwestern agriculture and food production
• Familiarity with local financial assistance resources and opportunities
• Business coaching experience, including with market analysis, pro forma statements, drafting product and service descriptions, operations, financial projections, marketing and developing funding plans
• Empathy for and knowledge about farmers and landowners looking to add food production businesses or transition to alternative crops
• Patience when working with funders new to PFI
• Experience working within databases
• Experience designing, launching and managing projects
• Strong skills in:

o Supervising other staff

o Facilitating meetings and events, both in-person and virtual

o Creating and managing budgets

o Grant writing

o Strategic planning and visioning

o Evaluating programs and using data to make decisions

• Problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, including the ability to listen to others and constructively give and receive feedback
• Strong time management and work planning skills, including the ability to prioritize and triage work effectively in fast-paced environments.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to learn and adapt to different software (including Word, Excel, data management software, Airtable, etc.)
• Comfortable with public speaking and able to communicate using diverse media, including with graphics and visual aids
• Self-motivated, outgoing and able to initiate communication with farmers, partners and other collaborators
• Respectful of differing perspectives
• Ability to work independently – including developing a detailed schedule and work plan with little oversight – as well as with a team
• Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work

Desired Qualifications and Characteristics:

• Knowledge of PFI’s programs
• Experience with survey design or software
• Experience with database management
• Three years of professional experience
• Appreciation of and passion for PFI’s organizational mission
• Empathetic and able to connect with people from different backgrounds
• A mindset of continuous improvement

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position with the option for hybrid work. There is a minimum requirement of one day per month at the Ames, Iowa, office. The salary range for this position is $68,000-$72,000, with annual opportunity for advancement and salary increase.

Benefits

PFI values its employees and has a flexible and supportive work environment. We offer employees a competitive benefits package that includes employee health insurance with 100% employer-paid premium, generous paid time off, flexible hours, six weeks of fully paid parental leave and 5% automatic 401k contribution after one year of employment.

We also encourage employee professional development and offer a range of specialty benefits employees can use to support their wellness, sustainability and financial goals. Examples of our specialty benefits include contributions towards spouse or dependent health insurance, stipends for remote and hybrid workers and reimbursements for wellness costs, local food and CSA subscriptions, student loans or eco-friendly purchases. Practical Farmers is a family-friendly employer.

Please apply by completing an application (including contact information, cover letter, resume and references). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.