AgTech Program Manager

The CA AgTech Alliance Program Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational execution of the California AgTech Alliance, a statewide ecosystem initiative supporting commercialization, industry growth, and innovation deployment across California's agrifood sector. The role operationalizes innovation grant processes, facilitates application and review workflows, tracks funding utilization, and ensures compliance with reporting and grant requirements.

This position is responsible for maintaining alliance engagement systems, tracking performance metrics, supporting Innovation Grants Committee processes, and preparing reports aligned with UC ANR Innovate and state funding requirements. Working under general direction, the Program Manager exercises independent judgment in resolving operational issues of diverse scope and sustaining productive industry-university partnerships that strengthen California's AgTech ecosystem.

The UC ANR Innovate Statewide Program and Office of Innovation advances transformative solutions at the intersection of climate, food, farming, energy, and the bioeconomy. Through industry partnerships, applied research commercialization, and workforce development, the program accelerates the translation of innovation into real-world impact. UC ANR Innovate supports scalable, place-based agrifood innovation ecosystems across California, strengthening economic resilience, sustainability, and global competitiveness.

This position is a career appointment that is 100% fixed with funding that ends on 1/31/2028, with the possibility of extension if funding permits.

The home department is the Office of Innovation. While this position is primarily based in Davis, CA, it could also be based in Irvine, CA (South Coast REC). This position is eligible for hybrid flexible work arrangements for applicants living in the State of California at this time. Please note that hybrid flexible work arrangements are subject to change by the University.

Pay Scale: $84,100.00/year to $119,400.00/year

Job Posting Close Date: This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 5/20/2026.

Key Responsibilities:

25%

CA AgTech Alliance Program Operations & Network Coordination

• Independently manage day-to-day operations of the CA AgTech Alliance network.
• Coordinate engagement with ecosystem support organizations (ESOs), startups, industry partners, and academic stakeholders.
• Maintain alliance contact databases, engagement records, and operational workflows.
• Coordinate quarterly meetings, industry advisory sessions, and subcommittee activities.
• Support implementation of alliance programming aligned with strategic priorities established by the Project Director.
• Identify operational improvements to strengthen network efficiency and partner engagement.

25%

Innovation Grants Program Design & Implementation

• Operationalize the Innovation Grants Program, including process design and workflow development.
• Coordinate application intake, evaluation logistics, and funding recommendation documentation.
• Support internal PO process coordination and financial workflow alignment.
• Maintain and improve grant management systems, templates, and documentation tools.
• Develop and maintain application criteria, eligibility requirements, and review procedures in collaboration with the Innovation Grants Committee.

20%

Innovation Grant Deployment & ESO Engagement

• Facilitate Innovation Grant application and review cycles.
• Work closely with ESOs to navigate application requirements and funding utilization processes.
• Support ESO portfolio companies in understanding and accessing grant resources as needed.
• Track grant allocations, deliverables, and funding utilization.
• Maintain accurate documentation of project milestones and commercialization impacts.

15%

Metrics Tracking, Reporting & Grant Compliance

• Develop and maintain dashboards tracking alliance engagement, innovation grants awarded, funding deployment, and impact metrics.
• Prepare reports aligned with California AgTech Network, Jobs First, Go-Biz, and UC ANR Innovate reporting cycles.
• Develop reporting templates for ESOs to track outcomes and economic impact.
• Ensure compliance with funding guidelines and documentation standards.
• Monitor performance indicators and recommend operational adjustments.

10%

Partnership Development & Outreach Support

• Conduct research on prospective alliance members, ESOs, and industry collaborators.
• Prepare briefing materials, partner summaries, and meeting documentation.
• Support development of program webpages, communication materials, and grant portal content.
• Coordinate outreach communications to alliance members and stakeholders.
• Support participation in industry events and quarterly advisory meetings.

5%

Communications, Events & Program Support

• Coordinate CA AgTech events and partner meetings.
• Support development of newsletters, promotional materials, and webpage updates.
• Maintain participant communication channels and distribution lists.
• Ensure consistent messaging aligned with UC ANR Innovate branding and program objectives.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in business, agriculture, engineering, life sciences, public policy, economics, or related field.
• Broad knowledge of industry alliance development, innovation ecosystem coordination, and commercialization pathways within a university or public-sector environment.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs and funding processes from planning through execution.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build collaborative working relationships with ESOs, startups, faculty, industry partners, and public agencies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical or programmatic requirements into clear, actionable guidance.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple funding cycles and reporting deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and report program metrics, funding impact data and commercialization outcomes to support grant compliance and leadership reporting.
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling financial, proprietary, and sensitive information and navigating diverse stakeholder interests.
• Demonstrated experience working with industry partners, early-stage startups, ecosystem support organizations, research institutions or applied research programs.