SARE Grant Program Admin - Farmer Grant

Posting Summary

About Northeast SARE: The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program is one of four regional SARE programs funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and is administered by the University of Vermont. Northeast SARE offers grants and education to farmers, educators, service providers, researchers and others to address key issues affecting the sustainability of agriculture throughout our region. SARE's Nationwide mission is to advance, to the whole of American agriculture, innovations that improve profitability, stewardship, and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education.

Position Description: Provide leadership and coordination for recruitment, review, award and implementation of research and outreach projects funded by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program.

Synthesize data and results of the Farmer Grant program for disseminating to appropriate government agencies and other audiences. Oversee, communicate, and implement multiple activities, events, and procedures to ensure effective function of grant programs within Northeast SARE, such as solicitation of proposals, proposal review panels, strategic planning, awarded project management, and liaison to research, administration, and educational partners. Cultivate and manage relationships with potential grant applicants, grantees, federal and state partners, and internal and external research partners. Coordinate operational aspects of Northeast SARE Farmer Grant program including call for proposals, review team orientation and proposal evaluation, development of ranked lists of proposals, review of project budgets, issuing of project awards, review and approval of research project reports. Assure projects are awarded and managed in compliance with university and USDA policies and procedures.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Cultivate positive relationships to promote programs to people and organizations in all communities.
• Use SARE's on-line grant management system to process applications, proposal reviews, and project reporting.
• Compile and analyze review team results and recommendations.
• Synthesize reviewer comments on proposals; provide feedback to all applicants.
• Review the budgets of approved proposals to make sure expenses are allowable.
• Work with staff to finalize awards for contracting.
• Support project leaders with reporting; review and approve all project reports.
• Make occasional site visits to funded projects.
• Promote the grant program by sharing project experiences and impacts.
• Support grant program evaluation.
• Support other grant program operations as needed.

This is a 12-month, 1.0 FTE exempt position, with a robust benefits package.

This position is eligible for full-time telework in accordance with the university telecommuting policy, with physical space available in the South Burlington Extension office if desired.

Minimum Qualifications (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

• A Bachelors degree in a field relevant to sustainable agriculture or business administration, and two to four years of relevant experience is required.
• Significant relevant experience should be in an agricultural environment or a related field.
• Familiarity with principles and practices of sustainable agricultural research required.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a variety of audiences.
• Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheets required.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, organize data, meet deadlines, and coordinate projects.

Desirable Qualifications

• Master's degree is preferred.
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods and statistical analyses is desirable.
• Experience applying for and managing research grants is desirable.