Program Manager, Meat Processing Expansion Project

The Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE) seeks a full time Program Manager. This is a mid-level professional position reporting to the Director of Programs and Communications, responsible for leading CADE’s effort to expand meat processing facilities in Delaware and Otsego Counties in close collaboration with CADE’s team.

POSITION SUMMARY: Meat processors are a critical node in the food supply chain, providing market opportunities for regional farmers to process their animals, create value-added products (such as sausages, jerkies, bacon, etc.) pack, certify, label, and in some cases help distribute local meat to markets. The demand for NY sourced meat products is not met due to bottlenecks among processors, who have historically had 1-2 year waiting lists for farmers to process their animals. Recognizing this fact, the NYS and federal governments have recently invested heavily in expanding the meat processing industry in New York.

Working with several meat processor clients in Delaware and Otsego Counties, CADE–together with a Meat Processing Industry Committee of allied county, State, and economic/workforce development agencies–aims to provide a complete suite of business services and other types of support to accelerate meat processing businesses. Together, our goal is to enable processors to successfully expand and scale-up, maintain regulatory compliance, recruit sufficient skilled labor, obtain relevant certifications, access new markets, and more. Ultimately, the expansions of the industry will increase animal processing outputs, introduce new meat products to NY markets, enable livestock farmers to expand operations, drive rural economic development, and create rural jobs.

To succeed in this position, the candidate must be a mature, seasoned professional with technical knowledge of the meat processing industry and the regulatory environment, exercise discretion with handling sensitive client/trade information, demonstrate collaborativeness with a range of interest holders, and have a passion for ag/local food systems. The ideal candidate has experience with Halal, Kosher, and Organic meat processing practices.

The position allows for work from CADE’s office in Oneonta, NY OR hybrid remote work from the candidate’s home office (following CADE’s remote work policy) with an office presence to be determined and agreed by the candidate and Supervisor. The position requires regular site visits to meat processing facilities in Delaware and Otsego Counties, as well as regular meetings with project partners, Department of Agriculture and Markets in Albany, and site visits to area livestock farmers. Thus, the candidate is required to reside in one of the two counties or in the immediate vicinity. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license, access to a car, and willingness to travel regularly. The Candidate will be reimbursed for travel mileage for off-site meetings based on IRS standard rates. 

The expected start date for the position is May 2025. Note: this is a 16-month grant funded position expected to conclude by August 2026, therefore a short-term, temporary hire.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Client Service Delivery

Provide customized technical assistance to 4 meat processing businesses in Delaware and Otsego Counties in diverse stages of growth, including on but not limited to:

• • navigating town zoning;
  • assisting with applications on NYS regulatory compliance for wastewater or composting/disposals;
  • supporting food safety/market certifications (Organic, HACCP, Halal, Kosher);
  • identifying skilled labor, facilitating apprenticeships or hiring connections (may include H24 visa applications);
  • matchmaking farmers/processors;
  • providing referrals to meat processor service providers, such as contractors (engineers, electricians, heavy machinery operators/technicians), 3rd party logistics companies (e.g., for product distribution/haulers/truckers, disposal, wastewater testing labs), certifiers, information technology systems, etc.

• Note: the following additional services may be provided, working closely with other CADE staff / team members:

• • business restructuring and business planning;
  • access to capital, including grant-writing;
  • conducting enterprise budgeting and management of irregular cash flow;
  • product development from pilot to scale and related SOPs;
  • market R&D to assess sales channels, market readiness, and market matchmaking to secure sales

Project Management

• Manage all aspects of the meat processing expansion project according to the project work plan in collaboration with the CADE staff
• Conduct baseline/endline surveys to collect quantitative/qualitative data and stories of change from meat processing clients to measure impact and change over time
• Prepare progress/impact reports for funders following reporting guidelines
• Support all aspects of project communications in collaboration with CADE’s Communications Manager
• Manage the project budget to track spending in collaboration with the CADE Director of Operations & Finance
• Allocate client business stipends, disbursing funds according to the project plan and in accordance with CADE and funders’ fiscal policies
• Maintain records on client interaction utilizing a Client Relations Management System
• Contribute to and nurture a collaborative, dynamic, innovative/entrepreneurial, and productive work environment and organizational culture.

Network-Weaving, Partnerships & Thought Leadership

• Represent CADE among clients, partners, and food system stakeholders
• Stay regularly informed of meat processors’ needs, consumer/market trends, etc., to inform CADE’s service provision and advocate for a processing-friendly climate in NY
• Together with Executive Director, co-lead the Meat Processing Industry Committee (comprised of regional experts in economic/workforce development, regulation, food safety, etc.) and participate in other ag networks (e.g., NYS Beef Association)
• Develop a meat processor expansion model, culminating in a final report to be designed and published on CADE’s website, that includes lessons and good practices for successful expansions that can be replicated in other regions/counties
• Curate an informal directory of meat processor service providers (contractors, 3rd party logistics companies, certifiers, information technology systems, etc.) usable to others
• Co-conceive with CADE’s Executive Director and Director of Programs & Communications on the next phase of work to strengthen the meat processing industry in NY and related fundraising.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 5-10 years work experience running a meat processing business or within a related part of the industry
• Expertise in at least 2 of the following areas: wastewater regulation, disposal/composting regulation, zoning, labor law, meat plant inventory systems, food safety regulation, workforce development (including H2A visas), or other technical industry knowledge
• Comfort with business, marketing, and financial planning and business formation
• Experience managing client relationships and/or engaging high profile stakeholders
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills
• Highly discreet in managing client relations interactions, including financial matters, proprietary information, etc.
• Able to travel to conduct site visits to processors/farmers
• Outstanding project management, writing and communications skills
• Adaptable to evolving client needs and preparedness to respond flexibly
• Self starter, problem solver, able to work independently as well as collaboratively
• Familiarity with Halal or Kosher meat processing practices
• Comfort working with diverse populations
• Comfort working in environments with livestock and animal slaughter
• Arabic or Spanish language fluency a plus, not required
• Relationships with/knowledge of agribusiness funders, lenders, investors a plus

Salary and benefits

This is a full-time temporary, 40 hour/week position with a salary of $68,000-$73,300 for 16 months ($51,000-$55,000 per year). It includes health and dental insurance for the employee (as well as half coverage for domestic partners and/or dependents if needed), 3 weeks paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, and a retirement fund with 3% matching employer contribution. Employees also receive a $25 monthly stipend toward their personal mobile phone for work use. All employees are provided with a CADE laptop. 

To Apply

Please submit a letter of interest and resume to careers@cadefarms.org by April 1, 2025. When applying, please include Program Manager Application in the subject line. Candidates should indicate whether they prefer in-office or hybrid remote work. No phone calls please. Farmers and individuals with meat processing experience are encouraged to apply.

CADE is an equal opportunity employer committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws.