Program Manager, Marketing & Buyer Relations

Position Announcement:

Program Manager, Marketing & Buyer Relations

Applications due: February 16, 2026

POSITION SUMMARY: The Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE) seeks a full-time Program Manager, Marketing & Buyer Relations to join the organization’s team. This is a professional position reporting to the Director of Programs and Communications (DPC).

The Program Manager will lead CADE’s Marketing & Buyer Relations portfolio and provide direct support to CADE’s farm and food business clients. The purpose of the position is to increase revenue and profitability of farm and food businesses via education and technical assistance (workshops, 1:1 client consultations, events, site visits, etc.) on: market readiness, producer/buyer matchmaking, supply chain development/facilitation, direct-to-consumer, and research and development. The position requires regular tracking and analysis of market trends and opportunities with an eye toward benefiting CADE’s clients in an ever changing regional food system.

ABOUT CADE: CADE (www.cadefarms.org) is a non-profit organization founded in 1991,

whose mission is to increase the number and diversity of viable farm enterprises and related businesses across the supply chain in New York through technical assistance, education, mentoring, network-weaving, partnerships, advocacy, and research.

CADE’s office is based in Oneonta, NY (Otsego County) with most staff working a hybrid or remote schedule. This position is eligible for fully remote work or an in-office or hybrid presence, but candidates will be expected to do some travel to farm and food businesses (client sites, conferences, potential buyers, etc) and be available up to 4 times a year for in-person staff meetings. Candidates therefore must have a valid driver’s license and car or access to reliable transportation.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead Client Services for Marketing and Buyer Relations (90%)

Market Readiness

• Sustain and strengthen CADE’s marketing core curriculum/materials/workshops (food safety regulations, certifications, branding, marketing strategies, pitching to buyers, market R&D, market readiness, market planning, etc.), or curate new content (alongside Engagement Manager) based on client need
• Provide year round 1:1 technical assistance support to clients, in coordination with other program staff, which may include instruction/advice on market planning/readiness, website and social media account development, marketing material design, social media strategy development, etc. (OR referrals to marketing consultants)
• Refer clients to CADE online resources (e.g. recordings/templates/tools)

Market Matchmaking

• Secure sales for businesses in collaboration with other staff or consultants
• Anchor and cultivate relationship with buyers of local food with an eye toward buyer/producer matchmaking, building off of CADE’s existing buyer network

Buyer Cultivation/Outreach

• Manage buyer contacts using CADE’s Client Relations Management (CRM) system, Hubspot
• Regularly reach out to and network with potential buyers, evangelizing CADE’s work, collecting buyer information, follow up to sustain the connection and secure client sales
• Collaborate with CADE’s Communications staff on buyer outreach, press, etc.

Client Marketing Tools/Templates

• Curate and prepare templates and toolkits for clients (i.e., buyer pitch deck for clients, template feasibility study or market R&D template as part of business planning, market readiness checklist, etc.), in collaboration with CADE’s Program/Communications team
• Develop indicator checklist to assign standards for clients considered “ready” for market matchmaking

Supply Chain Facilitation

• Work with food hubs or food aggregation businesses or food processors to strengthen the value/supply chain, referring them to other CADE staff for seamless service provision
• Connect farmers with value chain entities, who are also often buyers of local food to help facilitate connections and sales

General Project Management

• Overall project management with an eye toward timely completion and quality control
• Manage contracts with vendors/consultants to whom CADE outsources marketing/supply chain work for quality control and timely completion of deliverables
• Track spending of grant budgets that fund the marketing portfolio with support from the Director of Programs and Communications and the Director of Operations and Finance

Monitoring and Evaluation (5%)

• Work actively with the team analyzing annual impact data survey results with a marketing lens–to assess results, areas for improvement, client needs, promotional content to showcase CADE’s positive work, etc.
• Draft grant reports with impact data on marketing successes (and challenges) of clients
• Work actively with the team analyzing annual client “needs survey” results, with an eye toward their market needs and how programs/services to evolve to meet them
• Collaborate with other CADE staff to ensure seamless wrap around services to clients
• Enter client or buyer information into CADE’s CRM
• Propose new or revise CADE SOPs based on learnings, and support change management in cases where employee behavior change takes time and practice

External Relations (5%)

In close collaboration with CADE’s Communications staff:

• Help promote CADE’s impact (with clients, partners, CADE communications, etc.) to position CADE as a state leader in the food system and marketing
• Help share communications plan and content for program areas and activities
• Help promote/distribute online marketing education and resource tools to target audiences
• Draft content (text and photography or visuals) for public (blog and newsletter posts, reports, articles) on market research and development topics and related policy issues as needed

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 3 years years experience supporting or educating farm and food businesses, which may include experience AS as a farm or mid-tier supply chain food business owner/operator
• Experience securing food business sales and transportation/distribution of food products
• Strong public speaking and writing skills in delivering educational content and reporting
• Is a “people person” who enjoys working with clients to help them succeed
• Has an eye toward adapting programs/services to “meet clients where they are”
• Experienced in project management, able to manage administrative, operational tasks
• Able to work independently and collaboratively to deliver CADE services
• Familiarity with online data management systems (e.g., Hubspot) and Google Suite, and ability to learn new digital tools
• Aligned with the CADE culture that is entrepreneurial, innovative, ready to adapt to the ever-changing market and food system landscape, and build new systems to support program/service implementation as needed
• Capable of making client site visits, requiring travel into different regions of New York
• An Associates, Bachelors, or Master’s Degree in agriculture, business, food systems, or a related field. Note: Lived professional experience can replace educational degrees
• Fluency in Spanish, Arabic, French, or other languages, a plus but not required
• Previous nonprofit experience, a plus but not required

SALARY & BENEFITS:

This is a full time staff position for 40 hours/week with a starting annual salary range of $51,250-$55,000, starting salary depending on experience, to start mid-March 2026.

Benefits include:

• full health/dental insurance coverage for employee (up to half coverage for dependents)
• 3% employer contribution toward an IRA retirement fund
• 3 weeks paid vacation (4 weeks after 3 years employment), 12 days paid holidays, 3 personal days, 5 sick days per year
• $25 monthly stipend toward their personal mobile phone for work use

TO APPLY:

Please submit a letter of interest and resume to careers@cadefarms.org by Monday, February 16, 2026. When applying, please include Program Manager, Marketing & Buyer Relations Application in the subject line. No phone calls please.

Hiring Timeline:

Applications due: Monday, February 16, 2025

Interviews: February 25-27, 2026

Desired Start Date: March 18, 2026

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

SALARY & BENEFITS:

This is a full time staff position for 40 hours/week with a starting annual salary range of $51,250-$55,000, starting salary depending on experience, to start mid-March 2026.

Benefits include:

• full health/dental insurance coverage for employee (up to half coverage for dependents)
• 3% employer contribution toward an IRA retirement fund
• 3 weeks paid vacation (4 weeks after 3 years employment), 12 days paid holidays, 3 personal days, 5 sick days per year
• $25 monthly stipend toward their personal mobile phone for work use