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 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 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.