• Deputy Director of Western SARE

    Montana State University (Bozeman, MT)


    Position Details

    Position Information

    Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26032

    For questions regarding this position, please contact:

    Darrin Boss

    [email protected]

     

    406-994-7766

     

    Classification Title Managing Director

     

    Working Title Deputy Director of Western SARE

     

    Brief Position Overview

     

    This position provides oversight of Chapter 1 WSARE programs, establishes and maintains relationships with WSARE partners, supervises some WSARE staff and supports the Director of WSARE operationally and in their absence.

     

    Position Number 4C0131

     

    Department Western SARE

     

    Division College of Agriculture/MAES

     

    Appointment Type Professional

     

    Contract Term Fiscal Year

     

    Semester

     

    If other, specify From date

     

    If other, specify End date

     

    FLSA Exempt

     

    Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

     

    FTE 0.75 - 1.0

     

    Benefits Eligible Eligible

     

    Salary $85,000 - $90,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

     

    Contract Type LOA

     

    If other, please specify

     

    Recruitment Type Open

    Position Details

    General Statement

    Western SARE is one of four regions organized under the national SARE (www.sare.org), a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its mission is to advance American agricultural sustainability through innovations that improve profitability, environmental stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and impactful outreach education. The Western SARE region encompasses 13 western states, as well as American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia and Guam.

     

    Duties and Responsibilities

     

    Supervise the WSARE Chapter 1 programs (Research and Education, Farmer/Rancher, Professional + Producer, and Graduate Student)

     

    + Manage Graduate Student and Sabbatical grants:

    + Develop Call for Proposals, solicit proposals, and provide technical assistance (e.g., webinars, responses to inquiries) to applicants.

    + Read and sort proposal applications.

    + Form and facilitate virtual and in-person Technical Review Panels.

    + Compile all recommendations of the Technical Review Panel using a scoring system.

    + Write summary review reports for the WSARE Administrative Council’s (AC) assignation of awards.

    + Provide feedback of submitted proposals.

    + Read and provide written feedback of awardees’ annual progress and final reports.

    + Summarize the annual progress reports and impact of the awarded projects.

    + Present findings (technical recommendations, progress reports, and impacts) to the WSARE AC members and USDA officials, and in WSARE meetings (at least three per year).

    + Provide support for the management of the Research and Education grant program.

    + Summarize the progress and impact of the WSARE Chapter 1 awarded projects in an annual report to USDA - NIFA .

    + Conduct WSARE programs evaluation.

    + Provide guidance to Western SARE PIs regarding Institutional Review Board ( IRB ) approval, and review and process requests for IRB per year for all Western SARE grant programs.

    + Develop Call for Proposals for special grant programs addressing the mandate of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture ( NIFA ), Western SARE’s sponsor agency.

     

    Communicate and collaborate with SARE partners, in the service of the WSARE mission

     

    + Establish a monthly communication newsletter between the WSARE AC and the Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 teams.

    + Supervise the organization of the winter and summer WSARE AC meetings, as well as the Technical Review meetings.

    + Provide timely information about submitted and funded proposals to facilitate informed decisions of the AC.

    + Collaborate with the WSARE Communications and Outreach team and Chapter 3 staff to publicize research-based results, develop professional development programs, and assist potential applicants with grant submissions.

    + Represent and promote the Western SARE program at the local, regional, and national level in regional and national meetings on-site and/or online.

    + Outreach to underrepresented agricultural stakeholders in the Western U.S. through site visits.

    + Conduct webinars to assist WSARE clients in proposal submission.

     

    Supervise and support WSARE operations

     

    + Support the Regional Director in leading WSARE operations.

    + Provide backup to the Regional Director as needed and lead the WSARE team in the Regional Director’s absence.

    + Supervise staff:

    + Directly supervise the Program Coordinator II.

    + Indirectly supervise the Program Manager and Fiscal Manager in collaboration with the Regional Director.

    Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

    + Doctorate in relevant field.

    + Documented experience conducting research in Agriculture or Natural Resources with extensive grant development, budgeting, and management experience.

    + Experience working with agricultural producers.

    + Experience supervising people.

    Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

    + Experience working with various groups of people including public, faculty, staff, students and federal agencies.

    + Grant proposal review experience.

    The Successful Candidate Will

    + Excellent communication skills and people skills.

    + Communicate professionally and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

    Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

    Must possess a valid driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and meet all State of Montana requirements to operate State/University vehicles. (If successful candidate possesses a valid out-of-state driver’s license, must obtain a valid Montana driver’s license within 60 days of hire.)

     

    This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

    Physical Demands

    To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

     

    This position has supervisory duties? Yes

     

    Posting Detail Information

     

    Number of Vacancies 1

     

    Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search

     

    Position End Date (if temporary)

     

    Open Date

     

    Close Date

    Applications will be:

    Screening of applications will begin on July 24, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

     

    Special Instructions

    EEO Statement

    Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

     

    In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.