Associate Program Director - Central or Eastern Nebraska / Western, Iowa

Center for Rural Affairs; Lyons (NE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (97% employer-paid)

Retirement options

Paid holidays and PTO between holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The Center for Rural Affairs seeks an Associate Program Director to lead and support the Community Engagement team across Nebraska and Iowa. Reporting to the Director, you will guide program activities, supervise staff and contractors, and help advance training and development while ensuring accountable, data-driven outcomes.

You will collaborate with leadership to set priorities, track progress, manage budgets and grants, and strengthen rural communities through thoughtful program design and

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build diverse partnerships and networks.
• Track record of driving program results and using data.
• Experience leading teams with inclusive decision-making.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and delegating effectively.
• Commitment to race, income, immigration status, and other identities in community work.

Responsibilities

• Support the Director of Community Engagement in overseeing program activities and staff.
• Provide guidance, feedback, and development opportunities for the team.
• Plan trainings, retreats, and identify training needs with leaders.
• Set program priorities with leadership; monitor progress and share updates.
• Drive program performance using data and evaluation to guide improvements.
• Manage day-to-day program operations including data collection, fundraising, budgeting, and reporting.

Skills

Relationship building

Results orientation

Inclusive leadership

Prioritization

Social justice

Job description

Do you have the appetite for balancing the big picture with the details, developing people, and driving projects that make a difference across Nebraska?

If you're ready to lead with purpose, think strategically, and help rural communities thrive, read on. We might be looking for you!

The Center for Rural Affairs is seeking an Associate Program Director. This position will be based in Central Nebraska, Eastern Nebraska, or Western Iowa. The Associate Program Director will provide key support to the Community Engagement Director and team.

Who We Are

The Center for Rural Affairs is a dynamic, energetic non-profit organization working to build a better rural future for all. We’ve done this work for more than 50 years and we do it from rural places with a flexible work environment. The Center focuses on capital access, community capacity, and policy advocacy strategies with work in areas of food systems, community resources, small business support, and environment and resilience. The Center’s work is rooted in our mission-aligned values. We believe that a diversity of people and ideas strengthens our work, our workplace, and our communities. We take equal opportunity seriously and we welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds. Additional information can be found at www.cfra.org.

What You’ll Do

The Associate Program Director reports to the Director of Community Engagement and will work closely with the Community Engagement team. The Associate Program Director is responsible for the following:

• Support the Director of Community Engagement in overseeing program activities, projects, and a team of staff and contractors
• Build the team's skills and strengths by providing guidance, feedback, and opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Plan and lead training and retreats, and work with other leaders to identify training needs and strengthen staff skills.
• Work with Center leadership to set program priorities, track progress, and share updates
• Drive program performance by using data and evaluation to measure results, identify opportunities, and guide continuous improvement.
• Manage resources and deliver results by supporting the day-to-day operations of the program including data collection, fundraising, grant writing, budgeting, and grant reporting.

Who You Are & Keys to Success (the must-haves)

To be successful in this job, you will excel in five areas:

• Relationship building: You know how to talk with people to learn what needs they have through conversation and inquiry. People trust you because you’re efficient with their time and have their best interests in mind. You’re able to build networks, as well as alliances, and find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests on your time. You develop and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders and can bring in allies and partners.
• Drive to achieve results: You know how to work to your strengths to achieve your own ambitious goals, and you anticipate hurdles as merely a momentary inconvenience. You possess a competitive drive and be creative when prospecting clients. You set a high bar and meet it because you think three (or 30) steps ahead to come up with pragmatic, yet innovative, solutions. You have financial acumen and an affinity for the details.
• Inclusive leadership and management: You approach leadership in your work with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly include others with lived experience and/or expertise in decision-making. You use resources wisely and can provide clear direction to clients, partners, and contractors to leverage time and resources for impact.
• Setting and managing priorities: You have experience managing multiple projects and keeping tasks from slipping through the cracks. You use resources wisely and can provide clear direction to staff, partners, consultants, and volunteers to leverage time and talent for impact. You understand the importance of effective delegation and empower others by assigning responsibilities that align with their strengths to maximize efficiency and results.
• Commitment to social justice: You recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in addressing barriers. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about difference to overcome barriers. You recognize that investment in communities, people, and entrepreneurship are pathways to better outcomes. You’re a leader (or willing to become a leader) in incorporating the Center's Core Values effectively into internal processes, external programming and communications, and work relationships, as well as identifying opportunities to build your own capacity to center these values into your work.

If you were here right now, you would be:

• Supporting a team of staff and contractors while helping manage day-to-day program activities and projects.
• Working alongside the Director of Community Engagement to plan priorities, keep projects moving, and make sure commitments are met.
• Planning team trainings and staff development opportunities to help employees build their skills and grow in their roles.
• Keeping an eye on program budgets, grants, and reporting while helping identify opportunities to support and expand the work happening in rural communities.

You have experience with the following:

• Leading teams, supporting staff development, and helping people succeed in their roles.
• Managing projects, setting priorities, and keeping work on track.
• Working with budgets, grants, fundraising, and program reporting.
• Building relationships, communicating with different audiences, and working with rural communities to meet their needs.

What Else You Should Know

This is a full-time exempt position. This position will require occasional travel to meet with community partners and individuals and include both overnight and out-of-state travel on occasion.

Compensation and benefits:

This position has a salary range of $70,000 - 76,000 with top-notch benefits that have a cash value of $10,000 to $29,500, depending on family status and tenure with the Center. Benefits include a 97% employer-paid family health insurance that includes a contribution to a Health Savings Account, retirement options, a fantastic Employee Assistance Program, 12 paid holidays plus paid time off between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, Friday Summer Hours, and vacation and sick pay.

The Center for Rural Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify, is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals, and takes steps to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.