Catawba Sustainability Center Farm Manager

Virginia Tech; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 53,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The Virginia Tech Office of Outreach and International Affairs (OIA) invites applications for a Farm Manager to oversee the Catawba Sustainability Center. The role involves managing operations, coordinating research activities, and building partnerships to support hands-on learning for students and researchers.

The successful candidate will lead farm operations, ensure safety and compliance, and collaborate with multiple departments across the university to advance sustainable land-management

Qualifications

• Two-year degree or related extensive experience in crop sciences, farm management, and field research procedures.
• Experience managing farm or ranch operations (livestock, pasture, equipment).
• Experience coordinating across multiple stakeholders or departments.
• Valid driver's license.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Skills

Farm management

Stakeholder coordination

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Two-year degree / related experience

Bachelor's degree preferred

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

The Virginia Tech Office of Outreach and International Affairs (OIA) is seeking a qualified individual to serve as Farm Manager, with the ability to manage the operational, research-coordination, and partnership activities of the Catawba Sustainability Center (CSC). CSC serves as a living laboratory for sustainable land management research, providing hands-on learning opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students across multiple colleges.

Required Qualifications

• Two year college degree or related extensive experience in crop sciences, farm management, and field research procedures
• Demonstrated experience managing farm or ranch operations (livestock, pasture, equipment)
• Experience coordinating across multiple stakeholders or departments
• Valid driver's license
• Strong organizational and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in agriculture, forestry, or a related field or Graduate degree in a relevant field
• Experience with grant writing or sponsored research administration
• Knowledge of agroforestry, silvopasture, and regenerative grazing systems
• Prior supervisory experience
• Experience training others on equipment safety procedures

Pay Band

2

Overtime Status

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$53,000 - $58,000

Hours per week

40+

Review Date

10/1/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto,Ut Prosim(That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eightundergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college,Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerousExtension officesand research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Nancy Gruberat [e-mail] regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.