Regenerative Ranching Manager

POSITION TITLE: Regenerative Ranching Manager

LOCATION: Eastern, OR, preferred

ORGANIZATION: Sustainable Northwest

REPORTS TO: Director of Regenerative Ranching

SALARY: $64,881 - $72,760

BENEFITS: Sustainable Northwest offers a generous benefits package

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time Exempt, 35-hour work week

TERM: Limited duration hire through April 2028, tied to the AMP Regenerative Ranching project period

PREFERRED START DATE: December 1, 2026

APPLICATION PERIOD: October 19 - October 30, 2026

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE NORTHWEST

Sustainable Northwest forges locally led solutions so nature, people, and economies can thrive. We partner with rural communities and Tribal Nations throughout the Northwest on projects that promote smart water use, clean energy, and healthy forests, farms, and ranches.

Our solutions are as unique as the problems we solve and include entrepreneurship, policy, market innovations, public or private investment, collaboration, and technical assistance - but the ultimate success of our work is based on relationships, trust, and inclusion. Sustainable Northwest was founded in 1994 to forge collaborative solutions for conserving forest and community health.

Today, our challenges have multiplied with climate change, catastrophic wildfires, and persistent drought plaguing our region. Yet we remain optimistic that nature, people, and local economies can thrive together.

Benefits

Sustainable Northwest offers a generous benefits package supporting employee wellness with medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance; three to six weeks PTO (dependent on length of tenure), sick time, 11 federal holidays, and additional paid leave during year-end office closure December 26-31; 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions; cell phone stipend; transit stipend for Portland metro residents; office stipend for satellite employees; pre-tax spending plan for medical and/or dependent care; support for professional training; and flexible daily and weekly work schedules.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Sustainable Northwest seeks a Program Manager to support the Regenerative Ranching Director in the day-to-day execution of a multi-partner Regenerative Ranching Program focused on accelerating the adoption, scale, and impact of regenerative management across family ranches and working lands. The role centers on administering the program's existing grants, including the USDA Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) grant, coordinating program activities across partners, and helping identify and pursue new grant and program opportunities consistent with program goals.

Operating within an increasingly complex regenerative agriculture landscape, the Program Manager helps ensure grant deliverables are met, program data is tracked and reported accurately, and producers receive timely support and services, while working closely with the Director on program design, partner coordination, and reporting to funders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Project Coordination

• Administer existing grants and contracts supporting the Regenerative Ranching Program, including the USDA AMP grant, ensuring compliance with funder requirements, deliverables, and reporting timelines.
• Prepare and submit grant reports, budget reconciliations, and other funder-required documentation, in coordination with finance staff.
• Track program expenditures and assist in managing the annual program budget, including processing invoices and monitoring spending against grant budgets.
• Manage subrecipient relationships with, including deliverables, quarterly billing, and performance against their AMP-specific goals.

Program Support

• Maintain strong relationships with partners.
• Identify, research, and help pursue new grant and program funding opportunities consistent with program goals, including drafting proposal narratives and supporting materials.
• Coordinate with external partners, including producer groups, NGOs, universities, conservation districts, and agencies, on day-to-day program activities and deliverables.
• Assist in coordinating technical assistance and program services delivered to participating ranchers.
• Support the Director in cultivating and maintaining relationships with partners, funders, and stakeholders.
• Coordinate with SNW and external communications staff to develop program communications content from program data.
• Participate in program meetings, partner convenings, and organization-wide activities relevant to the Regenerative Ranching Program.
• Support continuous program improvement by helping integrate feedback from ranchers, partners, and evaluators.
• Perform other duties as needed to support program operations and growth.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

• 3+ years managing large-scale federal grants or programs, including experience with subrecipient/subaward oversight.
• Proficient understanding of state and federal programs that provide technical and financial assistance to landowners.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple subcontractor relationships simultaneously.
• Demonstrated experience working well with landowners, Tribal, federal, state, private sector, and foundation partners.
• Strong budget management and financial oversight
• Ability to travel approximately 15% of the time for site visits, partner meetings, and conferences.
• Ability to work long days outdoors in rugged terrain.
• Experience in water and/or range management and monitoring.
• Passion about range management and sustainable agriculture, demonstrated through relevant experience.
• Strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
• Valid U.S. Driver's License.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's or graduate degree in range management, natural resource management, ecology, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience working with landowners on conservation projects.
• Experience building consensus between stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and manage difficult work situations while also demonstrating commitment to working in a team environment, internally and externally.
• Willingness to meet one-on-one with producers and other local stakeholders to forward regional conservation efforts.

PLEASE NOTE

The skills and experience listed above are what we believe is necessary to succeed in this position. However, we encourage all interested applicants to apply even if your skills are not a match with all requested qualifications. Please, underscore applicable skills unique to you in your cover letter.

Sustainable Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of an applicant or employee's race or ethnicity, national origin; gender, gender identity or sexual orientation; religion or creed; age, ability, or other legally protected status.

TO APPLY

Send an email with 'Regenerative Ranching Program Manager' in the subject line. Email cover letter and resume in one PDF to Dassi Owens at dowens@sustainablenorthwest.org. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please make no phone calls or email inquiries. Interview questions will be provided in advance. References will be requested from finalist candidates.