Rural Grocery Program Manager

The Rural Grocery Program Manager will help advance K-State's healthy food access initiatives. This position will be part of K-State's effort to build and sustain healthy communities by working to enhance locally owned small healthy food retail businesses. The program manager will organize and provide technical assistance for citizen leaders, grocery owners, and other stakeholders seeking to enhance their community's access to healthy foods.

* Write and design resources that are relevant to rural grocers and other healthy food retail businesses.
* Work with a team to develop programs that are relevant to rural grocers and other healthy food retail businesses, such as workshops, webinars, trainings, peer groups, retreats, and the National Rural Grocery Summit.
* Support the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative.
* Identify, facilitate, and develop grant proposals that advance RGI's healthy food access initiatives. Monitor and manage portions of grants and contract funding that are relevant to this role. Write significant portions of final reports required by funders.
* Maintain social media platforms and unit website.

The Cooperative Extension system of Kansas State University is a statewide network of educators sharing unbiased, research-based information and expertise on issues important to Kansas. It has established local, state, regional, national, and international partnerships. Its annual budget exceeds $60 million.
It is dedicated to a safe, sustainable, competitive food and fiber system and to strong, healthy communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis and education.
With 130 years of research and 100 years of extension, Kansas State University has been improving the quality of life and standard of living for Kansans for a century. This integrated system connects the university to every county through locally based educators who serve as sources of objective information. For more information please visit http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/

This position is Hybrid and/or Remote eligible. Work may be performed on employer premises, designated assignment location and/or performed fully in a remote capacity. Employee will need to have the ability to travel regularly within the State of Kansas with a preference for individuals to live within 45 minutes of Manhattan, KS.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience
  This position may use an educational equivalency as determined relevant by a hiring manager
• Valid Driver's License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or equivalent
• 3 years of experience working food systems, rural grocery, Extension or other relevant experience
• Proven record of organizational and administrative skills with ability to multi-task and prioritize workload
• Evidence of success in project management: organizing and managing project teams
• Strong research and data analysis skills
• Ability to work both with university faculty and public stakeholder groups
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience with grant management
• Experience with database management, CRMs, Adobe Suite, and other relevant technology tools

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

Please submit the following documents:

1. Letter of Interest
2. Resume
3. Name, phone number, and email address of three professional references

Applications close on: November 12, 2025

$55,000 - $68,000