Part-Time Project Manager – Agriculture & Energy

Position: Project Manager
Hours: Up to 30 hours per week
Duration: Approximately 2 years
Start Date: ASAP
Location: Remote, with occasional travel throughout Upstate New York (up to 10%)
Education: Bachelor's degree required
Pay Rate: $45-50/hr.
This is a part time, W2 position ONLY. You must be a US citizen or authorized to work legally in the US for the duration of the contract without requiring sponsorship.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Part-Time Project Manager to support an expanded program focused on the intersection of agriculture, renewable energy, and emerging agricultural technologies.

The Project Manager will provide dedicated support to an Agricultural-Technical Working Group and its specialist committees, while also assisting with program development, project management, stakeholder engagement, research coordination, and communications. This role will work closely with internal teams, external technical experts, agricultural stakeholders, energy industry representatives, policymakers, and other partners.

The ideal candidate is an experienced project manager who can navigate complex projects, build productive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, and translate technical and stakeholder insights into practical strategies and solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for an Agricultural-Technical Working Group and its specialist committees, building relationships with members and supporting them in achieving their objectives and work plans.
• Plan and coordinate working group, committee, and task-specific meetings, including agendas, materials, follow-up, and asynchronous collaboration.
• Manage contracted facilitation, technical assistance, communications, and outreach support.
• Help ensure stakeholder meetings and engagement activities are effective, productive, and valuable.
• Represent the organization on agricultural and renewable-energy issues at relevant meetings, conferences, and industry forums.
• Coordinate with internal teams on agricultural and renewable-energy research, technology innovation, market characterization, communications, and outreach initiatives.
• Assist with the development and management of program offerings and contracted projects, including projects involving agrivoltaics, on-farm solar, and energy storage.
• Support collaborative efforts with external organizations to identify and advance policies related to the intersection of renewable energy development and agriculture.
• Develop and implement strategies to communicate information, research findings, and lessons learned to policymakers, agricultural stakeholders, renewable-energy developers, and other audiences.
• Support program metrics, tracking, documentation, and reporting.
• Develop and maintain a network of stakeholders, market participants, policy experts, technical specialists, and other sources of insight.
• Gather and synthesize information from colleagues and external groups to inform strategy, project design, and program development.
• Perform other duties that contribute to program objectives and related research initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and coordination skills.
• Excellent collaboration and relationship-building abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate accurately, concisely, clearly, and with empathy.
• Ability to actively listen and work effectively with individuals and organizations with diverse perspectives and areas of expertise.
• Comfort with public speaking and participation in professional meetings and forums.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, resourcefulness, adaptability, and ability to develop pragmatic solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables.

Preferred

• Experience working on agricultural issues or programs.
• Knowledge of New York State agricultural policies, practices, and key stakeholders.
• Familiarity with issues and policies at the intersection of agriculture and renewable energy.
• Experience with meeting or event management.
• Facilitation experience.
• Experience working with technical experts, government agencies, industry representatives, agricultural organizations, or other diverse stakeholder groups.

Technical Skills

Experience with common project management and business collaboration tools, including:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, Word)
• Asana or comparable project management platforms
• Salesforce or comparable CRM platforms
• Other relevant stakeholder engagement, project tracking, or collaboration systems

Work Arrangement

This is a remote, part-time position of up to 30 hours per week, anticipated to continue for approximately two years. The position may require travel to meetings, conferences, and stakeholder engagements throughout Upstate New York, estimated at up to 10%.

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