NMSDC is looking for a consultant to take on the role of Acres Program Director, responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the program. We are confident in the solid foundation of the program and its effective execution towards our overarching goals. These include NMSDC’s mission to bridge the racial wealth gap by boosting the number of certified Black farmers in the U.S. agricultural industry, expanding opportunities for capital access, market penetration, and technology adoption, and fostering the emergence of the next generation of Black farmers in agriculture.
While we acknowledge the positive strides we’ve made toward our goals, we also recognize the need to enhance the program’s infrastructure to sustain the growth necessary for maintaining the program’s robust foundation and broadening our impact among Black farmers.
Program Background
NMSDC Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture program was established in 2022 to address a significant disparity in the U.S. agricultural industry. Today, only 1.4% of farmers identify as Black or mixed race, compared to about 14% a century ago. Furthermore, these farmers represent less than 0.5% of total U.S. farm sales.
The Acres program, a collaborative effort between NMSDC, Cargill, an HBCU educational partner, and other funding sponsors, aims to rectify this imbalance. It seeks to elevate Black MBEs in the agriculture industry by providing a pathway for Black farmers to achieve parity. This is accomplished by helping them obtain their NMSDC certification, enhancing their business acumen, and ultimately growing their capacity to land larger national contracts with NMSDC’s corporate members.
After two successful cohorts, the Acres program has solidified its foundation and is poised to continue its positive upward trajectory. To assist in this journey, NMSDC is seeking a consultant to act as the Acres Program Director. This individual will be responsible for the overall program management and leadership of Acres, including strategic planning, program development and execution, partnership management, and team leadership.
Acres Program Director Responsibilities
- Oversee all aspects of the Acres Program.
- Provide leadership to the entire Acres program team.
- Build strong relationships with key stakeholders.
- Develop strategies to elevate the program’s presence and recruitment among Black farmers and BIPOC farming organizations.
- Lead the development of key new programmatic structural elements.
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting of program progress and outcomes.
To learn more about this opportunity view the full RFP here.
To apply for the RFP please direct all communications to NMSDC program manager, Brandi Wiggins at brandi.wiggins@nmsdc.org. All proposals are due by July 8.
