Program​/Project Specialist

About the Job

Location:

This position will be located in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, on the University of Minnesota campus in St. Paul, Minnesota. Standard hours are Monday ‑ Friday, 8 AM ‑ 4:30 PM, 40 hours a week.

The Forever Green Initiative (FGI), based within the College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), is the national leader for a new market‑driven approach to regenerative agriculture through the use of Continuous Living Cover (CLC) crops. Our mission is to transform agriculture in the Midwest by advancing a groundbreaking approach that integrates perennial and winter annual crops with existing cropping systems.

The initiative is dedicated to enhancing the economic resilience of Midwestern farmers by diversifying cropping systems, improving land productivity, and fostering long‑term environmental benefits. The 15+ crops in our portfolio – such as Kernza (intermediate wheatgrass), pennycress, camelina, winter barley, and hybrid hazelnuts – offer both economic and environmental benefits, including improved soil health, water quality, and enhanced biodiversity.

We work closely with a wide range of internal and external academic, public, not‑for‑profit and private sector stakeholders – from farmers, policymakers and advocates to researchers and commercial enterprises – to scale the adoption of these crops, develop new markets, drive policy change and secure funding that supports advancements in regenerative agriculture. We call this cross‑sector collaborative the Forever Green Partnership.

As an integral part of this dynamic team, the program specialist will play a key role in supporting the operational and logistical functions that help advance our mission. With numerous formal and informal opportunities to learn about and work at this growing edge, this role is a great match for an individual interested in building a career at the intersection of applied research, commercialization, and coalition‑building for regenerative agriculture.

• Organize and replenish inventory of product samples, ensuring freshness; maintain an inventory list and vendor records; incorporate new products requested by team members.
• Organize and maintain event supplies and equipment, such as banners, tablecloths, demonstration materials and print materials used at meetings and events.
• Pack and send materials for use at field days, tours, events and displays.
• Provide regular reports on inventory activity to inform planning.

• Work with staff to coordinate logistics and communications for meetings, events, tours, field days and other Forever Green efforts involving internal and external participants.
• Coordinate room scheduling, ordering refreshments and supplies, organizing assistance with set‑up and take‑down; and ensure sufficient exhibit materials are on site, as needed.
• Assist team with tabling at events where Forever Green is represented as a participant, presenter, exhibitor or sponsor.
• Reserve vehicles for staff use on tours and statewide travel; be prepared to pick‑up, drop‑off and drive, as needed.
• Provide technical support for virtual meetings, including scheduling, troubleshooting, posting recordings, and serving as back‑up technical host as needed.
• Serve as the point of contact for partner organizations needing Forever Green materials for their events.

• Support the development and maintenance of a stakeholder database used for communications and partnership engagement.
• Assist with data gathering for stakeholder database and maintain for accuracy.
• Complete simple posts to the Forever Green website and social media channels.
• Assist in the development of communications and print materials, including simple formatting, proofing, printing, etc.

• Assist with various operational needs, such as assembling program packets, mailings and making campus deliveries.
• Respond to requests for information.

• High School Diploma/GED and five years related experience to include project management. Coursework in a related…