Salary : $92,232.00 - $110,676.00 Annually
Location : Broomfield County, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Department of Agriculture
Division: Conservation Services Division
Opening Date: 09/11/2026
Closing Date: 9/25/2026 3:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: 305 Interlocken Pkwy, Broomfield, CO 80021, USA
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Department Contact Information: Human Resources, Colorado Department of Agriculture, 305 Interlocken Parkway, Broomfield CO 80021

Description of Job
Organizational Purpose:
This division exists to provide oversight and coordination of CDA's efforts to protect and enhance the state's agricultural activities, including land use and range management, conservation, soil and vegetation management, grazing rights on public lands, water quality and quantity, wildlife habitat, endangered species, and energy development. The purpose of the division also includes administrative and financial assistance to the 76 conservation districts, and oversight and administration of the noxious weed, bio-control (insectary), groundwater, chemigation, and weed-free forage programs. It also includes coordination and collaboration with other states and federal agencies.
Major Objectives of the Position:

The Conservation Market Expansion Program Manager is a strategic leader responsible for managing the cross-division coordination, organization, and execution of the $16M budget for the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) grant and program. The Program Manager will directly influence the success of projects funded by the AMP Grant, uplifting conservation efforts and advancing marketing opportunities for farmers and ranchers across industries from every area of the state. The Program Manager will be responsible for distributing more than $13 million dollars over 2 years to support producers implementing conservation practices (soil health, noxious weeds, climate resilience, and others) and support producers engaging in new markets. The position will also be responsible for developing a program-wide strategy and workflow that aligns with division programs and federal funding rules. This program will have a lasting impact on the Colorado agricultural industry, and this position will determine the success or failure of the program

The Conservation Market Expansion Program Manager:

• Creates and leads the implementation of internal structures, workflows, and processes to support execution on grant deliverables, including distributing $13.7M directly to Colorado farmers and ranchers. Leads AMP project efforts across teams and divisions, including the Markets Division and Conservation Services Division (CSD), ensuring programs that utilize AMP funding execute on project deliverables and reporting requirements.
• Creates guidelines and program rules and makes daily decisions that will impact Colorado farmers and ranchers and their ability to apply for or spend these grant awards.
• Liaisons between CSD, Markets, and the Commissioners' Office, coordinating with the AMP Steering Committee to ensure successful project implementation.
• Maintains communication and coordination with federal partners at USDA-NRCS, advancing goals of the AMP program for the state of Colorado in coordination with CDA's core values and strategic mission.

Primary Duties:

Market Expansion Program Management:

The Conservation Market Expansion Program Manager will be responsible for the overall strategic direction and administration of the AMP program, including creating and executing program processes and structures within the AMP team that work across CDA divisions. These guidelines and strategies will impact CDA programs, partnering agencies, and farmers and ranchers across Colorado. In addition this position will manage the strategic direction of the program with Division leaders. Specific administrative and strategic responsibilities for this position include but not limited to:

• Design and oversee various rules,processes, and guidelines related to distribution of AMP funding through grants.
• These design decisions will determine if and how farmers and ranchers can apply for and use these funds
• They will also determine rules around verification and grant management, including impacts to producers who have not met grant goals.
• Lead strategic decision-making and execution of grant programs associated with this program with the program team, AMP Steering committee and CDA leadership.
• Assist the program team in identifying impactful opportunities for program funds.
• Develop, monitor, and evaluate inputs, outputs, and outcomes of individual grant awards and develop other organizational tools to track program progress.
• Develop grant reporting requirements that will impact farmers and ranchers.
• Provide regular status updates through in-person briefings, written reports, and other communication methods to inform the AMP Steering Committee and CDA leadership.
• Manage environmental review process, per federal regulations.
• Lead internal meetings with program managers across the Department that are working on AMP-funded programs
• Ensure all state and federal reporting deadlines are met by internal staff.
• Utilize reporting from grant specialists in each division to track and monitor the program budget, identify and resolve any financial issues successfully.
• Comply with all procurement and grant procedures and policies.
• Establish and follow processes to prevent fraud, waste and abuse of program funding.
• Create processes that other departments will utilize to manage their own grant and grant reporting.

Internal Cross-Team Coordination & Strategy:

This position will be responsible for communicating and coordinating across teams within the Conservation Services Division and Markets Division to ensure effective and impactful spenddown of AMP grant funds. They will work with program leadership across teams and divisions throughout all phases of the AMP program, coordinating appropriate action steps for programs from program establishment through project completion. They will also report regularly to the internal AMP Steering Committee, including presenting for approval programs spend-down plans for AMP funds, strategizing and adjusting spenddown plans as needed, and regularly updating the Committee on project progression with the ultimate goal of total accurate and impactful spenddown of AMP funds. Duties include:

• Creating an organized internal and external communications strategy for AMP-related updates and deadlines as needed.
• Working with other departments (including Department of Natural Resources, Depart of Local Affairs) to demonstrate how this program will overlap and intersect with their programs, and design clear rules and strategies to align programs and meet goals. These departments will have to adjust their program design and program reporting requirements to account for the new AMP program. This position will help other departments revise their program rules and guidance.
• Assist program managers, at CDA and across the state, with the development, promotion, review, selection, awarding of grants through various Department programs.
• Disseminate to the necessary staff,all federal and state compliance requirements in administering AMP funding.
• Scheduling, hosting, and coordinating cross-team and cross-department program updates in both virtual and in-person settings.
• Presenting AMP updates to the AMP Steering Committee, Agricultural Commission, other Departments, including the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and the State Land Board, various stakeholder meetings, advisory councils, and others as needed.

Coordination with Federal Agencies (Grantor):

This position has the primary responsibility for communication and coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS) federal partners on the AMP grant. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Compile and submit reports and invoices to USDA timely and accurately, with support from program staff, CDA's accounting team, and the AMP Steering Committee. Submit semi annual reporting to NRCS using their required reporting spreadsheet.
• Advocate for CDA's policy and programs. Promote Colorado producers, farmers, ranchers, and ag businesses.
• Ensure CDA is in compliance with grant agreement and grant rules. Work with CDA's Procurement team to report grant progress and request reimbursements.
• Ensure CDA's AMP-funded grants are processed per state and federal requirements.
• Attend training, meetings, or conferences required through the AMP grant award.
• Oversee a successful close out grant and wind down of the AMP grant program.
• Work with federal partners to ensure a smooth reporting and invoicing process.
• Allocate and monitor AMP funding awards, encumbrances, and expenditures across programs and teams.
• Compile program results and statistical data to provide reports to USDA-NRCS and the AMP Steering Committee to relay programmatic performance and implementation.

Outreach and Engagement:

The AMP Program Manager will engage Colorado stakeholders both through formal entities within CDA (steering committees, advisory groups, commissions, etc.) as well as through public stakeholder interest groups from diverse backgrounds on a regular basis throughout the project for the following purposes:

• Assist program managers in the promotion of AMP grant opportunities, including online and in-person workshop or information sessions
• Develop electronic and print promotion material.
• Gather feedback as needed on project priorities
• Inform the CD