Agribusiness Program Director

Job ID: 7172

Job Summary

Central Washington University is recruiting an Agribusiness Program Director to join our Business and Community Services team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We’re offering a competitive salary plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students’ Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You’ll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.

Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator .

The Role:

The Agribusiness Program Director builds, manages, plans, implements, and evaluates Agribusiness program development activities. These activities include but are not limited to; efficient and professional communications amongst students, stakeholders, administration, and the public; industry engagement and donor relationships. This position will reflect CWU’s commitment to belonging and create a learning environment that is welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for everyone.

All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWU’s vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence. This position impacts the vision, mission, and values of Central Washington University by practicing and promoting responsible stewardship of financial resources, developing and supporting external relationships with local and regional partners, and through sustainable procedures that ensure the economic health of the university.

Job Duties

* The Program Director will, during the project period, develop a robust plan for an agribusiness center, balancing the objectives of the CWU service region, the strategic plan of the University, and the objectives and desires of appropriate funding sources.
* Builds CWU relationships and alignment toward the plan through engagement with relevant industry, community, donor, and government entities, internal CWU academic programs, and external education and workforce partners.
* Where relevant, may work alongside donors and CWU Advancement team members to position the plan / plan concepts
* Operates as a team member of CWU BCS, leveraging team resources as appropriate for economic analysis, strategy making, networking and relationship building at all levels including local, State, Federal government, communities, and industries

* Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in marketing, management, entrepreneurship, economics, food- or agricultural- business, or related field.
• Experience in agribusiness industry (e.g., food production, food processing, food service).
• Experience working with different stakeholders (e.g., small/large businesses, administrators, legislators).
• Strategic mindset to help advance agribusiness program in the college, university and with external partners.
• Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to effectively organize multiple work assignments involving competing priorities to produce work products. that are accurate, of a high quality and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience fostering a supportive and effective workplace while working with students and/or colleagues to uphold institutional excellence.
• OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with agribusiness owners, founders, stakeholders, and/or managers across Washington State.
• Affiliation with professional agribusiness organizations in Washington State.
• Willingness to teach a wide range of courses in Agribusiness (academic and continuing education) at all levels and modalities.
• Experience or interest in curriculum development and improvement.
• Life experiences that demonstrate an ability to contribute to CWU’s vision, mission, and values.
• Experience or interest in mentoring individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
• Fluency in Spanish.

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines, and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At CWU, we’re committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you’re looking for!

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

Salary: The Hiring Department’s expected hiring range is $64,974 – $84,000 annually. Individual placement within the hiring range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the full annual salary range for this position is $64,974 to $94,213.

Schedule/Appointment: Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch) with some weekends and evenings, depending on need / This position is currently funded through October 15, 2026. Continuation of this position past 10/15/2026 is contingent upon renewed funding being obtained.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in an indoor office setting with frequent in-person interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods of time, perform extensive data entry and other computer-related tasks and create/maintain filing systems for departmental records. Some evening or weekend work and/or occasional travel may be required.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator .

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program .

How To Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the on-line application and attach:

• A detailed cover letter clearly demonstrating how your education and experience: (a) meet the required (and, as applicable, preferred) qualifications, and (b) demonstrate the ability to perform the responsibilities as described by the posting;
• Resume including work history, education, training; and
• Contact information for three professional references.

Screening Begins: February 25, 2026

**Priority will be given to applications received by the screening date. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Contact Information

Name: Rob Ogburn
Title: Executive Director, Business and Community Services
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 509-963-1063
Website: https://www.cwu.edu/about/offices/business-community-services/index.php

Please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 509-963-1202 if you require technical assistance with the on-line application process.

Conditions of Employment

Background Check/Reference Check Process:

Prior to employment, final candidate(s) will be required to sign a Sexual Misconduct disclosure in pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080 and submit to a background check. All information obtained through background investigations will be strictly confidential and revealed only to those required to have access.

Notice to Prospective Employees:

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

Central Washington University is an EEO/AA/Title IX Institution. Central Washington University’s policies and practices affirm and actively promote the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, disability, or status as a protected veteran is prohibited. The university provides an internal procedure for reporting discrimination and affords protection against retaliation for participating in the complaint process. Central Washington University complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and executive orders including when soliciting bids and in the fulfillment of all contracts with governmental agencies. Direct related inquiries to Civil Rights Compliance , 202 Barge Hall, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501; Telephone 509-963-2050; or email [email protected].

Reasonable Accommodations

Central Washington University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or call 509-963-1202. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the Central Washington University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (i.e. Clery Report) which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, available online here or call CWU Police and Parking Services at 509-963-2959 for a paper copy.

Location: Ellensburg, WA