Location: Modesto/San Joaquin Valley

Experience Level: 3+ Years of very strong project management experience

Anticipated Start Date: November 15, 2025

Job Type: Exempt, full time with benefits  

To Apply: Please send your cover letter and resume to JOBS@suscon.org, and include “Project Manager, On Farm Water Solutions” in the subject line.

About Us

Sustainable Conservation unites people to solve the toughest challenges facing California’s land, air, and water––and to collaboratively steward the resources all Californians depend on in ways that are equitable, practical, and enduring. For over three decades, Sustainable Conservation has driven shared solutions to meet the water needs of California’s environment, people, and economy – with particular focus on advancing sustainable groundwater management and accelerating the stewardship of ecosystems, working lands, and waterways.

Over the past few years, Sustainable Conservation has connected its programs around conserving California’s water resources through groundwater recharge, aquatic habitat restoration, water quality management, and soil health. This holistic approach to conserving the state’s most consequential resource has allowed Sustainable Conservation to listen, collaborate, and test solutions on the ground so they can scale effectively, equitably, and sustainably.

Since 1993, Sustainable Conservation has found success in building uncommon coalitions across sectors, interests, and geographies to develop scalable, science-based strategies that establish truly lasting solutions. The programmatic focus on removing barriers to adoption and driving systemic change ensures long-term positive impacts. By working at the watershed scale, this approach enables solutions to take root and grow across California’s most vital and vulnerable landscapes. Please visit www.suscon.org to learn more about our work.

Position Summary:

Sustainable Conservation has an exciting opportunity that will play a key role in helping expand the impact of our long-standing Waste Not program. This program helps improve drinking water quality in the San Joaquin Valley by identifying and scaling on-farm solutions that reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater.

The Project Manager will play a critical role in ensuring the successful implementation of several on-farm projects within the Waste Not program. They will also partner with the Waste Not team to understand, evaluate, and communicate the effectiveness of different practices on dairies and farms in the San Joaquin Valley. Under the guidance of the Waste Not program’s Project Director and in collaboration with other team members and our external partners, the Project Manager will:

• Manage timelines, deliverables, and reporting for several on-farm projects, including an innovative manure subsurface drip irrigation system;
• Maintain strong relationships with growers and our other partners to ensure that partners are coordinated on in-field activities and that data is being collected; and
• Document and share learnings from the field and from partners to support the Waste Not team in evaluating and communicating the effectiveness of different practices.
• The Project Manager will work in both field and office settings. The ideal candidate will bring strong farming and project management experience, good analytical and writing skills, and a passion for helping growers understand practices that are good for their business and for the environment and communities.

Location: This role will be based out of our Modesto office. Our teams work in a hybrid work environment with an option to work remotely a few days a week. The role will require significant amount of travel in the San Joaquin Valley area in addition to periodic travel throughout the state. Ability and keen interest in travelling within the San Joaquin Valley area is a prerequisite for this role. If you live anywhere in San Joaquin Valley Area, we encourage you to apply. Relocation is not required if you live between Modesto and Tulare.

Primary Responsibilities 

• Lead the project lifecycle including but not limited to; planning, executing, and closing initiatives while ensuring clear objectives, effective coordination across teams and partners, proactive management and on-time delivery of high-quality outcomes.
• Independently schedule meetings, draft agendas, take meeting notes, identify and communicate action items, and incorporate action items into work plans 
• Engage and maintain strong relationships with a variety of partners, including farmers, industry associations, scientists, and private sector companies  
• Prepare written documents, including field notes, project update and final reports, guidance on best practices, and summary evaluations of practices and technologies 
• Coordinate field days and focus groups with farmers and stakeholders to showcase projects and share learnings
• Understand and evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of nutrient management practices and technologies for California dairies 
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to evaluate and address regulatory, supply chain, and economic barriers to scaling adoption of practices and technologies 
• Engage and maintain strong relationships with a variety of partners, including farmers, industry associations, scientists, government agencies, and private sector companies  
• Collaborate with Waste Not team to develop strategies and work plans that respond to project learnings
• Any other projects/duties as assigned 

Experience and Skills Required 

• 3+ Years of very strong project management experience required  
• Understanding of production agriculture, with 5+ years of experience working with farmers
• Very strong organizational and project management skills, including demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously  
• Strong problem-solving and independent thinking skills, and ability to thrive in a dynamic environment 
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Ability to work productively in both field and office environments
• Collect, organize, and synthesize project data to generate clear, accurate summaries and basic analysis that inform decision making, reporting, and continuous improvement
• Exceptional communication (verbal, written, and presentation skills) and listening skills, with emphasis on sharing information with diverse audiences  
• Ability to document conversations – in both field and office settings – and use the information to develop written materials such as notes, guidance documents, and reports
• Working knowledge of nutrient management and/or agronomics; Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) is a plus 
• Analytical skills and ability to understand technical details; agricultural engineering or similar background a plus 
• Ability and desire to work in collaboration with a broad range of partners and cultures; Spanish language a plus
• Commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Keen interest in climate-resilient agriculture, and knowledge and/or motivation to learn about California agriculture, nutrient management, and water.  
• Excellent computer skills, including use of MS applications such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint  
• Valid CA Driver’s License and a willingness to travel
• Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (including booster)

Compensation: The compensation for this position will be in the range of $89,430 – $95,528 annually. Please note that the exact offered pay will be determined by factors including but not limited to education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.

What we offer: A competitive compensation package based on experience, fully paid health insurance benefits, generous match on 401k, FSA, EAP, vacation, floating days, sick leave, plus the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day as holiday leave. Our greatest benefit is our culture. Our staff is collaborative, dedicated, and caring. We believe in articulating and practicing our values (Collaboration, Respect, Results, Honesty, Learning, Well-Being) at work and have a strong commitment to bringing a DEI lens to our work and workplace culture.

At Sustainable Conservation we value culture and diversity, and as an equal opportunity employer we encourage qualified individuals from all backgrounds to apply to our job openings. We understand that candidates may not possess every skill or qualification listed in the job description. If you are passionate about this role and believe you have the potential to succeed, we encourage you to apply and highlight your transferable skills and relevant experience.