Product and Market Development Associate

Applicants from historically marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Forever Green Initiative (FGI; http://www.forevergreen.umn.edu/) at the University of Minnesota is pursuing a unique market-driven strategy for clean water, soil health, and rural economic vitality. The strategy is based on augmenting current crop production systems with economically viable perennial and winter-annual crops. Such continuous-living-cover (CLC) crops and systems enable agriculture to move toward year-round vegetative cover of soil, enhancing production of marketable agricultural commodities while also protecting soil, water, and wildlife and building rural economies. The Forever Green portfolio consists of over 15 perennial and winter-annual crops and cropping systems in varying stages of development and commercialization. Research on each of these crops is led by R&D teams consisting of genomicists/geneticists, breeders, agronomists, environmental scientists, food scientists, and other researchers.

The FGI Commercialization, Adoption, and Scaling (CAS) Team advances these crops through four strategies: 1) Commercialization strategy, partnerships, and IP licensing, 2) Supporting grower adoption and success with new CLC crops through a Landscape Team, 3) Cultivating market demand for CLC crops through a Market Team, and 4) Operations spanning a wide range of regional pilot projects, services, and other functions. The Market team develops partnerships with businesses from start-up to multinational scale, working to identify mutual goals and opportunities that advance markets for CLC crops. The team interfaces closely with FGI R&D teams and a wide range of community and policy partners to holistically advance commercial development of these new crops.

The Product and Market Development Associate will be an important addition to the CAS team. The Associate will work closely with the FGI Product and Market Development Specialist, FGI Director of Adoption and Scaling, FGI Sustainable Commercialization Associate, FGI researchers, other FGI team members, and wide-ranging external stakeholders. Focus crops are likely to include the following: intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza perennial grain), winter camelina, pennycress, winter barley, hybrid hazelnut, elderberry, hybrid winter rye, perennial flax, and alfalfa, among others. This is a unique opportunity to combine technical and relationship-building skills to advance environmentally and socially responsible food and agricultural systems.

Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Product and Market Development Specialist to identify specific product or market development opportunities stemming from Forever Green research. Work with innovators at companies of all sizes to build related initiatives spanning a wide range of end uses, including human food, livestock feed, energy, fiber, and bio-based industrial products. (20%)
• Play an integral role on a team to develop cutting-edge workshops for companies to learn about Forever Green research and applications. Develop supporting technical resources about the food science, processing, and economics of Forever Green crops. (20%).Assist with Forever Green's industry membership program, managing internal workflows to enable field days, expert consultations, access to crop samples, and pilot project development for members. Support events programming including reserving space, selecting catering, promoting workshops, and event logistics. (25%)
• Complete short special projects for small and medium-sized Continuous Living Cover (CLC) crop businesses, such as consumer insights research, identification and vetting of candidates for supply chain partnerships, strategic market research, development of sales enablement materials, or other problem-solving that fits the candidate's skills and interests. (15%)
• Gather and distill market information for FGI crops, reflecting back needs, trends, opportunities, and challenges to FGI R&D, commercialization, and partners. (10%)
• Attend occasional events in person to build networks and promote FGI commercialization team goals. (5%)
• Support other efforts of the FGI Commercialization, Adoption, and Scaling Team as needed. (5%)

Location
This position will be located in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, on the University of Minnesota campus in St. Paul, Minnesota. The candidate will be in-person, on-campus daily or a hybrid on-campus and work-from-home arrangement. The nature of this position requires the incumbent to be on campus at least three full days per work week and to be available for program needs when staff are expected to be on campus for events, meetings, materials management, etc. Required attendance at program events may occur outside of traditional working hours. Responsibilities will also include attendance at local and regional events, and depending on skills and experience occasional travel to conferences and events nationally.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS degree or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least four years.

Desired / Preferred Qualifications

• Academic training and/or work experience in relevant fields such as food science, biochemistry, biosystems engineering, business development, economic modeling, consumer insights or market research, or product development.
• Experience and knowledge of food and agricultural products, business, and/or market development.
• Experience collaborating with a team and communicating with business professionals.
• Strong analytical skills, entrepreneurial ability, ability to communicate with a wide range of sectors and stakeholders, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and competency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and project management platforms such as Notion.

Pay Range: $27.02 - $30.29 per hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 75%-100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Apply through the University of Minnesota online employment system, responding to Requisition #366572, and include (as a single PDF) a cover letter, CV, and names and contact information for three professional references. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

For more information about the position, please contact Director of Adoption and Scaling Colin Cureton by email (cure0012@umn.edu) or phone (612-750-4967). For assistance in the online application process, please contact jobcentr@umn.edu.

Application review will begin February 10, 2025.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).