President And Ceo Jobs

Overview

The National Peanut Board is a Research, Marketing and Promotion (RMP) organization funded and directed by peanut farmers with oversight from the Agricultural Marketing Service of USDA. The primary goals of NPB are to:

· Increase domestic consumption of peanuts;

· Augment industry export activities;

· Support and influence scientific research to make growing peanuts more efficient and productive;

· Enhance the reputation of peanuts;

· Lead the industry's efforts to address peanut allergy by funding research and conducting effective communication and educational programs targeting consumers, industry and medical professionals.

This position offers a special opportunity to lead a high-energy team passionate about peanuts and the people who produce and consume them. NPB functions as a sophisticated market­ development organization, focused on serving peanut producers and their families through the steady growth in demand critical to improved bottom lines. The position requires a leader capable of overseeing staff and external resources charged with a shared objective: successful implementation of a complex plan for expanding recognition and appreciation of the peanut as both a familiar food favorite and a highly nutritious, affordable and sustainable source of the plant protein needed by a hungry world.

The President/CEO must work collaboratively with other segments of the peanut industry, including organizations and individuals across the marketing chain from production to consumption. The President/CEO also must understand the special nature of NPB's relationship with federal agencies and departments, and at regular five-year intervals oversee both a comprehensive referendum among members on NPB's overall performance and progress toward achieving its mission, as well as the USDA-required assessment of the financial return on the investment in NPB made by the annual donations of peanut producers. The position demands political acumen, as well as the communication skills needed to connect effectively with diverse audiences and interests across both the public and private sectors. Candidates must represent NPB and peanut producers effectively in personal interactions, industry events and other situations important to the marketing program's objectives and NPB's mission. A willingness to travel and a dynamic, charismatic personality are important elements of the job. A collegial temperament and team-based approach to management are essential.

As President/CEO of NPB, Your Primary Duties Would be to:

· Serve as a player-coach to all elements of the organization in carrying out NPB's diverse marketing and promotion activities, providing the access to knowledge and experience that will both help people do their jobs and drive their professional growth and development.

· Act as an advocate and visible champion of the people you serve, building positive relationships with anyone internally and externally who might be important to achieving NPB's mission, drawing on your interpersonal and communication skills.

· Provide the fresh thinking and vision needed to identify all the factors shaping NPB's ability to achieve its mission, so you can continuously adapt NPB's plans and its activities for best results.

· Continuously engage with board members to preserve producer support for NPB and the work it does on their behalf through regular personal interaction, events and other activities promoting their involvement and active engagement with NPB.

· Maintain positive relations with all segments of the industry, to preserve NPB's status as a key instrument of shaping better bottom lines for producers and the best interests of producers and our entire sector.

· Continuously and constructively interact with other organizations within the peanut industry to find collaborative opportunities to advance the best interests of peanut producers and others across our industry.

· Serve as the public face of NPB and the peanut grower in dealings with the media, the general public and other audiences, both in emergency or crisis situations, and when important to advancing NPB's marketing program and activities.

· Excel as an effective manager and administrator, assuring the organization has the financial and other resources, tools, information and industry insight needed to accomplish its mission; provide expert oversight of an annual budget of approximately $10 million and critical functions like budgeting, planning, revenue supervision and other normal organizational management duties; assure fulfillment of NPB's obligations and responsibilities as an instrumentality of USDA.

Profile of the Successful Candidate

· A bachelor's degree in a field of demonstrable relevance to NPB and its interests, or other compelling evidence of knowledge of southern production agriculture and its producers.

· 8-10 years of direct senior management experience with an agricultural-related organization focused on advancing the financial security of its stakeholders, primarily through activities that advance the understanding and appreciation of the organization.

· Proven expertise in developing and managing complex marketing-driven activities and successful large-scale marketing campaigns.

· Demonstrated skill in all aspects of organizational management, including oversight of operational planning, budgeting, revenue supervision, event planning and administration, crisis management and internal and external communications.

· Enthusiasm for travel, advocacy and representation of NPB and its interests and objectives with diverse audiences, from NPB members to others who are influential or important to achievement of NPB's mission.

· Consistent success in building and maintaining trust-based positive relations with a broad array of those important to organizational performance and accomplishment of its mission, including staff members, board members, other industry organizations, government

officials and others.

· Strong evidence of inspiring and leading team members at all organizational levels, and providing the mentorship needed to develop staff members to their full potential.

· A track record of valuing and embracing diversity and inclusion in all their dimensions; demonstrated openness to the different views and perspectives that come with them; and flexibility and adaptiveness in responding to them.

Candidate Advantages

· Demonstrated knowledge of peanut production and the peanut marketing chain, from field production through consumer marketing.

· Direct experience in the commodity board field and thorough understanding of the unique requirements placed on such organizations in their relationship to USDA and other state and federal agencies.

· Experience in the evaluation of academic research proposals and opportunities, coupled with a comprehensive understanding of the research needs and priorities of the agricultural sector, and the peanut industry in particular.

· Thorough existing understanding of the societal drive for sustainability in the face of climate change and the role played by the agricultural sector (notably peanut producers) in finding solutions to its challenges.

· Evidence of insight into current food safety and nutritional issues, especially those related to changing dietary standards, food allergies, product labeling and other emerging topics important to product demand growth; credibility and high comfort level interacting with the scientific and health/nutrition community.

Measures of Success

The most important metric of success in the position rests in one key result: growth in demand for peanuts and peanut products.

That metric will include factors beyond simple market data and traditional methods of measuring growth in overall demand, product extensions and other typical marketing statistics. Success in achieving NPB's mission will be judged by the Board officers and peanut growers who provide the financial support and personal engagement essential to the organization's efforts and success.

That level of support will be shaped by:

· Moving the needle in domestic consumption.

· Being actively involved in industry research direction and efforts and contributing to its successes.

· Supporting industry export activities in a positive way.

· Maintaining positive relationships with external organizations, including national and state peanut industry organizations, food allergy organizations and individual leaders.

· Success in building NPB's thought-leadership role and prominence as the unquestioned voice of the peanut producer on any topic or issue related to the industry.

· Maintaining trust and a positive relationship with the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.