Vice President, Farm Program

Summary

Join the American Humane Society (AHS) as the Vice President, Farm Program! This hybrid or remote position, preferably based in Washington, D.C., reports to the EVP & Chief Operating Officer. You will drive programmatic growth, operational leadership, and stakeholder engagement for AHS's Farm Program. Leverage your deep knowledge of the animal agriculture industry to lead strategic direction, growth, and oversight. Engage with industry leaders, producers, and retailers while improving program standards and expanding reach domestically and internationally. Oversee the Farm team and collaborate cross-functionally to meet program needs. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference in animal welfare.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in animal science, agribusiness, veterinary sciences, public policy, or a related field; advanced degree strongly preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in animal agriculture, food certification, agribusiness, or animal welfare fields
• Strong business acumen with experience managing large-scale programs or business units, including budgets, operations, and growth strategies
• Knowledge of agricultural animal welfare practices and food industry dynamics
• Demonstrated success in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and public speaking
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex scientific and regulatory topics for diverse audiences
• Diplomatic, collaborative, and mission-driven leadership style
• Exhibits sound judgment, discretion and professionalism, particularly when handling sensitive information and relationships
• Demonstrates drive and entrepreneurial mindset toward goal achievement and growth
• Demonstrates a collaborative and entrepreneurial approach to work
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint); able to quickly learn and adapt to new software or database systems

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior leader and public face of the Farm Program, responsible for vision, growth strategy, and business planning
• Working cross-functionally and collaboratively with the Business Development team, develop and implement a long-term strategic roadmap to increase program reach, market penetration, and revenue generation
• Drive new producer recruitment and retention across all animal agriculture sectors, ensuring growth while maintaining program integrity
• Develop and monitor annual budgets, balancing revenue and expenditure while ensuring efficient use of resources
• Position the American Humane Certified™ seal as the leading standard in third-party animal welfare certification
• Represent American Humane at national and international agricultural industry forums, trade shows, and media engagements
• Build and maintain relationships with farmers/ranchers, producer organizations, retailers, food service companies, veterinarians, and academic experts in animal welfare and agriculture
• Engage in advocacy and thought leadership around humane farming practices, animal welfare science, and food supply chain transparency
• Serve as a knowledgeable spokesperson on behalf of the organization and the Farm Program
• Provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team, including program operations, field auditing, and producer relations
• Working cross-functionally and collaboratively with the Science & Standards team, ensure program protocols, standards and audit tools reflect current science, agricultural practices, and consumer expectations
• In collaboration with the Manager, Farm Program Operations, oversee all contractual agreements with certified entities and program participants
• Oversee updates and accuracy of program content across digital platforms and printed materials
• Partner with American Humane’s Communications, Marketing, Business Development and Development teams to support public education campaigns, appeals, and funding initiatives
• Provide strategic input on impact reporting and content development
• Foster internal collaboration across departments and senior leadership to leverage organizational expertise and cross-promote programs

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with or within farming operations, producer groups, or food supply chain partners is strongly preferred

Benefits

• Compensation: $175,000-$225,000
• Position may be remotely based or hybrid, with the preference for the position to be a hybrid of office/telework based out of the Washington, DC office location and regular telework schedule based on organizational policy, need and manager discretion
• Travel will be required (visits to farms, conferences, industry meetings, etc.), estimate up to 40%, including potential for some international travel
• Some evening/weekend work may be needed for organizational or programmatic events and travel