Job description
American Humane Society (AHS) is seeking an experienced Vice President, Farm Program to drive and oversee programmatic growth, operational leadership and stakeholder engagement for American Humane Society’s Farm Program. This position will be hybrid or remote with the preference for the position to be a hybrid of office/telework based out of the Washington, DC office location and reports directly to the EVP & Chief Operating Officer.
For nearly 150 years, American Humane Society (AHS) has led the way in protecting animals and strengthening the bonds between animals and people. We respond first when animals need rescue, shelter, or protection. Through our groundbreaking programs – from our “No Animals Were Harmed®” certification in Hollywood to our farm and conservation welfare standards – we set the highest level of care and compassion in animal protection.
Working at AHS means being part of something bigger. With offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, we provide a supportive, professional environment where your work makes a real difference in animals’ lives. American Humane Society is committed to fostering a welcoming workplace. As we seek to fill this position, we highly encourage high-performing applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
Position summary:
The Vice President, Farm Program (VP) drives and oversees programmatic growth, operational leadership and stakeholder engagement for American Humane Society’s Farm Program. The VP must possess a deep knowledge of the animal agriculture industry and is responsible for the strategic direction, growth and oversight of the program. The VP will lead and play a critical role in engaging with industry leaders, producers, retailers and other critical stakeholders, while driving continuous improvement in program standards, operations, brand visibility, thought leadership and program reach domestically and internationally. The VP is responsible for overseeing the Farm team and working cross-functionally and collaboratively to ensure the needs of the program are being met. This position reports to the EVP & Chief Operating Officer.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership and Business Development
- 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.
Industry Engagement and Representation
- 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.
Operational Oversight and Quality Control
- 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.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Communication
- 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.
Essential experience, knowledge, skills and abilities:
- 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.
- Experience working with or within farming operations, producer groups, or food supply chain partners is strongly preferred.
- 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.
Direct reports:
- Directly supervises the Manager, Farm Program Operations. Oversees a team of 6 employees and works cross functionally with Science & Standards and Business Development staff dedicated to supporting the Farm program.
Physical demands and work environment:
- 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.
- Must be comfortable with animals in the office, at events or certified entity sites.
- 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.
- Must be comfortable working in barns and biosecure environments (use of protective gear required).
- Physical stamina to travel to remote agricultural facilities and walk uneven terrain as needed.
- While performing the duties of this position, the employee will regularly be required to:
- Look at and work on a computer screen for extended periods of time,
- Talk, hear and exchange information over the telephone, virtually and in person.
American Humane Society’s core values define our workplace, and these values serve as the cornerstone for interactions in advancing our mission and institutional goals. Employees are expected to adhere to all organizational policies and to act as role models, demonstrating American Humane Society’s core values:
Compassion – Being kind and caring in our interactions with others.
Accountability - Holding ourselves to the highest standards. Following through on commitments and owning our actions, behavior, and decisions.
Respect for All – Being professional, listening to others and honoring diversity in all its forms.
Loyalty to Mission – Staying focused on our purpose and our mission – our nation’s most vulnerable depend on us.
Sustainability - Contributing to being a great place to work and achieving our shared mission and goals to make a difference, now and in the future.
Honesty, Integrity, Trust – Demonstrating transparency, as trusted stewards of donor resources, supporting our leadership and one another.
American Humane Society (AHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to fostering a welcoming, supportive workplace where our work makes a real difference in animals’ lives.
Job Details:
- Title: Vice President, Farm Program
- Type: Exempt, Full-time, 40 hours
- Location: Washington, DC or Remote
- Compensation: $175,000-$225,000
