Grants Specialist Intermediate

• Working Title:

  Farm to Institution Grants Specialist

• Job Class:

  Grants Specialist Intermediate

• Agency:

  Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• + •Job ID•: 94279 + •Location•: St.

Paul +

• Telework Eligible
• : Yes +
• Full/Part Time
• : Full-Time +
• Regular/Temporary
• : Temporary +
• Who May Apply
• : Open to all qualified job seekers +
• Date Posted
• : 06/16/2026 +
• Closing Date
• : 06/30/2026 +
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit
• : MN Department of Agriculture +
• Division/Unit
• : Agriculture Marketing and Development (AMDD) / Grants Administration Staff +
• Work Shift/Work Hours
• : Day Shift +
• Days of Work
• : Monday
• Friday +
• Travel Required
• : Yes +

• Salary Range:

• $27.35
• $39.93 / hourly; $57,106
• $83,373 / annually +
• Classified Status
• : Classified +
• Bargaining Unit/Union
• : 214
• Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) +
• End Date
• : 07/01/2027 +
• FLSA Status
• : Nonexempt + Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : No
• The work you'll do is more than just a job.
• At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans.

The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. This temporary position focuses on Farm to Institution financial assistance and programming. Principal responsibilities include processing, analysis, making recommendations for action, executing contracts, and monitoring and reviewing state-funded Farm to Food Security grants so that procedures, guidelines and standards are followed. This position is also responsible for supporting other grant programs and other Farm to Institution programming—coordinating communications, outreach, events, and resource development for stakeholders, including food access organizations, food security advocates, food hubs and distributors, and farmers. This position is telework eligible.

• About the Agriculture and Marketing Division
• This role is housed within MDA's Agricultural Marketing & Development Division, a non-regulatory division that helps Minnesota farmers and food producers build markets locally and globally.

The division promotes local foods, organics, livestock, and renewable fuels; develops domestic and international market opportunities; and administers the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program, which provides grants and cost-shares to support agriculture and renewable energy. It also advances research on land use, natural resource protection, and sustainable farming practices.

This role is housed within MDA's Agricultural Marketing & Development Division, a non-regulatory division that helps Minnesota farmers and food producers build markets locally and globally. The division promotes local foods, organics, livestock, and renewable fuels; develops domestic and international market opportunities; and administers the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program, which provides grants and cost-shares to support agriculture and renewable energy. It also advances research on land use, natural resource protection, and sustainable farming practices.

• About the Program Area
• For over a decade, the MDA has championed Farm to School and other Farm to Institution initiatives to bring more local food to schools, early care settings, and other institutional channels—expanding market opportunities for farmers and increasing access to fresh, local food for all Minnesotans.

The new Farm to Food Security grant builds on the success of the federally funded Local Food Purchase Assistance grant program and MDA's existing Farm to Institution grant programs to increase the amount of Minnesota-grown and

• raised foods sold to and distributed through the emergency food distribution system.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of state government, agriculture, and grant making. As part of the Grants Team, you'll work alongside a dedicated team of grant administrators and will also engage with other AMDD sections to expand your professional network, gain hands-on experience in grant administration, and support the implementation of an exciting new program.

• Minimum Qualifications
• _To facilitate proper years of service crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

_ Two (2) years of related professional work which must include one or more of the following: Administering financial assistance, such as grants, cost-shares, contracts, and loans at a grantmaking organization or financial institution. + Experience administering programs and managing projects related to local food systems or food and nutrition security that includes financial monitoring and analyzing, interpreting, and applying relevant policies, procedures, and administrative requirements. + A degree in one of the following areas may substitute for experience: marketing, agriculture, nutrition, public administration, political science, food systems, environmental sciences, business administration, economics or a related field. A master's degree may substitute for 18 months of experience; a Bachelor's degree may substitute for one year of experience; an Associate's degree may substitute for six months of experience.

Additional required experience includes:

+ Ability to communicate effectively with diverse clientele and write and edit a variety of documents using proper business English, spelling, and grammar. + Project management skills sufficient to set and achieve goals, priorities, and timelines for projects and activities and collaborate and engage others in project execution with clear shared expectations. + Must have a valid driver's license and an acceptable motor vehicle record subject to review. + The ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment. + Critical thinking, analytical, and financial analysis skills, including Microsoft Excel, sufficient to review progress and financial reports, determine eligibility and compliance with requirements, state statutes, and grant management policies.

• Preferred Qualifications
• + Experience collecting data through surveys, focus groups, and/or interviews. + Experience with outreach and stakeholder engagement. + Experience planning and implementing food or agriculture-related educational conferences, workshops, training sessions, and networking events. + Experience in data management and analysis. + Experience with effective storytelling and educational communication.
• Additional Requirements
• A job offer will be contingent upon successfully passing a background check.

It is the policy of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, as part of its hiring procedures, to conduct background checks on the finalist(s) for positions within the agency. The background check may consist of the following components: + SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and former state employees only) + Employment Reference Check + Conflict of Interest Review + Driver's license check + Criminal history check The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the

US.AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status. Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.