Associate Director, Product Quality and Safety

Centennial, CO 80112

Posted: 03/06/2026

Employment:
Full-time, Exempt

Pay: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 per Year

Department:
Scientific Affairs

Experience:

Intermediate

The Associate Director, Product Quality and Safety has the primary responsibility for assisting in the execution of the product quality and safety research programs. This will include working closely with internal teams, focusing on beef opportunities and challenges in the areas that drive and protect beef demand. These responsibilities require direct interaction with NCBA staff, state beef council staff, university faculty, and industry stakeholders.

This position is located in Centennial, Colorado as we don't offer any remote positions.

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all of the functions that the employee may be expected to perform.

• Assist program managers in planning and execution of research programs.
• Contribute to the plan of work for achieving goals and measurable objectives of the research programs.
• Manage sustainability research projects progress, researcher relationships, budget tracking, and program execution with the support of program leads.
• Help facilitate the solicitation, review, contracting and management of research projects for the national programs.
• Perform scientific writing activities, including drafting summaries of funded research projects, technical research articles, literature reviews, and routine program reports, including quarterly and end of year reports, evaluation reports, and other stakeholder communications in coordination with other team members.
• Provide technical review drafts of research projects for national and state beef councils; make funding recommendations as appropriate.
• Review project reports for results and compliance with contracted outcomes and facilitate the incorporation of research outcomes into internal and external resources.
• Serve as a technical resource for internal and external audiences; provide technical service support and respond to information requests.
• Assist in representing the department at industry and professional meetings and compile and deliver technical presentations for various meetings as needed. Participate in key technical associations.
• Be familiar with and stay current on technical research outcomes and developments in the research landscape that impact the scope of work of the national program.
• Establish and maintain relationships with researchers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Aid in facilitating critical research meetings, assist in speaker management, virtual conference platform, and on-site facilitation, and other logistics, in coordination with program managers.
• With each program lead, manage external research advisories and working groups as applicable.
• Travel is required for up to 25% which may include occasional weekend trips.
• Other job duties as assigned.

• EDUCATION – Master’s of Science degree in Animal or Meat Science or a closely-related field.
• EXPERIENCE – Must demonstrated knowledge and leadership in the areas of animal and/or meat science, experimental design, and the development of applied industry research initiatives. Budget management experience and proficiency in Microsoft Office programs is desired.
• EQUIVALENCY - None
• CERTIFICATION(S) – None
• SKILLS
  - Excellent communication (written and oral), organization and time management skills are required. The individual must be a self-starter and demonstrate a strong ability to work on multiple projects in a demanding team environment with minimal supervision. Collaboration, integrity, personal ethics and the desire to be a “team player” is desired.

Initiated in 1898, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the marketing organization and trade association for America's one million cattle farmers and ranchers. With offices in Denver and Washington, D.C., NCBA is a consumer-focused, producer-directed organization representing the largest segment of the nation's food and fiber industry. NCBA works to achieve the vision: "To be the trusted…