Revised 1.29.2025

Job Title: Urban Agriculture Manager

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: 1641 Portland Avenue, Louisville, KY 40203

Hours: 40 hours per week, full-time, non-exempt employee. Weekend hours are required.

Pay: $22-25 per hour based on experience

Louisville Grows is looking for an Urban Agriculture Manager to join our team!

Do you have a passion for food sovereignty and empowering people to grow their own food?

Can you undertake a project on your own initiative?

Do you possess excellent communication skills and have experience in leading and managing volunteers?

Do you have at least three years of agriculture experience and are looking for an exciting new opportunity with a local nonprofit?

If so, we encourage you to apply!

Please read the job description in its entirety before applying.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE GROWS

Founded in 2009, Louisville Grows is an environmental nonprofit organization whose mission is to grow greener, healthier neighborhoods. Our vision is to foster green, just, and sustainable communities in Louisville.

Louisville Grows works in solidarity with community residents to create a more just and sustainable community through urban agriculture, urban forestry, and environmental education. Social justice is a key component of all Louisville Grows work in the community and we strive to ensure the fair treatment of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups, and our programs support disproportionately affected neighborhoods in Louisville’s urban core.

We work with communities throughout Louisville to identify and meet neighborhood needs, such as increasing the urban tree canopy, providing resources to establish, manage, and sustain community gardens and orchards, and providing environmental education workshops and classes. We seek to be a leading nonprofit in advocating for environmental and health equity.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a small, hands-on team that is dedicated to empowering residents to grow and sustain their own onsite food production systems.

JOB SUMMARY

Louisville Grows is seeking a dynamic individual with strong experience in sustainable vegetable, fruit (berries and trees), herb, and native pollinator production and project management to maintain a highly visible greenhouse on our campus in the Portland neighborhood.

The Urban Agriculture Manager will be responsible for managing the greenhouse, organizing, supporting, planning for, and implementing our annual agriculture events such as the Seeds & Starts Sales. They will maintain fruit trees, berry bushes, etc. on our campus grounds, administer our community garden/orchard workshops and grant program, and manage our Giving Grove affiliation to develop community orchards. As well as non-production activities including administrative duties, supervising volunteers, and fostering relationships with other urban agriculture partners. The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, capable, self-motivated with the ability to work in a team-based environment, detail-oriented, and willing and excited to maintain an urban agriculture space.

This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. The Urban Agriculture Manager will report to the executive director and the Urban Ag Committee of the Board of Directors and work closely with the community engagement manager.

This is a perfect position for someone who is motivated by working with community members, enjoys the outdoors, has a passion for food justice, can see their work through with a high degree of independence, has at least three years of agriculture experience, and is looking to take a step.

The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator,  highly organized, logical thinking, present and transparent, and provide leadership, guidance, and support for the overall urban agriculture program including educational programming. The candidate should be comfortable interacting with community members and partners.

ESSENTIAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

  • Crop Production: Develop and implement seasonal crops starting plants from seeds and potting plant starts for our annual Seeds & Starts Sales. Maintain yield estimates and harvest records. Propagate and source all plants and plant materials for a successful greenhouse operation. Maintain, clean, organize, and inventory all onsite infrastructure and equipment. Maximize efficiency and prioritize tasks. Support logistics for plant sales for the public and community gardens. Utilize sustainable organic agricultural methods, including weed and pest management, development of soil structure through composting, and other organic methods.
  • Administration: Prepare for and document work in our online systems, including Google Calendar, Google Forms, and Google Workspace. Perform all daily tasks including planting, weeding, harvesting, irrigating, and general maintenance. Purchase materials and supplies.
  • Community Engagement: Collaborate and communicate with community gardeners to fulfill grants and provide plants. Participate with our partners in other urban agriculture opportunities. Coordinate volunteers. Communicate with customers for our sales including answering questions, problem solving, and guidance in proper planting.
  • Communication: Work with the community engagement manager to ensure greenhouse volunteers are recruited and efficient scheduling. Advise executive director of marketing needs. Attend regular Urban Ag Coalition meetings. Attend Giving Grove meetings, trainings, and the annual conference.
  • Education: Lead Garden and Orchard Education Programs on campus and in the greenhouse with partners.

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS and SKILLS

  • At least 3 years of experience in sustainable agriculture or vegetable farm management or professional garden work.
  • Understand greenhouse growing methods and irrigation systems.
  • Experience with management and leading volunteers.
  • Knowledge of food apartheid especially in the west, south, and south- central Louisville neighborhoods, demographics, and community resources.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Comfort with speaking and presenting in public on urban agriculture and other relevant topics.
  • Mature and professional demeanor with a strong work ethic.
  • Ability to create and build positive relationships with a wide variety of people and to invite and incorporate feedback.
  • Ability to work occasional weekends and evening hours during peak growing season.
  • Ability to budget and plan ahead.
  • Ability to lift 50 pounds and perform manual labor in all weather conditions. Frequent standing, walking, bending, and lifting are required.
  • Experience operating trucks with a trailer, farm tractors, mowers, sprayers, & tillers is a plus.
  • Ability to maintain a safe workplace in accordance with company policy.
  • Knowledge and use of Google Workspace including maintaining a volunteer database (annually and per event).
  • Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • A valid driver’s license is required. Use of personal vehicle (reimbursed) required.
  • Assist with the preparation of various report summaries of Louisville Grows events and activities collecting and analyzing data and statistical information.
  • Prepare a monthly report to be provided to the Louisville Grows’ Executive Committee.

Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required. Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This job description shall be reviewed on an annual basis.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Louisville Grows is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applicants from all backgrounds.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, their resume, and three references to info@louisvillegrows.org. Submissions without a cover letter will not be considered.

Applications are now being accepted and the position will remain open until filled.