Plant It Forward seeks President

Plant It Forward (PIF) is a dynamic, Houston-based nonprofit organization that creates opportunities within the food value system for New American farmers to flourish. We envision a future where thriving farmers are nourishing, connecting, and enriching their communities. Founded in 2011, we work alongside skilled agriculturalists who arrived in America as refugees. We provide farmer production and small business mentorship programming, as well as sales facilitation and marketing programming. We are Houston’s largest network of urban farmers and pride ourselves on delivering high-quality produce to hundreds of families and restaurant patrons weekly. Our farmers specialize in growing diversified specialty and global crops, bio-intensively grown on compact farms. https://plantitforward.farm/

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The President of PIF will manage a growing organization as it expands its agricultural holdings,
increases sales, and strengthens its agricultural and business mentorship programs. The
President will develop and execute operational activities along with the staff, farmers and
volunteers.
Reporting to PIF’s Board of Directors, PIF’s President will be responsible for providing overall
leadership, and direction for the organization including Operations, Administration,
Communications, Finance, and Human Resources. Additionally, the President serves as PIF’s
main representative with farmers, customers, project partners, community leaders and the
community at large.
The ideal candidate will have experience in supporting a multi-language, culturally diverse team.
Experience managing agricultural operations will be advantageous.

The Strategic Initiatives of the Organization

1. Empower new American farmers to increase efficiency and grow and sustain their
   businesses, within a framework of cooperative support.
2. Become a more sustainable and prolific Food Hub & farm support organization
   in service of new American farmers.
3. Catalyze Houston’s local foodways by making space and expanding access for
   marginalized farmers and consumers.

Essential duties and responsibilities of PIF’s President include:

• Overseeing and participating in recruitment of new American farmers for PIF technical training for long term farming and apprenticeship programs.
• Understanding, encouraging and supporting the growth of PIF’s food hub operations.
• Actively pursuing, winning and reporting on government, corporate, and foundation grants.
• Engaging in active discernment of the needs of current and prospective PIF farmers and affiliate farmers, in collaboration with staff.
• Promoting small and mid-sized urban agriculture in Houston, through community outreach and collaboration with like-minded organizations.

MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP:

• Develop, direct and participate in operating plans and day-to-day operations of all aspects of the organization.
• Ensure the adequacy and soundness of PIF’s financial structure; review projections of PIF’s operating and capital grant requirements; At specified intervals, present proposed operating and capital expenditures budgets for review and approval by the Board of Directors.
• Oversee, review, evaluate, and direct PIF’s policies and procedures and make recommended changes as needed to ensure ongoing effective execution on these initiatives.

INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Provide primary managerial direction and perform personnel administrative functions of direct report staff, enhancing productivity of staff and ensuring that necessary outcomes are achieved.
• Ensure strong and positive communication and working relationships throughout the organization and maintain a work culture that embraces diversity, multiculturalism, inclusion, equity, and equality at all levels of the organization.
• Provide leadership to encourage employees to take initiative and develop within the organization.

EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Be present, visible, and engaged in the organization and community to build trusting partnerships throughout the region.
• Meet with and listen to donors and customers to obtain input and feedback on changes and improvements that can be considered by management to ensure that PIF is delivering high quality services.
• Promote PIF, its offerings, and benefits to the community to maintain existing food hub customers and attract new customers.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTERACTION:

• Oversee the coordination of regular Board meetings and prepare a variety of documents and reports for Board review such as, but not limited to, cash flows, activity reports, status reports, capital program reports, budgets, resource allocation and trend analyses.
• Assist and advise the Board in its policy and planning responsibilities to help generate short- and long-term objectives and keep the Board abreast of progress in implementing these objectives.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the Board to develop overall vision and strategic plan for PIF’s team to implement.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Ability to think “outside the box” and adapt to address new and unforeseen challenges.
• Strategic manager, motivator, and leader with excellent team building, problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• The successful candidate will have a record of progressively responsible management in a nonprofit or private sector directing staff involved with daily operations and administration functions.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred and an advanced degree in management or other professional certification is highly desired. An equivalent combination of related education and experience may be substituted for these stated minimum qualifications.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with implementing and supporting a small to mid-sized US-based agricultural operation.

WORK HOURS & BENEFITS

• Hours: Salaried, exempt employee; approximately 40 hours/week; some weekends and evenings required with compensation time provided.
• The primary office is in the Plant It Forward warehouse at 4030 Willowbend Blvd, Houston, TX 77025.
• Compensation: Base pay and at risk pay, based on revenue targets, range from $80-100K. Benefits include 401K with 2% match, generous paid time off and paid holidays, weekly Farm Share subscription (valued at more than $2,000/year).

To Apply, send your resume to careers@plantitforward.farm