Chief Executive Officer, Urban Farming Institute

Job Description

Job Description

Urban Farming Institute Seeks President and Chief Executive Officer

The Urban Farming Institute (UFI) is a pioneering organization dedicated to developing and promoting urban farming to engage individuals in growing food and building a healthy community. Our goal is to increase food access and green spaces in parts of Boston that are historically disadvantaged, both economically and environmentally. We transform neglected land, engage people in growing food, and build a locally-based food system, which leads to more resilient and healthier residents of Boston's Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan neighborhoods. UFI grows at least 15,000-18,000 lbs. of food and distributes over 40,000 lbs., with a focus on culturally relevant crops. Approximately 3,300 people pass through our farm stand and other programs.

UFI is an innovator and leader in the urban farming movement in the US Northeast, playing an instrumental role in the passage of Article 89 that zoned commercial farming in Boston, and in building Boston's first Article 89 farm. Since 2011, we have converted seven vacant lots into productive growing spaces and established the Boston Farms Community Land Trust to hold three of these properties in perpetuity, ensuring local control over the land and the continuity of urban farmlands. UFI continues to support the broader field through its bi-annual Urban Farming Symposium, fostering knowledge-sharing, climate resilience, and professional development across the urban agriculture sector.

UFI's programs integrate food production, education, workforce development, and community wellness to strengthen access to healthy, culturally relevant food and deepen neighborhood connection. Through our farm operations, UFI grows and distributes fresh produce in partnership with local farms, while Farm Stand Fridays combine food access with arts and cultural programming that fosters community bonding and reduces social isolation, particularly among seniors. We cultivate future leaders in the food system through our Urban Farmer Training Program and the Young Farmers Project and engage hundreds of youth annually through hands-on K-12 education initiatives focused on growing, cooking, and environmental awareness. UFI also supports elders through programs like Fit Around the Farm and Black Men's Gathering, which offer nutrition, fitness, and social engagement opportunities. Complementing these efforts, UFI's community education and events-such as our Raised Beds Program and Monthly Grow Series, workshops, festivals, and Jazz at the Farm-empower residents to grow their own food, promote holistic wellness, and build lasting connections.

UFI is guided by an engaged and dynamic seven-member board of directors whose members reflect the full arc of the organization's history and leadership. We employ 15 full-time and three part-time staff, along with additional seasonal team members. UFI consistently hires its Urban Farmer Training program graduates, helping ensure our staff are reflective of the demographics and lived experience of the communities served, and that programming is culturally relevant and aligned with community needs and interests. Staff describe the workplace as family-like, mission-driven, and deeply caring. They are widely recognized as experts in their fields and are hard-working, collaborative, and closely connected to one another and to the mission.

UFI operates with an annual budget of $2.8 million and holds more than $7 million in assets, including land and buildings that are owned outright. UFI's work is sustained through a diverse and robust funding portfolio that includes foundation and government grants, individual contributions, and earned revenue. UFI supplements its internal capacity with consultants who support human resources, information technology, and fundraising. For more information, please visit the UFI website.

The Opportunity

The next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UFI will assume leadership at a pivotal moment in the organization's evolution. With strong community roots nurtured by our departing founder and high-quality staff, a respected presence in Boston's food and urban agriculture landscape, and growing demand for our work, UFI is well positioned to hire a new leader who can steward our legacy while shaping the next phase of impact. Important priorities for the next leader include:

Ensuring the Continuity of UFI's Success and Credibility

UFI has experienced tremendous success since its inception, growing from one to seven urban sites, expanding participation in its programs and Farm Stand, and increasing its staff to 18 team members. The organization is now at a critical stage of development, as rising demand underscores the need to strengthen infrastructure and organizational capacity. Building on this strong foundation, the next leader will sustain momentum by deepening partnerships, aligning resources, and focusing on areas where UFI's model has the greatest impact-ensuring continued responsiveness to community needs while upholding high standards and integrity. Key priorities include advancing core programs, such as relaunching the Farmer Training Program, and guiding the organization's future vision as the surrounding community evolves. This includes exploring how different age groups engage with the farm, expanding staff capacity for intergenerational outreach, strengthening partnerships with schools and environmental organizations, and identifying emerging priorities that support vibrant, welcoming, and meaningful programming.

Stewarding Organizational Culture and Community Experience

While access to fresh, locally grown food remains a core element of UFI's mission, the organization's impact extends well beyond food distribution. The farm is valued as a place where relationships are built, cultural traditions are honored, and visitors experience a sense of welcome and belonging. The next CEO will intentionally steward this culture, assuring that the values, practices, and community relationships that define the UFI experience are preserved and strengthened. The UFI leader will learn from staff and community members, maintain the relational nature of the work, embed these cultural values into organizational practice and leadership, and build strong relationships with other nonprofits and BIPOC community-based organizations that help define the neighborhood and strengthen the city.

Enhancing UFI's Middle-Stage Organizational Growth

An important opportunity for the next leader is to strengthen UFI's operational systems, so they align with the organization's current size, stage of growth, and budget. The CEO will build greater internal capacity and continuity in core systems, particularly in HR, documentation, and financial operations. Considering evolving economic conditions, this work will also include evaluating the current staffing and operational models that support long-term sustainability.

Building Relationships in a Changing Funding and Policy Environment

UFI operates within a broader ecosystem shaped by evolving federal policies and practices impacting the residents of our community, economic pressures, and growing community needs. Changes in public funding for food access and nonprofit services are likely to increase demand for community-based organizations, while placing greater strain on available resources. In this context, the next CEO, alongside the board and staff, will clarify UFI's strategic role within Boston's network of food, health, and community development organizations. The new leader will steward UFI's well established role in public policy development at the City and State level, ensuring that the needs of low-income communities are represented as new efforts, requests for proposals, and policies and procedures are shaped.

Executive Leadership Experience & Qualifications

UFI calls for a leader who can balance strategic vision with community stewardship. It is essential that candidates find themselves genuinely falling in love with UFI, the farm, and the community. We recognize that every candidate will bring their own history, strengths, areas of focus, and potential limitations in capacity. What follows is not an exhaustive checklist of requirements, but rather highlights the interconnected skills, practices, and motivations that will be essential in UFI's next CEO.

Mission-Driven Leadership and Communication

Applicants must be able to represent the mission of the organization to diverse audiences- especially donors, community members, and policy-makers - and deeply internalize organizational values to authentically represent them and inspire commitment and momentum. Evidence of understanding and a strong interest in food systems, food justice, creating spaces for people to be healthy, and the power of urban farming is necessary. Powerful communication skills, including storytelling, are essential, with the ability to articulate urban farming content and its interconnections with the community.

Passion and Effectiveness in Resource Development A successful candidate will bring both demonstrated fundraising success and a genuine enthusiasm for resource development. This includes strategic fundraising experience, the ability to cultivate and steward diverse donor and institutional funding relationships, and the confidence to actively seek support for the UFI's mission. We seek a leader who approaches fundraising not as a transactional task, but as an ongoing practice of relationship building that strengthens our connections to supporters and engages the board of trustees in resource generation. Excellent oral, written, and listening skills are essential.

Deep Community Connection and Equity Centered Leadership Strong candidates will be motivated by a genuine commitment to the well-being of the neighborhoods where UFI resides. This requires demonstrating meaningful connection to the communities UFI serves, or ones like it, ideally shown through lived experience, organizing for social justice, longstanding relationships, or deep familiarity with neighborhoods and their histories. UFI seeks a leader who approaches the role with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to building authentic relationships with community members. Cultural awareness and the ability to engage across diverse backgrounds are essential.

Experience Leading a Growing, Mid-Stage Organization The next CEO will have experience guiding organizations through a period of continued maturation. This includes strengthening operational and HR systems, formalizing administrative practices, and ensuring financial and organizational stability while supporting innovation and programmatic growth. Strong nonprofit acumen is preferred, including skills in financial management, budgeting, business planning, process design and execution, documentation, and utilizing and engaging the board of directors. Entrepreneurial and creative leadership with experience initiating, scaling, and improving programs and projects is beneficial.

Collaborative and Inclusive Team Leadership

UFI's staff bring deep expertise and commitment to the organization's work and play an important role in UFI's success. Staff voices are valued and leadership is shared. Success has come from leadership that allows space for new ideas and encourages staff to bring forward initiatives grounded in their expertise and community relationships. The next leader will be skilled at supporting and managing experienced professionals in a collaborative and respectful way, recognizing existing strengths, mentoring and supporting their professional development, and maintaining a positive culture with and among staff and the board of directors.

Relationship-Centered Leadership

UFI values leadership grounded in trust, respect, and care. The ideal candidate approaches leadership as a relational practice, building and sustaining strong relationships with staff, board members, partners, and community members. This requires emotional intelligence, people skills, transparency, and the ability to nurture long-term trust and collaboration. Experience working effectively with a board of directors is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position with a salary range of $165,000 - $185,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

UFI offers the following generous benefits package:

• Vacation time dependent on years of service
• 40 hours of sick time per calendar year
• 12 paid holidays
• Unpaid parental leave days
• Contribution toward individual and family health and dental benefits
• Life insurance
• Short and long term disabilities insurance
• MA Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
• 3 bereavement days

UFI is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to a diverse workplace. We recruit, train, and promote candidates based on their qualifications regardless of race, color, religious creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran or military status, genetics, or other status protected by state or federal law.

Application Process

Candidates must include a resume and a cover letter, both in PDF format, which describe how your qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of the UFI. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. A background check will be required for finalists. Upload required documents to:

This executive search is being conducted by Eos Transition Partners consultant, Nancy Jackson. All submissions will be acknowledged and are confidential, and any questions may be submitted to Nancy Jackson (View email address on ziprecruiter.com).