Now Hiring! Director of Agroforestry
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
Job Title: Director of Agroforestry
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Reports To: Executive Director of The Walls Project Louisiana
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation: $72,800
Merit Based Increase: The Walls Project maintains an internal compensation structure. This position has the ability to grow to $93,600 if funding and operation demands are met.
About Agroforestry Program
The Agroforestry Program and Baton Roots, is a signature initiative of The Walls Project. It is an urban agriculture and food equity program based in Colorado, Dallas, and Baton Rouge, LA. Through sustainable farming, community education, workforce training, and environmental stewardship, the program transforms underutilized land into vibrant, food-producing spaces that grow health, opportunity, and resilience across neighborhoods.
Position Summary
The Director of Agroforestry serves as the senior leader responsible for the strategic direction, operations, and growth of the Agroforestry Program, including the Baton Roots initiative under The Walls Project. The Director oversees all agroforestry programs and initiatives, including but not limited to the Baton Roots Community Farm, Agroforestry Apprenticeship Program, urban agriculture programming, expansion to Colorado and Texas and environmental initiatives in partnership with East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority (EBRPHA) communities.
This position provides leadership for program design, implementation, partnerships, staffing, and long-term sustainability of Baton Roots’ work in food systems, urban agriculture, climate resilience, and community stewardship. The Director manages all agroforestry personnel, apprentices, contractors, and volunteers while working closely with The Walls Project leadership and back-office teams to ensure operational excellence, compliance, and program impact.
In addition to overseeing Baton Rouge operations, the Director will support the expansion and implementation of programming in other states where The Walls Project operates, including but not limited to Colorado and Texas.
Currently, the Agroforestry Program has five W2 employees, 1099 farm laborers, and approx. a dozen Agroforestry apprentices. The program also maintains a budget of approximately $2 million in which around $400,000 needs to be raised each year through sponsorships, grant applications, and partnerships.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Strategy
Provide overall leadership and vision for the Agroforestry Program initiative, ensuring alignment with The Walls Project’s mission and strategic priorities.
Oversee all Agroforestry programs including:
Baton Roots Community Farm
Agroforestry Apprenticeship Program
Urban agriculture and food forest initiatives
Tree planting and environmental stewardship programs
Youth workforce development initiatives in partnership with the Youth Program Director
EBRPHA community farm and greening initiatives
Assistance in curriculum development and application
Assisting with ReActivate Events and leading volunteer activities during the annual Earth Day ReActivate Event
Develop and implement annual work plans, strategic plans, and program goals for regular programming.
Identify and develop new program opportunities that expand the Program's impact in food justice, climate resilience, and workforce development.
Ensure all programs maintain strong community engagement and educational components.
Personnel & Scheduling
Assist in the management of all farm personnel, seasonal workers, apprentices, and volunteers.
Develop and maintain scheduling systems across multiple farm sites to ensure appropriate staffing and task alignment.
Support onboarding, training, and time tracking in coordination with HR.
Support in scheduling and sourcing volunteer engagements for residents and supporters.
Grants, Sponsorships & Fundraising
Write, edit, and submit grants in collaboration with The Walls Project development team.
Research potential funding opportunities and collaborate with external development firm.
Cultivate local sponsorships, Donor Advised Funds, and in-kind donations in support of activities.
Track grant deliverables and develop compliance reports for funders and stakeholders.
Ability to raise $400,000 per year in project and program funding alongside the Executive Director of Louisiana and The Walls Project’s external development team.
USDA Program Partnerships & Tree Equity
Ensure implementation and compliance with USDA and government regulations for specific USDA grant.
Partner with Baton Rouge Green, EBRPHA, and BREC to implement tree planting initiatives under the USDA Urban & Community Forestry grant.
Coordinate tree giveaways, planting events, and community stewardship efforts.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools, neighborhood groups, and other environmental partners.
Ability to expand on the current paid apprenticeship program structure to other markets.
Data Collection & Reporting
Lead the collection of program data related to volunteer hours, produce yields, tree planting totals, workshop attendance, and program reach.
Work with The Walls Project data team to maintain and refine tracking tools (including GIS, spreadsheets, or CRM systems).
Provide data analysis for grant reports, board updates, and marketing campaigns.
Ability to establish work plans in Asana and other internal work planning software.
Strategic Growth & Expansion
Provide operational insight and knowledge-sharing as Baton Roots programming expands into Colorado and Texas.
Support replication of Baton Roots’ model across new sites through shared documentation, scheduling tools, and vendor relationships.
Help develop cross-state partnerships that align with Baton Roots’ mission in food justice and climate resilience.
Communications & Storytelling
Contribute regular content for social media, newsletters, and blog posts to promote Baton Roots’ impact.
Capture and share community stories, milestones, and visual updates from the field.
Represent Agroforestry Program and The Walls Project at local and regional events.
Qualifications
3–5 years of experience in nonprofit operations, urban agriculture, food systems, or community development
Demonstrated success in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders
Strong grant writing and storytelling abilities
Familiarity with data collection, impact reporting, and/or CRM or GIS tools
Commitment to food justice, environmental equity, and community-led change
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to work some evenings and weekends for community events
Proficiency with Google Workspace, spreadsheets, and collaborative planning tools
Experience working in multi-site or multi-state organizations (preferred but not required)
Masters Degree or Higher (preferred)
Work Requirements
Must be based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Must be able to attend weekly in-person meetings
Work Environment
This position is based in Baton Rouge with regular on-site presence required at Howell Park and other farm locations. Hybrid work is possible for administrative tasks. Occasional travel to Colorado and Texas may be required to support Agroforestry Program’s cross-regional programming and expansion.
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