Senior Director of Community Engagement

Mission, Vision, and Values
The Nashville Food Project brings people together to grow, cook, and share nourishing food, with the goals of cultivating community and alleviating hunger in our city. At The Nashville Food Project, we embrace a vision of vibrant community food security in which everyone in Nashville has access to the food they want and need through a just and sustainable food system. This mission and vision are guided by core organizational values, including hospitality, stewardship, interdependence, learning, justice, and transformation.

Organizational Background
The Nashville Food Project (TNFP) was born from the idea that good food is a matter of basic dignity. Since its start in 2007, TNFP has served thousands of Nashvillians facing food insecurity. In 2011, TNFP was incorporated as an independent nonprofit, shifting the focus of its meals program toward a collaborative partnership model and launching an urban agriculture program. Today, TNFP continues to connect people to nourishing food and to each other through vibrant urban agriculture projects, made-from-scratch meals, and food shared with local partners working to disrupt cycles of poverty.

Position Summary
The Senior Director of Community Engagement (SDCE) leads TNFP’s community engagement programs, which include community agriculture, volunteerism, and education. These programs turn TNFP’s mission into shared practice: Through them, neighbors grow food together in gardens and orchards across the city, volunteers join in the daily work of nourishing Nashville, and learners of every age gain the skills and knowledge to advance TNFP’s vision of vibrant community food security in which good food, belonging, and local leadership take root in every neighborhood. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the SDCE sets strategy for the community engagement programs, supervises the Community Engagement team, and is accountable for its budgets, workplans, and impact. The SDCE builds relationships across communities and develops the systems, partnerships, and innovations that help these programs grow in both reach and depth.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Program Leadership
– Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive community engagement strategy across volunteerism, community agriculture, and education, in alignment with organizational priorities set with the COO
– Oversee TNFP’s organization-wide volunteer engagement program and strategy, ensuring robust participation and meaningful experiences for individuals, groups, and partners
– Lead strategy for the growth of the Community Agriculture Network and Community Orchards, including site partnerships, resource support, and long-term sustainability of growing sites
– Develop strategies to secure long-term land access and water infrastructure for community growing sites, in coordination with the COO and CEO
– In partnership with the COO, design and oversee the phased implementation of TNFP’s education program, including nutrition and gardening workshops, school partnerships, and public learning opportunities that build understanding of food security and food systems
– Collaborate with the COO and the Communications & Marketing Manager to develop a communications strategy to raise awareness about and engagement with TNFP programs
– Build leadership pathways for garden and orchard stewards, volunteer leads, and community ambassadors, supporting them as they grow into leaders of their sites and programs
– Collaborate with the COO and program staff to identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement and scaling of TNFP’s community engagement programs, impact, and partnerships

Partnership Development
– Manage incoming community engagement requests and delegate them to the relevant teams and departments within the organization, representing TNFP when appropriate
– Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with community stakeholders, public agencies, and landowners to increase the reach, land access, and impact of Community Engagement programming
– Cultivate and steward relationships with social, civic, and educational organizations to identify, develop, and expand opportunities to engage volunteer groups
– Collaborate with program teams to design recurring and one-off volunteer opportunities across all TNFP programs, including engagement events for corporate partners, in coordination with the Development team
– Ensure community engagement programs include diverse community members and partner organizations

Administrative
– Provide direct supervision to the Director of Agriculture Operations, Volunteer Engagement Manager, and additional community engagement team members as needed
– Develop and oversee implementation of team and individual workplans and program calendars to ensure departmental progress towards annual strategic priorities
– Develop systems, processes, and standard operating procedures for managing programs and tracking volunteerism, program partnerships, and programmatic impact
– Oversee implementation of impact tracking protocol for monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and report consolidated metrics to the COO on a quarterly basis
– Develop and oversee systems for receiving and responding to volunteer feedback
– Oversee budgets for all community engagement programs
– Ensure volunteer safety and risk-management practices are in place and followed across all programs, including orientation, waivers, youth volunteer protocols, and incident reporting, in coordination with the COO
– Manage the development, renewal, and records of partnership agreements and MOUs for community agriculture and orchard sites, for execution by authorized signatories
– Support grant development and reporting for community engagement programs in coordination with the Development team

Position Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
– At least 5 years of progressive experience in program strategy, budget development, and personnel management, including at least 2 years supervising managers
– Demonstrated ability to lead long-term planning while navigating short-term strategic opportunities and challenges
– Experience guiding program design and execution with measurable outcomes
– Experience managing grants, budgets, and partnership resource allocations
– Experience developing volunteer programs, including volunteer safety and risk management
– Working knowledge of community agriculture, land-based programs, or neighborhood-level organizing
– Skilled in cultivating partnerships with nonprofits, businesses, civic groups, and government
– Highly organized, with strong project management and problem-solving skills
– Confident working independently and collaboratively
– Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
– Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across teams and navigate disagreement constructively
– Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with immigrant and refugee communities, communities of color, and neighbors experiencing food insecurity, with attention to power dynamics in partnership
– Proficiency and comfort using computers, with abilities in Microsoft Office and Google Suite
– Valid driver’s license and safe driving record, or another reliable means of traveling regularly between TNFP sites

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
– Bachelor’s degree or higher
– Interest in anti-hunger work and food justice
– Agricultural experience and/or experience growing food in community
– Experience with community-led or participant-driven programming in food access
– Bilingual language proficiency in Spanish or Arabic

CLASSIFICATION
This is a full-time, exempt salaried position. Occasional evening and weekend work is required. Work is performed in office, community, and outdoor agricultural settings, with regular travel between TNFP sites. The role may involve standing, walking on uneven terrain, outdoor work in varied weather, and occasionally lifting up to 25 lbs. Reasonable accommodations are available. This position is classified at grade 38E in the TNFP Compensation Policy.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Starting annual salary for this role is $69,800–$74,500, commensurate with experience. TNFP offers a benefits package for full-time employees including:
– 75% employer-paid health insurance for employees, voluntary dental and vision insurance
– 25% employer-paid health insurance for dependents, voluntary dental and vision insurance
– Employer paid term-life and AD&D insurance, and long-term disability insurance
– 401(k) program with employer match
– Cell phone stipend
– 15 paid holidays
– Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) program
– Parental leave
– Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
– Flexible scheduling, with a hybrid arrangement balancing remote administrative work and regular in-person presence at TNFP sites

Application Instructions

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter outlining your interest in our work and mission to info@thenashvillefoodproject.org. Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applications received on or before October 9, 2026, will receive priority consideration.

The Nashville Food Project is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation during the hiring process may contact Andrew Jordan at Andrew@thenashvillefoodproject.org.

Position Description / Responsibilities

Position Requirements

Application Instructions