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Just Roots Co-Founder Sean Ruane Stepping Down for Move to Atlanta
Urban Farming Non-Profit with Food Security Focus Opens Executive Director Search
Big breaking news from Just Roots Chicago non-profit: Sean Ruane, executive director and co-founder of the food security-focused urban farming non-profit, will leave the organization and move to Atlanta to be closer to family.
I have known Sean since Just Roots' early days and have provided a good deal of coverage to the organization and its small but highly productive farms — the flagship spot in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood and the other in south suburban Sauk Village. I was a frequent visitor to the Chicago farm in 2025 when I subscribed to their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
I admire Sean and have enjoyed working with him, and wish him and his family the best of luck with their move.
Just Roots has opened its search for its next executive director. The job description and a link are below, after the organization's press release announcement of Sean's planned departure. Priority will be given to candidates who submit their materials by October 9.
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Dear Just Roots Community,
We're writing to share some news that's both bittersweet and full of hope and excitement for what's ahead.
After nearly ten years of service, Sean Ruane will be stepping down from his role as Executive Director in December. He will be moving to Atlanta with his wife and kids to be closer to their families.
We are deeply grateful to Sean for his vision and steady leadership, and for the care he's taken in working with our board, staff, and partners to prepare Just Roots for this next chapter.
A note from Sean:
In 2017, we set out to build an organization that would help connect people back to the land, their food, and their neighbors. Watching Just Roots become what it is today — thanks to the hard work and dedication of our board, staff, partners, and community — has been the honor of a lifetime. As a founder of the organization, I’ll always be an active supporter of Just Roots, and I look forward to witnessing the continued growth and impact of Just Roots for years to come.
As Sean noted, Just Roots is entering an exciting new chapter. Since our founding in 2017, the organization has grown every year in terms of revenue, staff size, and community impact.
We are seeking our next Executive Director to build on this momentum — a leader with genuine passion for local, sustainable agriculture and the ability to guide the organization into its next chapter of growth, in partnership with our board, staff, partners, funders, and broader community. The ideal candidate will bring strong organizational leadership and a deep alignment with our core values: Interdependence, Equity, Responsibility, Collaboration, Restoration, and Joy.
If you or someone you know is interested in applying, you can find the full position description linked below. To apply, please submit a résumé, cover letter, and a list of your social media handles.
In your résumé or cover letter, please include any past experience leading and sustaining a team or organizational culture, as well as the size of the largest budget you have managed. Priority will be given to candidates who submit materials by October 9, 2026.
As we enter this new and exciting chapter, we look forward to growing our impact in collaboration with you.
In Community,
Tammy Reed Tran, Board President
Sean Ruane, Co-Founder & Executive Director
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Executive Director
Just Roots Chicago
Salaried, Full-Time, Exempt
Organization Background
Just Roots envisions caring communities that motivate and support all residents to participate and access food in ways that promote and sustain the holistic health of people and the environment. We strive to support our community in three primary ways:
Improved holistic health and well-being for residents through the production, harvest, and consumption of healthy, culturally affirming food
The development of a thriving community that learns and shares about local, healthy, regenerative food practices together
Greater collaboration and resource sharing among urban farmers working to support the development of a local, regenerative, and community-driven food system
Guided by that vision, Just Roots works in collaboration with communities to develop and expand access to local, sustainably grown food. Founded in 2017, the organization began as a small incubator farm on Chicago’s south side.
Since then, Just Roots has developed two community farms in collaboration with faith-based organizations — the Saint James Community Farm, located on Chicago’s south side, and It Takes A Village Community Farm, located in Chicago’s south suburbs. Just Roots’ farms are home to a range of healthy food access initiatives, education programs for youth and adults, and community events.
Beyond the farms, Just Roots provides technical support to neighboring farms and gardens to co-create a more resilient and collaborative local food system.
Just Roots is entering an exciting new chapter. Since our founding, the organization has grown every year in revenue, staff size, and community impact. We are now seeking our next Executive Director to build on this momentum — a leader with genuine passion for local, sustainable agriculture and the ability to lead the organization into its next chapter of growth and impact, in partnership with the board, staff, partners, funders, and the broader community.
The ideal candidate will bring strong organizational leadership and a deep alignment with our core values: Interdependence, Equity, Responsibility, Collaboration, Restoration, and Joy.
Desired Qualifications:
A minimum of five years of experience in a leadership role for a nonprofit organization
Experience with securing a diverse mix of revenue through government funding, foundation grants, individual donors, and corporate sponsorships with the ability to create and execute on a vision for sustainable growth
An effective communicator with internal and external stakeholders
Experience, cultural awareness, and sensitivity working alongside communities experiencing food insecurities
A passion for our community-centered mission, vision, and values
Primary Responsibilities:
Organizational Sustainability: Serves as the primary person responsible for the financial and operational sustainability of the organization
Relationship Building: Serves as the primary person responsible for cultivating and stewarding long-term relationships with donors, funders, and strategic partners, including other organizations and communities experiencing food insecurities
Management: Supervises three director-level positions and fosters a culture of professional growth and joy for all team members
Board Partner and Liaison: Serves as the main point of contact for the Board, fosters individual relationships with all Board members, and works with Board leadership to ensure thoughtful onboarding of new members, smooth leadership transitions, and a healthy new member pipeline
Strategic Planning: Leads implementation of Just Roots' strategic plan and primary responsibility for envisioning program development and tracking progress towards vision and goals
Fundraising: Leads all development initiatives, including donor stewardship, fundraising events, grant writing, and development of earned revenue streams
Other Responsibilities:
Ambassador to healthcare institutions, local community organizations and business, and other urban agriculture entities with the goal of building supportive relationships
Leads all finance work, including budgeting and accounting
Cultivates and elevates the environmental links between urban agriculture and social and racial justice for the organization and the team
Salary & Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $90,000-$100,000. The ideal candidate is interested in growing with the organization. In addition to the above salary, we provide the following benefits:
A competitive medical, dental, and retirement benefits package
Partial travel reimbursement
Regular professional development and opportunities for growth
A 4-day work week during the winter months (December-February)
A hybrid work schedule (2-3 days on-site, 2-3 days from home)
Liberal flexible and assigned paid time off, federal holidays and accrual policies
Optional no-cost enrollment in our CSA program
An inclusive team environment where we actively work to foster joy, mutual respect, and continued personal and professional growth
Application Process: To apply please submit a résumé, cover letter, and a list of your social media handles below. In your résumé or cover letter, please include any past experience leading and sustaining a team or organizational culture, as well as the size of the largest budget you have managed. Priority will be given to candidates who submit their materials by October 9, 2026.
The Hiring Committee hopes to make a decision by mid-to-late November with the new Executive Director starting as early as the second week of December and no later than the second week of January 2027. The incoming Executive Director will overlap with the outgoing Executive Director for at least two weeks.
Equal Opportunity Employment: Just Roots works affirmatively to provide equal opportunity among its workforce and does not discriminate in the selection of its staff on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, income, marital status, or any other dimension of identity. We strongly encourage applications from diverse candidates, particularly individuals from groups that have been historically under-represented, including but not limited to women, people of color, and immigrants (including individuals who were formerly detained, incarcerated, undocumented, or who have navigated the immigration legal system).
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