Windy City Harvest Community Outreach and Field Supervisor
About The Position
The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest is looking for a dedicated Community Outreach and Field Supervisor to work with our transitional jobs and workforce development program. The Community Outreach and Field Supervisor will be part of a collaborative team environment working closely with all members of our Windy City Harvest program and operations team. The Windy City Harvest Corps program employs 30 to 40 justice-involved individuals and veterans for two 14-week cohorts each year in closely mentored, full-time, paid transitional jobs. Our goal is to support our graduates in finding full-time, long-term employment. The Community Outreach and Field Supervisor will lead participant recruitment and community outreach, maintain a structured presence across program crews to build relationships and support participant awareness, connect participants to community resources at key program moments, and lead alumni engagement and follow-up after graduation. This role also serves as backup field supervision coverage as needed. The ideal candidate has experience with community outreach and workforce development, is comfortable building relationships across community organizations and reentry partners, and communicates proactively and transparently with program staff. Lived or professional experience with the justice system is preferred.
Requirements
- Available to work Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with flexibility for site assignments, weather-related schedule changes, and operational needs
- One year of experience gardening, farming, landscaping, working outdoors, or in the local food system
- Background in workforce development, job readiness programming, or adult education
- Experience making warm referrals or navigating social service systems with participants or clients
- Understanding of and commitment to the model of transitional jobs
- Demonstrated experience in leading others, enforcing workplace standards, and providing constructive verbal and written feedback
- Strong relationship-building skills with team members, program participants, and employment partners
- A valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
- Commitment to being a supportive resource for program participants, community residents, and project partners
- Excellent communication skills: email, phone, and in person
- Willing to work with all departments and/or at all farm sites depending on the operational needs
Nice To Haves
- Lived experience with the justice system or direct professional experience supporting justice-involved individuals is strongly preferred
Responsibilities
- Lead participant recruitment for two annual cohorts of 30 to 40 participants each, including outreach to reentry partners, social service agencies, and community organizations
- Coordinate and facilitate information sessions; track interest and support conversion of attendees into completed applicants
- Represent Harvest Corps at partner site visits, outreach events, and community tables
- Maintain and grow the partner referral network; provide regular feedback to partners on referral quality and program fit
- Support participant hiring and onboarding logistics in collaboration with Workforce Development Manager
- Track recruitment metrics and provide regular updates to the Workforce Development Manager
- Build consistent relationships across all crews, maintaining awareness of participant progress and challenges
- Serve as resource and referral connection point at key moments, including intake, onboarding, IEP conversations, and job placement
- Connect participants to community resources including housing, legal aid, childcare, mental health services, and transportation through warm referrals to external partners
- Surface participant concerns and emerging issues to the Workforce Development Manager in a timely and transparent manner
- Co-facilitate Friday job club activities, workshops, and employability programming as assigned
- Reinforce program standards and culture of accountability and mutual respect
- Serve as backup field supervisor when gaps require coverage
- Conduct 30, 90, and 180-day follow-up outreach with program graduates to track employment outcomes, and monitor well-being and employment stability
- Maintain accurate alumni contact records and contribute employment verification data to grant compliance reporting
- Connect alumni experiencing challenges back to resources and support
- Support development of alumni engagement overt time in partnership with the Workforce Development Manager
- Provide hands-on guidance and work alongside Corps participants, production assistants, and apprentices to complete farm-site tasks and meet production goals including planting, weeding, harvesting, post-harvest handling, composting, and site maintenance
- Demonstrate best practices in market gardening and train participants in diversified vegetable production
- Follow established crop plans, task lists, and production schedules
- Give weekly safety talks; complete required production and safety logs to meet food and safety standards
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
