Resource Employee - Workforce Development Support

Chicago Botanic Garden • Chicago, IL

10h • Onsite

About The Position

The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest is looking for a Corps Program Assistant to work with our transitional jobs and workforce development program. The Corps Program Assistant will be part of a collaborative team, working closely with all members of the Windy City Harvest team. The Windy City Harvest Corps program employs 30 to 40 justice-involved individuals and veterans across two 14-week cohorts each year in closely mentored, full-time, paid transitional jobs. Our goal is to support graduates in finding full-time, long-term employment. The Program Assistant will support participant onboarding, intake, and individual employment plans. They will also work with the Workforce Development Manager to develop and facilitate job readiness curriculum and activities in group and 1-on-1 settings. The ideal candidate has workforce development experience and is skilled at building relationships with individuals facing barriers to employment. They communicate proactively and transparently with program staff and participants. Lived or professional experience with the justice system or justice impacted communities is preferred.

Requirements

• Lived experience with the justice system or direct professional experience supporting justice involved individuals is strongly preferred.
• One year of experience in social work, workforce development, job readiness programming, or adult education.
• 1 year of experience working with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace.
• Experience making warm referrals or navigating social service systems with participants or clients.
• Understanding of and commitment to the transitional jobs model.
• Strong relationship-building skills with team members, program participants, and employment partners.
• Excellent communication skills across email, phone, and in-person settings.
• Commitment to being a supportive resource for program participants, community residents, and project partners.

Nice To Haves

• Lived or professional experience with the justice system or justice impacted communities is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the Workforce Development Manager in meeting Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) grant criteria, performance goals, and compliance documentation.
• Build consistent relationships across all crews, maintaining active awareness of participant progress and challenges.
• Serve as a connection point during intake, onboarding, IEP (Individual Employment Plan), and job placement.
• Surface participant concerns and emerging issues to the Workforce Development Manager in a timely and transparent manner.
• Teach job readiness classes and co-facilitate Friday job club activities, workshops, and employability programming.
• Assist participants with writing resumes and cover letters, completing job applications, and preparing for interviews.
• Reinforce program standards and foster a culture of accountability and mutual respect.
• Connect participants to community partners for housing, legal aid, childcare, mental health services, and transportation through warm referrals.
• Assist participants in securing full-time employment and provide supportive follow-up services post-placement.

Benefits

• Wellness initiative benefit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Retirement plan
• Garden membership - free to employees at Household Plus level
• Discounts to Garden Shop, Café, Garden-sponsored educational classes
• Employee events such as Orchid show, Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns, Lightscape employee & friends preview night

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed