Grower Windy City Harvest

Chicago Botanic Garden•Chicago, IL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Windy City Harvest is committed to hands-on, innovative job training in sustainable agriculture. We hold high shared standards to support personal and professional growth for staff and participants. This role is a hands-on farming position that supports production across Windy City Harvest (WCH) farm sites while guiding participants in workforce development through agriculture. The position is 70 percent production-focused, overseeing outdoor farm operations, and 30 percent program-focused, using farming activities to build job skills and ensuring timely completion of all required documentation. This role oversees all outdoor production at the WCH Legends site, including crop planning, ornamental and landscape maintenance, and accurate farm recordkeeping. The position supports the Corps Field Supervisor, Youth Farm Coordinator, and Apprenticeship Instructor by setting task lists, training participants, leading lab days, and providing supervisory support across WCH sites as needed.

Requirements

Minimum two seasons of sustainable vegetable production on a ¼-acre site or larger
Valid driver’s license with a minimum of two years’ experience with driving large vehicles
Ability to plan workdays effectively, including labor planning and task prioritization
Willing and able to perform physically demanding outdoor work in varied weather conditions
Experience with organic production, IPM, GAPs-compliant protocols, and food safety standards
Experience creating crop plans, seasonal schedules, harvest projections, and running harvests
Experience managing tools and supply inventory
Experience training and supervising individuals with varied backgrounds and skill levels

Nice To Haves

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Food Safety certification preferred

Responsibilities

Implement and manage a sustainable crop plan to meet sales goals using succession planting, IPM, and season extension.
Develop and oversee farm, greenhouse, and landscape production schedules; forecast weekly labor, tools, and supply needs.
Train and supervise program participants, interns, and volunteers in seeding, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and production tasks, modeling professional standards.
Oversee irrigation systems and maintenance.
Support apprenticeship programming by assisting with lab field days and completing required documentation.
Lead weekly farm walks and foster a positive, collaborative team environment across production activities.
Forecast harvest availability, coordinate harvests and inventory, communicate updates to the sales team, and complete post-harvest paperwork on time.
Harvest and process produce in compliance with GAPs, FSMA, and Windy City Harvest food safety standards; train participants accordingly.
Maintain accurate production, safety, food safety, and sales records in compliance with GAPs protocols.
Work across all Windy City Harvest sites as assigned and collaborate effectively with staff to meet program goals.
Maintain site aesthetics and landscaping standards per site-maintenance guidelines.
Attend meetings prepared to share production updates and participant highlights; maintain timely communication during work hours.
Safely operate vehicles, tools, and equipment; transport supplies, water, and harvested produce as needed.
Open and close farm sites, manage tool and equipment inventory, lead weekly safety talks, and report security or equipment issues promptly.

Benefits

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

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