Youth Farm Coordinator, Windy City Harvest (Chicago, IL)

Chicago Botanic Garden•Chicago, IL

11h

About The Position

The Windy City Harvest (WCH) Youth Farm Coordinator oversees daily farm operations and supports the delivery of educational programming at sites including: North Lawndale Youth Farm, ensuring the successful implementation of WCH’s agricultural initiatives. Building on Windy City Harvest’s Youth Farm model—first established in 2003 and later expanded to Chicago—the North Lawndale Youth Farm operates on a quarter-acre site on the city’s West Side in partnership with NeighborSpace. It currently serves up to 20 youth participants, with produce sold through the Farm on Ogden market. Washington Park Youth Farm, WCH’s largest urban farm location. Established in 2009 with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Washington Park site is located on Chicago Park District property and serves up to 25 youth from neighborhood high schools each growing season. The site features a large hoophouse to extend the growing season, a productive orchard, and is close to Dyett High School. The Youth Farm Coordinator manages sustainable vegetable production, supervises and mentors youth participants and volunteers, and upholds high standards for productivity, food safety, and program outcomes while providing hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that promote urban agriculture, workforce development, and community access to fresh food.

Requirements

At least one year of sustainable vegetable production in urban agriculture
One year of experience working with people of various age groups, including mentoring, supervising, and facilitating groups
One year of experience leading nature-based, urban agriculture, or farming programs
Interest in or experience with youth development and workforce development
Ability to organize workdays with labor plan and to work independently
Ability to perform physical tasks in all types of weather
Experience in farm protocols, integrated pest management (IPM), planning and projecting harvest availability, and food safety standards
Experience in training others and providing constructive feedback
Excellent communication and time-management skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook
A valid driver's license and clean driving record

Responsibilities

Create and implement crop plan for sustainable vegetable production, using succession planting, integrated pest management, and season extension.
Meet production goal of annual crop plan.
Forecast weekly harvest availability, maintain and provide accountability measures for weekly harvest.
Harvest and process vegetables in compliance with Good Agricultural Practices and Food Safety Modernization Act standards and the Windy City Harvest post-harvest handling guide.
Train participants in proper harvesting and post-harvest handling procedures.
Train program participants to follow crop plan, greenhouse seeding, and harvest schedule.
Maintain the irrigation schedule and check that irrigation system is working properly. Irrigate on weekends and holidays as needed.
Complete all logs and records associated with production, site safety, food safety, and sales paperwork.
Attend weekly staff meetings and scheduled meetings as requested, ready to present information about farm production and program participant highlights.
Train and lead a team intern, program participants, and volunteers. Provide regular written feedback.
Manage and inventory site supplies and equipment.
Track expenses within budget, maintain copies of all receipts.
Collect and organize written, anecdotal, and photographic documentation for social media, education, publication, and reporting purposes.
Participate in all training workshops and other requirements from the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Plan and lead program participants in farm workdays, educational workshops, and field trips.
Support WCH programming by leading workdays and classroom activities.
Work with Chicago Botanic Garden team to plan and implement curriculum.
Act as a resource for program information for project partners, community members, Garden staff, and the media as required.
Recruit participants and promote WCH programming as needed.
Host and lead planned visitor tours or farm experiences.
Support with WCH programming as needed.