Position Filled – FARMER & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR (PART-TIME)

This position has been filled. Thank you everyone who applied. Chicago is filled with wonderful people!

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Farmer & Volunteer Coordinator (Part-Time)

Job Status: Seasonal

Reports to: Farm Managers

Supervises: Volunteers

Start Date: March 2022

Location: Chicago, IL (City Farm Chicago)

Company Description:

City Farm Chicago is one of three urban farms stewarded by the Chicago Patchwork Farms growers collective. Chicago Patchwork Farms is a collective of three full-time farmers who steward three farm sites (Patchwork Farms, City Farm and The Plant Chicago) with a mission to grow nutritionally dense produce for Chicago residents at low to no cost to customers. Patchwork employs regenerative practices with an emphasis on building soil ecosystems and local communities. The Patchwork Farms collective also partners with mutual aid organizations to distribute food to marginalized communities on Chicago’s south and west sides.

Job Description:

The part-time Urban Farmer & Volunteer Coordinator will report directly to the Farm Manager and will work alongside the Chicago Patchwork Farms collective of urban farmers to maintain City Farm Chicago and develop the farm’s pipeline of volunteers. This role primarily includes assisting in farm work but will also include correspondence with prospective volunteers, creating and distributing marketing material for volunteer events and leading weekly volunteer workdays.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Work alongside farm manager to assist with planting, preparation and general maintenance including but not limited to: cultivation, bed preparation, soil building, weeding, seeding/planting, IPM, trellising, composting, etc.

Contact and provide prompt responses to volunteers and general volunteer inquiries providing clear information/details

Practice regenerative and sustainable farming techniques with focus on building soils

Work collaboratively and problem solve to grow nutritionally dense produce

Lead weekly Saturday morning volunteer events 

Responsible for creating and distributing marketing materials for weekly volunteer events via social media, email and Slack 

Create communications to volunteers for public volunteer opportunities and events

Develop professional and positive working relationships with colleagues and volunteers

Ensure equipment is secured and well-maintained

Other duties as determined by farm manager

*This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions. The employee in this position may be asked to perform other responsibilities (within reason) from time to time.

Qualifications Requirements:

Respects others’ identities, cultures and beliefs

Experience working with and recruiting volunteers

No prior farm experience required

Strong verbal and written communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills; bilingual preferred

Professionalism in all work related interactions

Attention to details and strong work ethic

Excellent organizational skills and disciplined in the thorough completion of  tasks

Able to perform farm labor for ~10-15 hours weekly in most weather conditions

Experience creating engaging online marketing material 

Able to identify problems, constructively problem solve and ask questions

Available to work Saturday morning volunteer events

Follows safety guidelines to guarantee a safe work environment

Preferred skills/qualifications:

Bilingual in Spanish and English

1-2 years experience in commercial urban agriculture

Associate/Bachelor of Science or Arts (completed or in progress)

Experience with photoshop and/or other photo editing software

Desired competencies and behaviors:

Passionate about food sovereignty and building community around food and art culture

Curious about restorative urban agriculture and sustainable farming practices

Is self-aware; knows personal strengths and weaknesses.

Embodies a growth mindset and is open to both positive and negative feedback as growth opportunity

Communicates openly and in a manner that builds and maintains trust among peers

Demonstrates compassion and kindness in all interactions

Thrives in collaborative environments and enthusiastically builds alliances

Optimistic and can-do attitude with willingness to creatively problem solve

Enjoys physical labor and working outdoors in all weather conditions

Makes decisions appropriate for level of responsibility

Pursuing a career within urban regenerative agriculture

Benefits:

Above average pay in urban agriculture industry

Flexible work schedule

All the vegetables you can eat!

Learning opportunity within regenerative farming

Fulfilling work within urban farming, community building and mutual aid organizing

Access to cultural and community events

Some remote work

**Chicago Patchwork Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer that exhibits values aligned with a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Compensation:

This position is hourly and pays $15-$20/hr

Application Instructions:

To apply, send an email to chicagopatchworkfarms@gmail.com with the subject “Volunteer Coordinator Application – YOUR NAME”. Attach your resume and cover letter to the email as PDF files. Additionally, please create and submit a JPEG or PDF image of an example social media post, e.g., Instagram, Facebook, email, etc., for a volunteer work day at City Farm Chicago. For this exercise, imagine that you are the Volunteer Coordinator creating marketing materials that will be used to engage viewers and provide details that encourage and enable volunteer participation. Be creative!

Deadline:

To receive full consideration, submit a completed application with requested materials to chicagopatchworkfarms@gmail.comAccepting applications until position is filled.