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.com . Accepting applications until position is filled.