Farm Site Coordinator

Title: Farm Site Coordinator

Location:5715 W Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL

Shift:

Summary: Under the direction of the Farm Supervisor, the Farm Site Coordinator works collaboratively with internal and external partners to support the health, wellness, engagement, employment and community objectives of the program. We do this through two related goals: distribute local produce of the highest quality to those who need it most and to help people with multiple barriers to employment find full-time, permanent jobs. The Farm Site Coordinator will coordinate and execute urban farm operations. The Farm Site Coordinator is responsible for assisting with planting, maintenance, harvesting, post-harvesting handling, distribution, record keeping, and supporting program participants in farm education.

The Farm Site Coordinator leverages industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and vision of Heartland Alliance. Supports culture development and management efforts.

Essential Functions:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Supports the coordination and execution of general farm operations
• Executes and coordinate crop plan, contribute to planting schedule, and calculate projections for yield per resident or consumer needs
• Supports the daily maintenance needs of the site, buildings, supplies, and equipment to standards of cleanliness, effectiveness, and availability
• Coordinates work of transitional Jobs participants, volunteers, youth participants, and others engaging in urban agriculture activities
• Compiles and record accurate records of harvests, volunteer engagement, and other activities for submission to the Farm Supervisor
• Engages participants, service learners, and interns with regular hands-on experience and education
• Develops and execute an integrated pest management strategy and execute on a weekly basis
• Utilizes Heartland Alliance Philosophy of Care when engaging with participants
• Leads scheduled tours to community members and students from partner organizations
• Performs other duties as assigned

Education and Experience:

• Minimum Associate’s degree from an accredited institute of higher education. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum three (3) years of related experience in urban agriculture or related experience is required.
• Minimum one (1) year of experience in program implementation and/or management is preferred.
• Experience working with persons overcoming barriers to employment preferred.

Certifications/Licenses:

• Certification in sustainable urban agriculture/horticulture preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Execute a field plan, adjusting to possibly unforeseeable variables such as weather, disease, or pest pressure
• Demonstrate ability in presentation skills and leadership of group activities
• Be able to independently travel throughout Chicago
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Chrome, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional manner
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, provides developmental support, coaches for improvement, and analytical ability.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills

Work Arrangement:

This position is not eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• The work environment includes completing duties in diverse weather conditions
• All work sites are outdoors with access to shelter and shade
• The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate
• May require evening and weekend hours

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit walk
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to lift at least 35 pounds
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to grasp, pull, push and drag

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions and operates all programs, services, and functions without regards to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled) unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization’s AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987

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