Farm Production Crew Member- Windy City Harvest

Title: Farm Production Crew Member

Department: Windy City Harvest

Reports to: Corps Field Supervisor

Seasonal: 1^st Cohort: April 14 - July 18

Seasonal: 2^nd Cohort: July 28 - October 31

Full-time: 35 hours

Seasonal Full-time employees with a six or more month assignment and scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (HSA), Life & AD&D insurance, Legal Shield, Commuter Reimbursement, Wellness initiative benefit, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• Personal days, 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

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview

Windy City Harvest Corps is a physically demanding, 14-week, seasonal, full-time position. Windy City Harvest Corps crew members assist with all daily tasks for the chosen work site. Crew members may have to travel to other sites as needed for work including seeding, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, and washing produce as well as all maintenance work related to Windy City Harvest farm sites. All crew members will report to their assigned farm site.

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Be flexible to work at all Windy City Harvest (WCH) sites to support the program meeting its $250,000 sales goal.
• Assist all Windy City Harvest sites with post-harvest handling, packing, planting, weeding, composting, pruning, watering, and overall site maintenance.
• Safely operate hand tools and power tools including weed whacker, lawnmower, power drill, harvest knife, pruners, shovels, and others garden tools.
• Assist with harvest pack-out for wholesale, retail, and CSA-style distribution.
• Maintain plant health.
• Assist with small construction program (such as repairing WCH hoophouses and raised beds).
• Participate in Roots of Success and Job Development class every Friday for 14 weeks.
• Commit to monthly employment check-ins for six months after completing the 14 weeks of Windy City Harvest Corps.

Qualifications for the Windy City Corps program:

• Live in Chicago
• Be at least 18 years old
• Provide rap sheet from the state of Illinois or state where crime was committed
• Provide a DD-214 to document military service, honorable/dishonorable discharge
• Provide a Social Security card, birth certificate, and a valid state ID/driver's license upon hire
• Available to work full-time, Monday through Friday
• Demonstrate real interest in a full-time job
• Demonstrate ability and willingness to work a manual labor job in all weather conditions
• Commit to the Windy City Harvest standards of full-time employment performance
• Priority will be given to individuals who have a high school diploma or GED

Contact ragardner@chicagobotanic.org with questions

Physical Demands:

This is an urban farm setting. Staff must be able to work on their feet all day in all weather conditions performing manual labor. This will involve frequent lifting, standing, walking, bending, farm tool usage, machinery operation and speaking to the public, staff, and program participants. Staff are also required to lift, push, and pull items up to 50 pounds. Staff are expected to work in multiple locations.

What does the Windy City Harvest Corps program include?

• Full-time, 14-week, paid, on-the-job training in urban agriculture and six months of follow-up with Corps graduates and their employer
• Four Certificates-
  1. Certificate of completion from the Chicago Botanic Garden
  2. Certificate in environmental literacy from Roots of Success
  3. Food handler's certificate from ServSafe
  4. OSHA 10-hour warehouse training
• Job-readiness activities including Individual Employment Plan (IEP), resume and cover-letter development, mock interviews, and job search assistance
• Weekly documented feedback of performance
• Letter of recommendation from crew leader when in good standing
• Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship and work-study opportunity. The apprenticeship is a nine-month certificate in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, offered in partnership with Richard J. Daley College, Arturo Velasquez Institute, and is worth college credit. Graduates of Windy City Harvest Corps who are eligible to join the apprenticeship program have an opportunity to apply for a Windy City Harvest work-study position during their 14 weeks of Harvest Corps.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.