Title: Windy City Harvest Small Farm Business Manager

Exemption Status: Exempt

Department: Windy City Harvest

Reports to: Windy City Harvest Operations Director

Regular or Seasonal: Regular

Full-time or Part-time: Full-time

Supervises: Seasonal driver, seasonal grower, seasonal production assistant(s), incubator farmers, volunteers, apprentice students, interns

Position Overview:

The Small Farm Business Manager oversees all administrative aspects of Incubator program implementation and advanced business training. In addition to managing the performance of incubator farm businesses, the manager is responsible for coordinating community partnerships. The manager oversees a ¼-acre demonstration production farm at Legends South, and supports the ¼-acre production area at Washington Park Youth Farm (WPYF). The manager works closely with small farm business owners to support them in access to market channels through Windy City Harvest and beyond.

Responsibilities

In this role, you will be responsible for the following:

• Oversee recruitment for all incubator farm businesses with leadership committee.
• Manage, enforce, and track compliance with Land Use Agreement, WCH Standards, Protocols, and WCH Incubator Policies for farm businesses.
• Enforce shared WCH standards with all reports.
• Meet earned revenue opportunities including sales goal for .5-acre production farms and tours.
• Manage all aspects of ¼-acre farm production site following a crop plan and production schedule throughout four seasons, following sustainable practices.
• Support with production aspects of WPYF ¼-acre farm production site following a crop plan and production schedule throughout four seasons, following sustainable practices.
• Hold monthly incubator farmer-led meetings and maintain teams group; collect and report data for grant-development compliance.
• Attend and participate in appropriate community meetings.
• Oversee the timely collection and tracking of evaluation data including pre- and post-surveys.
• Manage performance of farm businesses through evaluations.
• Enforce WCH food safety standards and grading with program participants; properly training in safe harvest and post-harvest Good Agricultural Practices-compliant procedures.
• Enforce WCH food safety standards and grading with incubators in shared marketing program, overseeing availability for sales through WCH market channels.
• Oversee budget for Legends South farm. Oversee expense reporting to ensure on-time and accurate reporting.
• Work with programming team to ensure that all programming goals and deadlines are being met on-site.
• Oversee all ADP payroll processes, ensuring all seasonal staff associated with incubator and allotment are following payroll best practices. Review and approve payroll for all reports.
• Work as part of the WCH team reporting out at weekly meetings.
• Assist with onboarding of other staff as appropriate to ensure no responsibilities are being left undone. Support management in other areas as needed.
• Support in managing and operating fleet, including trucks and refrigerated vans. Make deliveries and transport produce and staff as necessary.
• Serve as a resource for community partners, lead tours as needed.
• Promote program and participants regularly on social media.
• Maintain good relationships with community partners and residents.
• Manage media requests appropriately.
• Work closely with Legends leadership and allotment coordinator to ensure produce donations and WCH run events benefit 3rd ward and Brinshore residents.

Key Garden competencies/behaviors desired

• Communicates in a manner that gains the trust and support of others at all levels.
• Works effectively with others despite differences of opinion and style; builds alliances.
• Has a tolerance for opposing points of view.
• Strives for collaboration. Works cooperatively, as a positive contributor to the team.
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and shows kindness in all workplace interactions.
• Makes decisions appropriate for level of responsibility.
• Can effectively adapt to change; can shift gears comfortably; is flexible, and embraces change with a “can-do” attitude.
• Is self-aware; knows personal strengths and weaknesses; seeks feedback and is open to negative feedback as an opportunity for improvement.
• Is cool under pressure; can be counted on to hold things together during tough times; can handle stress; is not knocked off balance by the unexpected; is a settling influence during a crisis.
• Recognizes problems, constructively identifies, and articulates solutions.
• Picks up garbage when it is seen regardless of position. Follows safety guidelines to ensure a safe working environment and consistently demonstrates safe work behaviors.
• Is welcoming of new hires.
• Is capable of training individuals with varying levels of work experience.
• Thrives in high-communication environments and is capable of public speaking, presentations, and providing tours.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Three years of programming and farming experience
• Experience managing and motivating people and teams and meeting goals
• PSA Grower Alliance grower certified
• Farming certificate
• Experience managing complex community partnerships and participant dynamics
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Ability and willingness to commute regionally and work from various locations; access to personal vehicle to be used for work purposes
• Commitment to the mission of Windy City Harvest and Chicago Botanic Garden

Physical Demands:
Office and farm setting. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboarding. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, and fax machines. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 75 pounds. Ability to work outside in all weather conditions.

*The Chicago Botanic Garden requires all existing employees to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated by October 15, 2021; hires after this date must be fully vaccinated upon hire or may request a medical/religious exemption after an offer is extended.*

Why Apply? Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

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.