PCC Austin Farm Grower, Windy City Harvest (Chicago, IL)

Title: PCC Austin Farm Grower

Exemption Status: Hourly

Department: Windy City Harvest

Reports to: Senior Manager, Farm Operations

Supervises: Interns, Volunteers

This position is full-time seasonal, with an expected start date of February 9, 2026, and an anticipated end date of November 23, 2026.

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 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.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

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 is looking for a dedicated grower to oversee and maintain the PCC Austin Farm. The farm is a partnership between PCC Community Wellness Center and Chicago Botanic Garden-Windy City Harvest. Both organizations share the belief that access to fresh fruits and vegetables can transform individual and community health. The PCC Austin Grower will play an integral part in this mission by growing produce for the weekly onsite farm stand, assisting allotment gardeners with maintaining and cultivating their garden space and serving as a resource for Austin community residents.

The ideal candidate for this position will be well versed in organic vegetable production and is able to demonstrate experience and interest in community engagement and education. Generally, the grower's time is focused 60% on farm production and 40% on programming.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Execute the PCC Austin Farm crop plan for an 8000 square foot farm using organic farming techniques. Use appropriate growing techniques for a raised bed, intensively planted site. Meet or exceed yearly sales goal for the farm.
• Manage whole farm irrigation, integrated pest management, composting, equipment inventory, and trash removal.
• Harvest and process vegetables in compliance with GAPs standards and the Windy City Harvest post-harvest handling guide.
• Assist with greenhouse management at Farm on Ogden and start seedlings for PCC Austin Farm.
• Maintain accurate records for harvest, sales and food safety requirements.
• Coordinate and lead 5 educational gardening workshops at PCC Austin Family Health Center.
• Setup, operate, and accurately transact sales for the weekly PCC Austin Farm Stand (June-October).
• Provide oversight and feedback to a seasonal intern placed at PCC Austin Farm from Windy City Harvest's Apprenticeship program. Follow and maintain a seasonal farm production schedule for farm staff.
• Assist with an 8-person allotment garden from May-October. This includes engaging new gardeners, teaching gardening skills, and encouraging ongoing participation.
• Act as a resource for program information for project partners, community members, and Garden staff, PCC Community Wellness staff, and media as required.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Strong knowledge of urban agriculture with at least one season of vegetable production experience.
• Experience following a crop plan.
• A valid driver's license with a good driving record.
• The ability to lift 50 pounds and capacity to work in all weather conditions
• Familiarity with creative methods of community engagement.
• A detail-oriented personality with the capacity to multi-task and problem solve
• Experience teaching or working with individuals from diverse educational and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to demonstrate to work independently and collaborate within or across teams.
• Capability to organize and communicate well with a team.
• Ability to work weekends and evening if necessary.
• Experience work with Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Physical Demands:

This is an urban farm setting. Staff must be able to work on feet all day in all weather conditions performing manual labor. There will be frequent lifting, standing, walking, bending, farm tool usage, machinery operation as well as speaking to public, staff and program participants. There will also be daily use of small farm machinery and post-harvest handling equipment. Staff is required to lift, push, and pull items up to 50 lbs. This job includes daily written paperwork and use of office equipment (i.e. computers, telephones, printers, copiers).

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. 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.