Manager of Austin Grown (MAG) (Full-time, 40 hrs) Exempt

BUILD’s Austin Grown is an urban gardening program addressing food insecurity among youth and families in Chicago’s West Side Austin community by promoting access to organic food options. Austin Grown teaches planting and harvesting crops, healthy food preparation, youth leadership, and STEAM skills and provides youth with an opportunity to earn money by working on transformative community projects. The program expands on BUILD’s learning garden, The Iris, to create ‘first job’ experiences and enables BUILD teens (ages 13-18) to earn stipends as they learn about urban agriculture, food production, and food justice. The program’s cornerstone is a unique 6-week summer program curriculum, organized around three themes: nature and people need each other; nature intersects with social, racial, and environmental justice; and each person’s voice can make a difference.  Austin Grown offers year-round programming in the Iris Garden on BUILD’s campus, a community satellite garden on nearby Gladys Avenue and a chicken coop with 10 chickens.  The (MAG) reports directly to the Enrichment Director (ED).

Responsibilities/duties includes but are not limited to: 

• Execute the Iris Garden and crop plan using basic farming techniques. Use appropriate growing techniques for a raised bed, intensively planted site
• Utilize season extension methods for winter growing in a hoophouse and low tunnels 
• Manage whole farm irrigation, integrated pest management, composting, equipment inventory, and trash removal 
• Provide oversight and feedback to a seasonal intern placed at the Iris Garden or Boonie’s Garden from Windy City Harvest’s Apprenticeship program. Follow and maintain a seasonal farm production schedule for farm staff and volunteers 
• Maintenance of garden - weeding, mowing, harvesting, washing, record keeping, greenhouse seeding/watering and general field projects
• Recruitment, supervision, and orientation of Youth Participants 
• Independently facilitate curriculum and daily activities with youth
• Co-facilitate large group activities for up to 35 teens
• Maintain organized student paperwork and daily attendance (paper and online)
• Communicate with parents when teens are absent or late to program
• Create a volunteer schedule and task for volunteers to assist in garden maintenance
• Maintain chicken coop, clean, food, and health of chickens
• Ensures property/inventory is maintained, and orders supplies
• Assures planning and implementation of a variety of diverse, culturally sensitive and enjoyable daily activities which meet Illinois State Learning Standards and NAA and YPQA standards including summer program, school vacations and holidays
• Ensures all individual and group efforts are documented and recorded in internal and external databases by set deadlines
• Ensures the collection of all academic and supporting documentation on each youth participating in the program
• Submits reporting documents on a monthly basis and/or as needed
• Meets biweekly with the Manager of Prevention Services for supervision and support, updating staff/program issues/concerns and providing recommendations to deal with these
• Maintains knowledge current on agency’s theories, methodologies and best practices
• Attends departmental and agency-wide staff meetings, as scheduled and agency-wide events as required 
• Performs other job-related duties as requested, required and/or assigned
• Maintains relationships with various partners including, but not limited to, schools, government agencies and community-based organizations

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Program Administration, Child Development, Social Work, Human Services, Art Education, or related field preferred, but not required  
• A minimum of 4 years of youth development program facilitation is required
• A minimum of 3 years of program coordination experience is required.   
• Operate professionally in the field on a flexible time schedule, which includes late evenings and weekends. 
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Must be able to effectively and efficiently handle multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential with the ability to integrate technology into daily program operations and evaluation systems required.  
• Must work effectively with agency staff, board members, funders, donors and volunteers. 
• Must possess solid understanding of data collection and compliance. 
• Must maintain respectful and appropriate relationships with program participants, all levels of agency staff and various publics of the agency. 
• Must demonstrate sensitivity to all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds and embrace the agency’s mission, values and culture. 
• Must pass State Background Check & Federal Fingerprints. 
• Automobile, with insurance and a valid driver’s license, is preferred, but not required. 

Benefits:

• 401(k) + 2% match
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Life Insurance
• Paid Vacation
• Wellness Days
• Flexible Spending Account

This organization reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

BUILD, Inc., does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits and training.

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.