Austin Grown Apprentice - Temporary Part-time
Chicago, IL • Enrichment
Job Type
Temporary
Description

The Austin Grown Apprentice will support the Austin Grown team with farm tasks, food production and special projects. The Apprentice will be presented with both routine tasks and tasks designed to challenge them and promote critical thinking and help develop new skills. They will work alongside the Austin Grown team to help maintain the farm grounds, tend to livestock and help with outreach and community programming. The Austin Grown Apprentice reports directly to the Austin Grown Manager.


Employment Term: This position is temporary and limited to a 12-month term. Employment will conclude upon completion of the one-year assignment.


Responsibilities are but not limited to:

· Support the maintenance of farm grounds and food production

· Tend to farm livestock including chickens and worms. Daily maintenance includes letting chickens out of the coop, cleaning their living space, feeding and watering both chickens and worms, identifying and troubleshooting issues that may arise

· Assist with BUILD wide and department wide events. Tasks may include setup, breakdown, registration or facilitating family friendly activities 

· Develop soft skills such as time management, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving

· Learn to use basic office tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Suite) and other job-specific software

· Demonstrate an ability to follow instructions, complete tasks, and meet deadlines

· Participate in regular one-on-one meetings with the Austin Grown Manager to discuss progress, challenges, and personal development goals

· Seek and act on feedback to improve job performance and skill development.

· Actively engage in learning opportunities and expand knowledge about the non-profit sector

· Foster self-confidence and resilience to overcome personal and professional challenges


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 these functions.

· Outdoor Work: Frequent work in outdoor environments, including community gardens and other urban farm sites, in varying weather conditions (heat, cold, rain).

· Standing/Walking: Ability to stand, walk, bend, and move for extended periods, often on uneven surfaces or in confined garden areas.

· Lifting/Carrying: Regularly required to lift, carry, or move materials such as soil bags, compost, tools, and plants weighing up to 50 pounds.

· Manual Dexterity: Use of hands and arms for planting, weeding, harvesting, tool handling, and operating small agricultural equipment.

· Reaching/Stooping: Frequent reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling to perform gardening tasks or maintain planting areas.

· Tool Use: Comfortable using basic landscaping/agricultural tools (e.g., hoes, shovels, rakes, pruners) and minor mechanical equipment (e.g., wheelbarrows, compost tumblers, irrigation systems).

· Transportation: May require travel between urban farm sites, requiring the ability to safely drive or otherwise commute as needed.

Requirements

Eligibility: 

  • Young Adults between the ages of 18 - 24
  • High school diploma/GED
  • Ability to follow instructions and complete tasks independently.
  • Willingness to try new things and learn new skills
  • The ability to be on your feet for 2-3 hours at a time
  • The ability to lift 50 pounds
  • Willingness to learn and grow in a supportive and structured environment.
  • Good communication skills and ability to collaborate with a team.
  • Positive attitude and commitment to completing the full apprenticeship program.
  • Must be able to pass background check


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.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically prohibit employment. Rather, BUILD Inc., considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.


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.

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.