Cannabis Urban Agriculture Seasonal Grower Jobs

Position Title: Urban Agriculture Seasonal Grower**
Dept & Initiative: Urban Ag Department 11**
Reports to: Urban Agriculture Production Manager
Status: Full-Time Hourly Seasonal**
Schedule: M-F between 8:30am and 7pm, varies seasonally

Gary Comer Youth Center: Having opened its doors in June 2006, the state-of-the-art Gary Comer Youth Center (GCYC) offers positive extracurricular alternatives in a welcoming and safe environment. The mission is to provide the support for all of our youth to graduate from high school, prepared to pursue college and careers. Located on Chicago’s South Side, the Gary Comer Youth Center draws its primary membership from the youth residing on the South Side of Chicago with a focus on Grand Crossing residents. GCYC is the oldest and largest institution sitting on the Comer Education Campus which includes our organizational partners Gary Comer College Prep High School, the South Shore Drill Team and Gary Comer Middle School. For more information, please visit: www.garycomeryouthcenter.org.

Comer Education Campus: With a comprehensive approach to education and youth development, the Comer Education Campus is devoted to guiding young people to and through college and into adult life. The campus constitutes a unique partnership between Gary Comer Youth Center, Gary Comer College Prep, Gary Comer Middle School, and the college success initiative UtmostU. The campus serves over 2,000 youth from across Chicago’s South Side, offering out-of-school time enrichment, academic enhancement, and college success programs. Working with best-in-class partner organizations, the Comer Education Campus empowers young people with the tools they need for post-secondary and life success. For more information, please visit: http://comereducationcampus.org/

Position Summary
The Urban Agriculture Seasonal Grower plays a key role in the dynamic urban agriculture programs based on the Comer Education Campus on the South Side of Chicago. Reporting to the Urban Agriculture Production Manager, the Grower supports a full range of planning, growing, distribution, training and educational activities on the Comer Education Campus (CEC). The Grower will have a role in supervising day-to-day activities of a team of teens and young adults in the GCYC network of gardens, including an 8,600 square foot intensive rooftop garden, an environmental education garden, an indoor hydroponics operation, and a 1.75 acre urban farm with hoop houses, annual vegetables, perennials, fruit trees, and more. This highly collaborative position directly supports all educational and programming efforts of the urban agriculture department.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Follow the GCYC crop plan to plant and maintain vegetables, perennials, trees, fruits, flowers, and herbs.
• Work both independently and with youth to lead urban agriculture tasks including plant propagation, site preparation/maintenance, planting/transplanting, weed management, integrated pest and disease management, irrigation, harvesting, washing and packing, distribution, and food safety.
• Support produce distribution to existing and new on– and off-site clients.
• Help to lead youth and young adults in onsite sales at GCYC’s farmers market and offsite distribution to our restaurant, grocery, and community partners.
• Assist Urban Agriculture Production Manager with youth and young adult employment program. Responsibilities include managing a schedule of tasks for a crew of young adults.
• Maintain records and inventory and prepare reports related to the work; proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Assist with department projects and initiatives as needed.
• Help lead volunteers, groups, tours, workshops and demonstrations.

Miscellaneous:

• Responsible for maintaining a physically and emotionally safe environment to further ensure proper youth supervision and managing conduct issues and incidents.
• Attends required staff meetings and trainings.
• Works with other staff to execute effective outreach, recruitment and retention strategies.
• Responsible for accurate data collection and data entry for grant and program compliance.
• Supports the mission of GCYC.
• Works collaboratively in a team setting serving the needs of youth.
• Is committed to the safety and development of all GCYC members.
• Takes on other duties as needed.
• Serves as a role model for youth and community.
• Abides by the employee handbook and established GCYC policies and procedures.

Qualifications:

• Two or more years of professional sustainable farming or related horticulture experience required.
• Previous experience with youth agriculture or environmental programs, ideally with teens and young adults, strongly preferred.
• Experience growing plants in high tunnels and greenhouses preferred.
• Two or more years of supervisory experience in the field preferred.

Education & Skill Requirements:

• Demonstrated ability to assist leadership of agricultural and/or horticultural operations of comparable scale and methods required.
• Bachelor’s degree or certifications in sustainable agriculture, horticulture, environmental studies or closely related field strongly preferred.
• Proper use of tools, equipment, and materials.

Core Competencies:

• Ability to lead and collaborate with internal and external professionals to provide continuous innovation that serves the GCYC mission.
• Must possess genuine care and concern for youth – especially pre-teens and teens.
• Program area management skills that are engaging, non-oppressive and age appropriate.
• Strong project management and organizational skills. Must be able to initiate and finish projects.
• Able to communicate effectively with youth, co-workers, stakeholders and families in a respectful and culturally competent manner via written and verbal communication.
• Must enjoy working with teams but can also work independently.
• Enjoys being the leader but is also confident enough to take directions from others.
• Must be able to take initiative and problem solve. Must be a creative thinker.
• Demonstrates strong accuracy in all areas of work.
• Must possess adaptive vitality.
• Demonstrates understanding of the positive youth development philosophy.
• Demonstrates an understanding of guidance and discipline principles & conflict resolution strategies.
• Must demonstrate cultural competency, dedication to working with youth, families and community members in our care.
• Must have basic computer literacy skills – including Microsoft Office, independent use of the internet and ability to learn and properly utilize software systems.

Physical Work Requirements & Environment:
The GCYC environment is consistently bustling with youth and community members. The Center’s work is fast paced and varied. Our work is done on site where our youth and families are. Therefore, it is required that team members meet these requirements:

• Have the ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds and work outdoors in all types of weather. During the growing seasons, up to 100 percent of the Urban Agriculture Grower’s time will be spent working outdoors in the GCYC network of gardens.
• The ability to use garden tools and equipment is needed.
• Driver’s license required.
• Schedule may also include some evenings, weekends, and Chicago Public Schools’ holidays, professional development days, and winter/spring/summer breaks.

Job Type: Full-time

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