Culinary Nutrition Coordinator, Windy City Harvest (Chicago, IL)

Job Status:
Year-Round

Hours:
Full-time

Requisition Number:
1096

Department:
Windy City Harvest

Reports to:
Sales & Aggregation Manager | VeggieRx Manager

Overview:
The Farm on Ogden is designed as a community hub, farm, and learning space for Lawndale Christian Health Center patients, community residents, and urban farm entrepreneurs. Located in North Lawndale, the building includes a large-scale hydroponics/aquaponics system to support year-round fish and leafy greens production and training, a commercial kitchen/micro processing center to prepare vegetables and develop value-added products distributed through an indoor community market, cold storage to assist with managing the aggregation and distribution of 130,000 pounds of produce, an enclosed produce-packing station to professionalize food safety and post-harvest produce handling, offices for Windy City Harvest staff, and a large multipurpose community space for classes, nutrition education, food demonstrations, and Veggie Rx produce-box pickup. The Farm on Ogden creates jobs for youth and returning citizens, offers increased training capacity, supports small farm businesses, and positions Windy City Harvest and Lawndale Christian Health Center to deliver a Food as Medicine program to address health in the community.

As Culinary Nutrition Coordinator you will be responsible for the maintenance of the kitchen and equipment to meet City of Chicago Health Codes while focusing on fostering a welcoming environment for WCH participants and incubator farmers and educating community residents on kitchen skills, processing, and value-added product development. This role will also support the VeggieRx program with cooking demos, education, and back-up as needed. This is a year-round full-time position with a work schedule of Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Duties and Responsibilities:
In this role you will be responsible for the following:

Retail Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare and execute recipes featuring the showcase produce in a nutritiousmanner
• Develop a consistent seasonal menu of Grab & Go items for retail area
• Submit standards conforming food labels to CBG Communications for Grab & Go itemsand value-added products to print professional looking labels
• Organize and maintain inventory of Retail food and supply items per the storeplan-o-gram
• Provide store manager updated product costing to determine pricing prior to movingproduct into retail space.
• Oversee and modify SOP for group utilization of the commercial kitchen space. Act asthe liaison for groups to ensure food safety and occupational safety is in place.
• Conduct month end inventory per the financial standards
• Responsible for inventory rotations and ensuring product utilization
• Create short lesson plans about value added products, local food, food systems andagriculture for youth and community members.
• Utilize seasonal harvest form WCH farm and farm partners to create cooking demos
• Create recipes and marketing material for guests
• Training in kitchen and job readiness skills with WCH Workforce development programs

VeggieRx / Kitchen Responsibilities

• Support VeggieRx program with cooking demos, education of product utilization andproviding nutritional information
• Enforcing adherence to local health codes
• Enforcing standards for produce and product development for WCH community includingincubators
• Design visuals for Value Added Products
• Training in kitchen with VeggieRx Dietetic interns Oversee the application,orientation, and training process of new kitchen users
• Maintain up-to-date records and manage schedule for all kitchen users
• Maintain accountability for written policies and procedures
• Make recommendations for changes in written materials, policies and proceduresas needed
• Support marketing opportunities to promote WCH events
• Establishing and fostering relationships with residents, community members/ partnerswithin assigned community with educational sites, community sites, food access sites and otheridentified resources that work with the SNAP eligible population

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; buildsalliances.
• Has a tolerance for opposing points of view.
• Strives for collaboration. Works cooperatively, as a positive contributor to theteam.
• 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, andembraces change with a "can-do" attitude.
• Is self-aware; knows personal strengths and weaknesses; seeks feedback and is opento negative feedback as an opportunity for improvement.
• Is cool under pressure; can be counted on to hold things together during toughtimes; can handle stress; is not knocked off balance by the unexpected; is a settling influenceduring 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 consistentlydemonstrates safe work behaviors.
• Is welcoming of new hires.

Qualifications
Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Have a positive attitude and creative mindset
• Understanding of sustainable food, cooking, gardening and/or agriculture
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Nutritional food competencies
• Understanding of food allergies and food safety
• A passion for great food and entrepreneurial support
• ServSafe Manager certified or a willingness to become certified
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of adults and youth
• Culinary experience. Familiarity with value added products development
• Written and verbal proficiency in Spanish preferred but not required
• Demonstrated respect for diversity
• Demonstrated ability to implement and hold others accountable to written standards
• Well organized with attention to detail, good record keeping, and excellent time managementskills
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work in a fast-paced environment
• PC proficiency, including Microsoft Office, newsletter development, social media, and onlinefile sharing

*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.*

Physical Demands:
Frequent walking, standing, bending, speaking, and repetitive motion. Frequent lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 50 pounds.

Why Apply?:
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you : 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.
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 construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.
The Chicago Botanic Garden is a M/F, Disabled, and Vet EEO/AA Employer.
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, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individual with Disabilities
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Job Type: Full-time