Farm Assistant

• Interested candidates should: (1) email their resume to jobs@fourthchurch.org
• Email subject line should read Your name/Farm Assistant
• No phone calls, please.
• Fourth Presbyterian Church/Chicago Lights seeks to fill this position as soon as possible and will work actively to build a diverse pool of candidates.

Summary

Chicago Lights Urban Farm is a ¾ acre farm in the near north community of Chicago. We grow roughly 5,000 lbs. of produce a year while providing programming to cultivate thoughtful and engaged communities of youth and adults through economic opportunities, hands-on learning, and access to local and sustainably grown produce. We strive to create a sanctuary that provides for the community by offering youth programming, distributing produce to and holding educational events for our neighbors, and providing space for community gardening.

Position

The Farm Assistant is a part-time, seasonal position at Chicago Lights Urban Farm responsible for assisting with the running of the farm. The Farm Assistant will assist in facility maintenance, data management, event preparation and breakdown, calendar management, and various other tasks that help the farm.

Schedule

Early June through Early August. 10 hours/week, flexible scheduling, some remote work possible.

Job Responsibilities

• File organization/Data Management.
• Maintain and update farm supply list.
• Calendar entry and maintenance.
• Occasional event assistance.
• Partner with the Director to build a foundation of trust, respect, and positive communication between staff and students.
• Deepen the student’s knowledge of core principles of urban farming, highlighting strong connections between the natural world and our society and keeping the students engaged within our active, outdoor farm environment.
• Assist farm staff in other community engagement efforts throughout the season.
• Use the S.P.I.R.I.T. principles of hospitality when interacting with visitors, guests, members, and staff of Fourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Lights.
• Attend staff meetings as required.
• It is impossible to convey every single task into one job description. As the role evolves over time, this job description will be adjusted accordingly.
  

Qualifications and Experience

• High School Diploma.
• Experience, skill, abilities, or knowledge with any of the following: basic computer skills, time management, community building, and conflict resolution.
• Comfortable with and enjoy working on a farm where outdoor work in inclement weather may sometimes be unavoidable.
• Flexible, organized, and goal oriented.
• Ability to carry out instructions and ask for help when needed.
• Act as a mentor to participants by modeling positive workplace behaviors such as promptness, positivity, follow-through, and strong communication.
• Strong work ethic, judgment, collaboration skills, and commitment to Chicago Lights’ mission.
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice: Recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in shaping disparities and work toward amplifying community voices to advocate for equity. Recognize how your own identities show up in work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.
  

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 35 pounds at times.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities.

Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform the essential functions.

• If the current health conditions dictate, must be able to participate in online virtual communications, including email, video conferencing, and other online tools used to facilitate virtual office culture and work sharing.
• Smoke- and drug (illegal or recreational)-free environment.
• Fourth aims for accessibility in any off-site location that we have control of, but some of them may not be fully accessible.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. The Employee is regularly required to communicate effectively via computer, via phone, and in person.
• Fourth Presbyterian Church/Chicago Light’s office is located in downtown Chicago.

COVID-19 Considerations

At this time, masks are welcomed but not required. We will adjust this as the pandemic continues.

In the spirit of caring for one another and our community, please note that upon accepting an offer of employment from Fourth Presbyterian Church or Chicago Lights, you will be required to share proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. This requirement is subject to accommodation in compliance with applicable laws.

To apply:

• Interested candidates should: (1) email their resume to jobs@fourthchurch.org
• Email subject line should read Your name/Farm Assistant
• No phone calls, please.
• Fourth Presbyterian Church/Chicago Lights seeks to fill this position as soon as possible and will work actively to build a diverse pool of candidates.