WCH Apprentice

Title: Windy City Harvest Apprentice

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Department: Windy City Harvest-Workforce Development

Reports to: Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship Instructor and WCH Site Supervisor

Seasonal: Full-time (30 to 37.5 hours per week depending on placement)

Seasonal Full-time employees scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Wellness initiative benefit, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• Holidays, Holiday Thank you pay
• Garden membership - free to employees at Household Plus level
• Discounts to Garden Shop, Cafe, Garden-sponsored educational classes
• Employee events such as Orchid show, Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns, Lightscape employee & friends preview night

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets. Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview:

Windy City Harvest Apprentices work as part of a diverse, dedicated, energetic team to gain meaningful, hands-on, guided experience at one of the following sustainable urban agriculture sites: Windy City Harvest (AVI, Rodeo, Legends, McCormick Place Rooftop, Washington Park Youth Farm, Farm on Ogden, or PCC Austin Farm), or a placement at the Chicago Botanic Garden's main campus in Glencoe. For certification through City Colleges of Chicago and the Chicago Botanic Garden, a minimum number of internship work hours are required. Paid work experiences are generally 30 or 37.5 hours per week depending on placement. Schedules will also vary depending on placement.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Work collaboratively on farm production with Growers, Harvest Corps Crew Leaders, and WCH Operations team, including (but not limited to), implementing crop plan, following production schedule, procuring supplies, planting and maintaining vegetable production and ornamental areas, and distributing produce through WCH sales channels.

• Be flexible working at different Windy City Harvest sites to support in meeting each site's sales goal.
• Assist at Windy City Harvest sites with post-harvest handling, packing, planting, weeding, composting, pruning, watering, and overall site maintenance.
• Help maintain detailed farm and post-harvest handling logs and records.
• Support deliveries of produce and work at farmers' markets.
• Safely operate hand tools and power tools including weed whacker, lawn mower, power drill, harvest knife, pruners, shovels, and other garden tools.
• Assist with harvest pack-out for wholesale, retail, and CSA-style distribution.

• Maintain plant health.
• Assist with small construction program (e.g., repair WCH hoophouses and raised beds).

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Capacity to problem solve while working with diverse team and crew
• Be dependable and responsible
• Be comfortable filling out daily WCH logs for reports
• Be able to lift 50 pounds
• A valid driver's license is preferred
• Commitment to being a supportive team member
• Dependable and punctual
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work a manual labor job in all weather conditions

Physical Demands:

This is an urban farm setting. Staff must be able to work on their feet all day in all weather conditions performing manual labor. There will be frequent lifting, standing, walking, bending, farm tool usage, machinery operation as well as speaking to public, staff, and program participants. There will also be daily use of small farm machinery and post-harvest handling equipment. Staff is required to lift, push, and pull items up to 50 pounds.

Employees may need to safely operate and train others in the use of a work truck, mower, golf cart, and various power tools. There will be use of shared office equipment.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: 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.

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, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

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 an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

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. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.