Work Description:

Full time seasonal employment-May 15-November 15, 2007. This is a permanent position renewed each season. Salary range-depending on experience. Excellent benefits.

Assist Growing Power in all aspects of community food systems, urban agriculture, small farmer outreach and youth development via innovative sustainable approaches.

An emphasis on hands-on physical labor and practice is very important.

Ability to work as a member of team, flexibility in work assignments as needed

Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, staff and management

The successful candidate will be a dynamic individual who works well both independently and as part of a team. She/he will be highly organized and efficient and have a proven track record in working in diverse settings, with the ability to problem solve and transition from hands on urban agriculture work to administrative skill sets as required to ensure the success of projects.

Communication, problem solving and consistent work habits will be highly valued in selecting a candidate. A good attitude and willingness to learn new skill sets will be considered an asset over experience. Candidates with a seasoned work history who are looking for a long-term position are highly encouraged to apply.

Job Responsibilities:

This position will require seasonal physical work in terms of installing agriculture projects, including hauling and lifting wheelbarrows with compost, lifting boxes of produce, bending, weeding, harvesting and planting, three seasons, using a variety of farm implements. This work is intensive in the spring, summer and early fall. The Chicago Office will also be managing three greenhouses for extended season production.

Assisting with the installation and maintenance of urban agriculture projects including but not limited to: school gardens, community gardens, urban farms, etc.

Coordinate weekly, packing and distribution of produce and cooperative products

Communicate with the Milwaukee office with orders and invoices

Light office work in the form of reporting, checking voicemails, returning inquires, scheduling installations and presentations via phone and emails as needed

Skill sets required:

Effectively and proactively addressing challenges and solving problems

Working as a team member with people from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience

Maturity to work with minimal supervision and communicate daily with manager and coordinator

Extremely flexible and self-starter, organized individual who takes pride in the seeing a program/project through, even if it requires additional hours

Ability to prioritize work and make sound, consistent decisions

Assist with monthly reports for Chicago area and related national projects

Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines

Works well and interested in youth leadership development

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Physical Demands:

Must be met by an employee to successfully perform this position. Applications will be considered for other positions that do not have this requirement in the future.

Ability to handle, feel objects, tools and to reach with hands and arms. Ability to lift heavy objects 75lbs. + from different location, use wheelbarrow, wagons, etc.

Highly recommended:

Access to laptop computer, Internet access, wi-fi will be provided at office

Must have valid driver's license

About the Organization: Growing Power is a national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access tohealthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. Growing Power implements this mission by providinghands-on training,on-the-ground demonstration, outreach and technical assistancethrough the development of Community Food Systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner.

Chicago Projects Office: Growing Power's Chicago office officially opened in February of 2002 to manage resource development and the technical assistance needed to assist emerging Community Food Centers and urban and small farm projects in the metropolitan Chicago area. Notable projects include the following: Grant Park Urban Agriculture Potager; Homegrown Chicago, where in small- scale community growers sell their products in community-operated farmers' market; Fourth Presbyterian – Cabrini Green Community Partnership; Farm-City Market Basket Program, which is distributed at 12 Chicago area sites; Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council, which represents over 175 diverse stakeholders who are creating food policy advisements for city, state and federal policy makers.

Growing Power is a local organization with a national presence. It convenes a minimum of five national workshops on-site at its Milwaukee facility each year; it has sponsored two national conferences focusing on food security and will be sponsoring two others in the next two years; it provides technical assistance – on-site – at numerous sites around the country from Boston to Montana; 3,500+ individuals receive tours of the Community Food Center each year; and the Director has been the keynote speaker at several national conferences and the recipient of numerous local, state, and national awards and recognitions, including most recently a 2005 Leadership for a Changing World Award from the Ford Foundation.

Growing Power currently employs 11 full-time and 9 part-time workers. Its work is augmented by the work of over 100 volunteers each year.

To apply: Send resume with cover letter detailing interest and experience in food system work. Please include a summary (1 page maximum.) of what you would like to accomplish as a member of this organization and in food systems and what relevant skill sets you have that would contribute to community food systems building. Email: erika@growingpower.org

Please send application materials by April 20, 2007

Growing Power is an equal opportunity employer. All candidates, regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation are encouraged to apply.

Chicago Projects Manager and National Outreach/Development Director
Growing Power, Inc.
1741 N. Western Avenue, 1st floor
Chicago, IL 60647
office: 773.486-6005
erika@growingpower.org
www.growingpower.org