BUILD, Inc. - Austin Grown Coordinator

Description

BUILD is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization based on Chicago’s West Side. Since 1969, BUILD has worked to save lives and mentor young people who live in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. We set the bar high and lead by example, putting our values of respect, collaboration, and open communication into everything we do. When you work at BUILD you make an important difference to the thousands of youth and families we serve.

Our core Values: Empathy, Passion, Persistence and Innovation.

BUILD's Austin Grown program is seeking a dedicated and passionate Austin Gown Coordinator to support urban gardening on Chicago’s west side. This full-time position works directly with youth and community members to teach gardening skills, promote sustainability, and advance food justice. The Coordinator will facilitate workshops and hands-on garden activities for groups of teens, support daily garden maintenance, and coordinate guest speakers and field trips. Candidates should have some gardening and youth development experience and a strong commitment to community engagement and building youth leadership.

Reporting to the Manager of Austin Grown, the Coordinator will collaborate closely with the Manager for training and guidance in gardening practices. The Austin Grown Coordinator responsibilities include designing weekly activities that introduce urban agriculture, environmental and food justice, nutrition, food preparation, storytelling, civic engagement, curriculum creation and career-readiness skills through presentations, field experiences, and supervised garden work. This role emphasizes mentorship and hands-on learning to cultivate a greener, healthier and more equitable community.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment, supervision and orientation of youth participants
• Developing and implementing curriculum and daily activities for youth
• Facilitating large group activities for up to 35 teens
• Maintenance of organized student paperwork and daily attendance (paper and online)
• Inputting program data to measure impact of program
• Communication with parents/guardians when teens are absent or late to program
• Assisting in maintenance of garden- weeding, harvesting, washing, record keeping, greenhouse seeding/watering, chicken maintenance and general field projects
  
  

Requirements

Qualifications:

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years of working with youth
• Minimum of 1 year of program coordination. Experience in mentoring or working with diverse youth populations is required.
  
  

Skills

• Proficiency in gardening techniques, organic food production and food justice related topics
• Ability to perform physical tasks related to gardening, including lifting, bending, and working outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent organizational and administrative abilities, including experience with grant management and reporting
• Strong mentorship and interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships with youth
• Experience creating and implementing dynamic lesson plans
• Must work effectively with agency staff, board members, funders, donors and volunteers
  
  

Passion

• A genuine commitment to empowering youth through garden education, entrepreneurship, food justice, wellness and nutrition. Enthusiasm for fostering creativity and supporting youth development.
• Self-motivated and demonstrate good judgement and ability to work independently and as a team
• Readily embrace BUILD’s mission, values and culture as well as possess a passion for food justice, dismantling racism, youth development and urban farming
  
  

Background Check

• Successful completion of a background check and Federal Fingerprints
  
  

Benefits

• 401(k) plan 2% match
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Life Insurance
• Paid Vacation
• Wellness days
• Flexible Spending Account
  
  

This organization reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

BUILD, Inc., does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits and training.

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.