Austin Grown Coordinator

Description

Austin Grown Coordinator (AGC) (40 hours, Full-time) Exempt

BUILD, Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) is presently seeking a committed, self-motivated, and innovative individual to join our team. 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. When you work at BUILD you make an important difference to the thousands of youths 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 are but not limited to:

• 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

• 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.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• 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

Benefits

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

BUILD, Inc., does not discriminate on the basis of 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…