Production Manager Urban Farm Center

Why choose the College of Lake County for your next opportunity?

The College of Lake County (CLC) offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits that includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois health, Delta Dental and Superior Vision insurance plans, tuition support for employees and qualified family members, three retirement plans, disability, group and supplemental life insurance, health and dependent care flexible spending account plans, a compressed work week in the summer (Closed Fridays!),

generous vacation, sick and personal time off and 14 paid holidays each year. Some benefits will not be available for Part-Time or Part Time Staff Under 20 Hours (ex: health insurance).

Production Manager Urban Farm Center

The Urban Farm Center Production Manager is responsible for the overall management and operation of the College of Lake County Urban Farm Center’s controlled environment agriculture facilities. This position serves as the primary on‑site authority for crop production, as well as staff supervision, hiring, budgeting, and operational decision‑making as they pertain to the controlled environment agriculture production spaces. These spaces include the greenhouse, vertical grow room and mushroom production lab.

The Production Manager oversees all daily growing operations, ensures compliance with food safety and institutional standards, and provides leadership to staff, student employees, interns, and volunteers. Every farm in the Lancer Farms ecosystem is a learning and training space. This position supports instructional programming, workforce development, and community engagement through effective management of facilities, personnel, and resources as well as direct teaching and training in a hands‑on environment.

• Direct and manage all daily operations of the Urban Farm Center’s controlled environment agriculture facilities including greenhouse hydroponics, vertical farm hydroponics and mushroom growing operations.
• Serve as the primary on‑site decision‑maker responsible for production outcomes, operational continuity, and facility readiness.
• Establish production priorities, workflows, and schedules to meet production, workforce training, and programmatic needs and goals.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures related to crop production, facility operations, food safety, and safety compliance.
• Oversee all crop production activities from propagation through harvest within greenhouse, hoop house, and indoor growing environments.
• Establish and maintain optimal environmental and cultural conditions, including temperature, humidity, lighting, irrigation, fertility, and airflow.
• Ensure implementation of integrated pest management strategies and nutrient programs to support consistent plant health and yields.
• Review and analyze production and environmental data to guide management decisions and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, institutional policies, and applicable regulations.
• Maintain required records, logs, and documentation to support audits, inspections, and reporting requirements.
• Identify and address potential safety or compliance risks and notify appropriate leadership as required.
• Serve as trainer and educator in these duties and spaces for program participants (Youth Farmers, Farm Corps), students (Farm Fellowship and student workers), volunteers and staff.

• Directly supervise regular staff, student employees, interns, program participants and volunteers assigned to the Urban Farm Center’s growing/production functions.
• Exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, training, scheduling, performance evaluation, discipline, and recommendations for termination in accordance with College policies as pertains to the growing/production functions.
• Assign work, set performance expectations, and ensure accountability for operational results within growing/production spaces.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and productive work environment that supports learning and professional development.

• Manag…