Windy Harvest Field Supervisor - Chicago, IL

Title: Windy City Harvest Field Supervisor

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Department: Windy City Harvest

Reports to: Manager of Workforce Development

Year-Round, Full Time

Supervises: 5 to 10 farm production crew members

Year-Round full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following benefits:

• 2026 A Guide to Your Benefits JP.pdf

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.

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.

The Chicago Botanic Garden's Windy City Harvest is looking for dedicated field supervisors to work with our transitional jobs and workforce development program. Field supervisors are part of a collaborative team that works closely with all members of our Windy City Harvest program and operations teams.

The Windy City Harvest Corps program employs 30 to 40 justice-involved individuals and veterans for two 14-week cohorts each year in closely mentored, full-time, paid transitional jobs. Our goal is to support our graduates in finding full-time, long-term employment.

WCH seeks field supervisors who are prepared for hard work and are self-motivated with high energy to train and educate participants by working with them side-by-side. Experience working with adults returning to or entering the workforce is preferred. The ideal candidate for these positions is well versed in leading others and enforcing workplace standards.

Field supervisors will work on multiple Windy City Harvest sites with farm coordinators to train Corps participants in workplace skills related to local food systems. The field supervisors also assist with job development classes. Corps programming generally runs from April through November, with field supervisors supporting crews four days a week at farm sites and dedicating one day each week to classroom-based learning.

In addition to supporting the Corps program, field supervisors will also lead programming and operational aspects of the other Windy City Harvest workforce development programs including the Apprenticeship and production assistants.

For more information on the Corps program, please visit:

https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./corps

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Supervise five to ten Windy City Harvest Corps participants daily, ensuring adherence to workplace standards, including coaching and feedback, to reinforce standards and employability skills.
• Document performance in required systems, applying program accountability as written in policy and team standards.
• Support in supervising other Windy City Harvest participants as needed.
• Oversee timekeeping and approve timecards, ensuring accurate payroll and grant compliance.

• Deliver assigned workforce development programming, including scheduled classes, study hall, and Roots of Success.
• Reinforce connections between farm-based skills and participants' long-term employment goals.
• Provide hands-on coaching to support employment readiness, placement, and retention, including soft skill development, job-readiness activities (resumes, interview prep, etc.) and connection resources for employment.
• Conduct one-on-one weekly check-ins with crew members to support employment goals.

• Assist Workforce Development manager and Outreach coordinator with participant recruitment activities including partner outreach, work shadows, info sessions, and onboarding, and providing feedback to support hiring decisions.
• Participate in on-site visits, tours, or…