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Educational Farm Program Manager Job in Illinois
JOB HAS BEEN FILLED FOR 2017
Full-time salaried position offering major medical, dental, and pension
Palos Park, Illinois
The Center, a non-profit 501(c)3 religious corporation, is seeking a full-time Educational Farm Program Manager to oversee its Children’s Farm operation. The Children’s Farm at The Center is an educational working farm just 25 miles southwest of Chicago. Our mission is to connect people, animals and nature and we utilize our 67-acre working farm as the platform. The farm is currently home to twenty-two horses, two donkeys, a pony, sheep, cows, pigs, goats, chickens, geese, ducks, and rabbits.
Current farm programs include an educational tour program hosting mainly early elementary school age children, public visiting hours, an extensive residential summer camp program, numerous day camp programs, seasonal fundraising events, and our SAGE (sustainable agriculture and green education) program. There is also daily upkeep and care of the animals and facilities.
The Educational Farm Program Manager will oversee all areas of farm programming. This includes the administrative duties, marketing, promotion, execution and record keeping of all existing programs with the expectation that new farm programs will be developed. Our farm tour programs rely heavily on volunteer assistance. Currently we have a pool of approximately 150 farm volunteers. The Educational Farm Program Manager will be responsible for the recruitment, training, supervision, scheduling and enrichment of all farm volunteers as they relate to the needs of farm programs.
The SAGE program is a new initiative at the Children’s Farm that is dedicated to raising food in a sustainable method. We currently raise grass fed beef, pasture poultry and hogs, free range eggs, and a large variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. The produce from this program is being filtered back into our organization through farm to table programs and there is huge potential and opportunity for program expansion.
The ideal candidate is hard working, self starting, honest, responsible, professional, friendly and organized. She/he has volunteer and project management experience along with great people skills and good problem solving skills. Experience working with livestock and crops is good and horse knowledge and experience is a major plus. The candidate must be able to use the Microsoft suite of products (or their equivalent). Flexible availability is a must as many nights and weekends are required.
The Children’s Farm is one of many ministries at The Center. In addition to the farm we have our inter-faith non denominational Wayside Chapel with services every Sunday and numerous spiritual and religious programs. We have a residential long-term aftercare program for recovering alcoholics and substance abusers with a good record of success. We offer extensive classes and programs in the arts, Farm and Nature Discovery Preschool, a retreat center for adults and a very large camping program and facility for children and teenagers. Please take some time to review our website to better understand what our organization encompasses.
Every employee at The Center wears many hats. We are a small staff that does a lot of mission based work. All perspective employees should expect to participate in and embrace the eclectic work environment and tasks that change on a very seasonal basis – from bailing hay and tending the garden to decorating Christmas trees and shoveling snow. Whatever job is in front of us , we all do what it takes to get it done. We operate as a team.