Aggregation Coordinator, Windy City Harvest (Chicago, IL)

Title: Aggregation Coordinator

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Windy City Harvest

Reports to: Sales Manager

Year-Round Full-time

Supervises: WCH Apprentices, Corps, and Volunteers

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.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

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.

Position Overview:

The Farm on Ogden is designed as a community hub, farm, and learning space for Lawndale Christian Health Center patients, local residents, and urban farm entrepreneurs. Located in North Lawndale, the facility includes a large-scale hydroponics/aquaponics system to support year-round fish and leafy greens production, along with training opportunities. It also features a commercial kitchen/micro processing center to prepare vegetables and develop value-added products, which are distributed through an indoor community market. Cold storage helps manage the aggregation and distribution of 130,000 pounds of produce, while an enclosed produce-packing station professionalizes food safety and post-harvest handling. Additionally, the building provides office space for Windy City Harvest staff and a large multipurpose community room for classes, nutrition education, food demonstrations, and VeggieRx produce-box pickups.

The aggregation coordinator plays a key role on the sales and operations team, ensuring high-quality produce handling, inventory accuracy, food safety compliance, and smooth distribution while mentoring program participants.

Please visit our website for details about Windy City Harvest programs:

chicagobotanic.org/urbanagriculture

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Inspect, rotate, and aggregate produce to maintain accurate inventory and quality control standards.
• Receive and verify produce shipments against harvest logs and packing slips.
• Pack wholesale and market orders accurately for pickup or delivery; generate packing slips as needed.
• Coordinate timely pickups and deliveries to ensure product freshness and customer satisfaction.
• Maintain compliance with food safety standards (GAPs) and City of Chicago health codes, including required logs and pest control procedures.
• Maintain organization and cleanliness of the aggregation room, loading dock, and workspaces.
• Track inventory and sales using Local Food Market Place software and report quality concerns to the Sales manager.
• Train and mentor participants and staff in harvest, post-harvest handling, packing procedures, and workplace readiness skills.
• Support retail operations, farm production activities, facility upkeep, and daily operations at Farm on Ogden as needed.
• Adhere to all safety protocols and report hazards issues promptly.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Minimum of one year of experience in farming, warehouse operations, or related fields.
• Detail-oriented, dependable, and punctual with strong organizational skills.
• Strong inventory management skills and ability to perform basic math accurately in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of harvest and post-harvest handling procedures, with the ability to enforce high quality control standards for produce.
• PSA Food Safety Certification (or ability to obtain).
• Valid driver's license with the ability to conduct pickups and deliveries.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to professionally engage clients, customers, visitors, volunteers, employer partners, and funders.
• Comfortable working with and supporting individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Ability to work independently, problem-solve effectively, and take initiative.
• Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Working knowledge and willingness to learn Local Food Marketplace software.
• Experience in food hubs, urban agriculture, or similar experience preferred.

Physical Demands:

Ability to lift, push, and pull items weighing up to 50 pounds. Ability to work in various weather conditions, including outdoor environments and walk-in cooler temperatures.

Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboard use. Regular use of standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, copiers, and scanners.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.