61st Street Farmers Market & Food Education Coordinator

Organization: Experimental Station

Location: Chicago, IL (Woodlawn / Hyde Park – 6100 S. Blackstone Ave & partner sites)

Position Type: Full-Time, Salary Exempt

Compensation: $39,500 - $46,000 annually + comprehensive benefits (health, PTO, retirement)

Schedule: Seasonal rotation (Tuesday–Saturday from mid-May to December; Monday–Friday from January to April)

Anticipated Start Date: Mid-August 2026

About Experimental Station

At Experimental Station, we believe that food justice, education, and local culture are the bedrock of a thriving community. For years, we’ve worked to build independent, innovative infrastructure on Chicago's South Side. From our vibrant weekly 61st Street Farmers Market to our hands-on youth programs, we break down barriers to fresh food access, celebrate local food culture, and cultivate the next generation of healthy eaters.

If you are a community-minded educator who loves fresh food, local markets, and working with youth, we want you to grow with us!

The Role

We are seeking a dynamic, highly organized, and passionate 61st Street Farmers Market & Food Education Coordinator. This unique, unified role bridges the gap between hands-on food education and bustling farmers market operations.

From Tuesday to Friday, you will act as a champion for food literacy—leading adult cooking and canning classes, assisting with our K-5th grade garden-to-plate programs at Carnegie Elementary, and collaborating on teen programming. On Saturdays, you will bring that same energy to the pavement, helping manage market logistics, volunteers, and interactive community programming at the 61st Street Farmers Market.

What You'll Do

Food Education & Community Engagement (Tuesdays – Fridays)

• Inspire Young Eaters: Assist the Market Manager with instructing our school-day and after-school garden-to-plate program for K-5th grade students, focusing on healthy eating, gardening, and cooking.

• Empower Adults: Lead adult food education initiatives (like crockpot cooking, canning classes, and pop-up events) at our neighboring partner site, Jackson Park Terrace.

• Curate Market Experiences: Recruit and coordinate local chefs, musicians, and nonprofits to provide interactive market programming (e.g., Sprout Station, Market School, chef demos).

• Build Neighborhood Roots: Distribute marketing materials throughout Woodlawn and Hyde Park, manage social media, and write our weekly market update email.

Farmers Market Operations (Saturdays)

• Bring the Market to Life: Work alongside the Senior Program Manager to run our lively Saturday market. Greet customers, support vendors, direct traffic flow, and lead volunteers through setup and breakdown.

• Support Access: Help manage the LINK (SNAP) redemption system to ensure fresh, healthy food remains accessible to all community members.

• Keep Things Running Smoothly: Manage backend administration, track expenses, process vendor applications via Manage My Market, and step in as acting Market Manager when scheduled.

Who You Are

• An Experienced Educator: You love working with K-5th grade youth and feel completely at home leading a classroom, an after-school group, or a community workshop.

• Organized & Detail-Oriented: You have strong administrative, spreadsheet, and time-management skills. You can comfortably juggle tracking metrics for grants while prepping for a weekend market.

• Resilient & Adaptable: You bring a calm-under-pressure, upbeat attitude to everything you do. You are comfortable working independently, collaborating with a team, and working outdoors in varying Chicago weather.

• A Food Justice Advocate: You are genuinely committed to healthy food literacy and equitable community access.

Qualifications

• Experience working with youth (K-5 required; 6th-12th a plus).

• Must pass a CPS-mandated background check and fingerprinting.

• Physical capability to lift/carry up to 50 lbs (tents, weights, tables) and stand for long periods.

• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Canva, Instagram, and MacOS (or a proven ability to learn quickly).

• Gardening, farming experience, and a valid driver's license are highly preferred.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

This position is an incredible opportunity to make a direct, tangible impact on community health on Chicago's South Side. You will gain invaluable, diverse experience in nonprofit administration, youth education, and food-systems operations while working alongside a collaborative team dedicated to equity and community care.

How to Apply

Ready to join us at the Station? Review the full job details and submit your application directly on our website. All applicants must complete this pre-screening questionnaire at the link below to be considered for this position.