Managing Director

~ At Pushing the Envelope Farm (PtEF) we foster vibrant communal life by exploring Jewish agricultural traditions and contemporary ecological understanding.Through hands-on learning, based on ecological design, personal interaction with nature, and an exploration of Jewish thought, we inspire, build, and create a more sustainable future. ~

Last year we grew over 2,500 pounds of produce which was donated to local food pantries. PtEF continued to develop its 2-1/2 acre food forest, hosted numerous community gardeners, shared its land with bee keepers and berry growers, hosted a farm incubator initiative, and engaged over 1,500 volunteers through educational and farm programs both on the farm and throughout the greater metropolitan Chicago area. We have also expanded our coalition with other like- minded organizations.

Position Overview 

We are seeking a qualified candidate to lead the organization into a sustainable non-profit with diversified funding sources, a working farm and consistently strong programming with an emphasis on social justice.The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who loves working independently, connects easily with a range of stakeholders and has a passion for details. We are looking for a Managing Director to start in the spring of 2017.

Responsibilities

The job will include:

• Overseeing and implementing the environmental and educational programs at PtEF, which often includes teaching and building on our curricular base
• Managing the administrative needs of PtEF, such as booking programs and tracking results
• Outreach to the surrounding community, working with volunteers, and maintaining ties to other organizations and coalitions in order to further our mission
• Supervision and management of the staff, including training our part-time educators
• Supervising the farm/land site manager at PtEF
• Managing and developing the board of directors in coordination with our founders
• Fiscal oversight including budget planning
• Leading fundraising efforts such as grant writing and donor development

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent
• 2 years of non-profit or for-profit experience
• Office and social media skills
• Good writing skills
• Experience in farming and/or environmental world is a plus
• Jewish education and/or background is a plus but not a requirement

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Enthusiasm for outdoor education
• An ability to be engaging with children, adults, and family groups
• Joy and humor to her/his work

Time Commitment:

• We are seeking a full-time managing director, but will consider part-time if the applicant has the right skill set. The position will require occasional work on evenings and weekends.

Compensation: Salary range is 24,000 - 48,000. Housing may be included as part of the package and benefits are negotiable.