Company description

Elawa Farm is a historic, non-profit farm located in Lake Forest, Illinois. Elawa Farm Foundation’s mission is to steward a historic farm that enriches the greater Lake County community as a center for experiential learning to broaden access to education, nutritious food, and our local food system. We gather community through food and agriculture with engaging programs and events.

Job description

Position Summary

The Program Manager leads the development of meaningful and accessible educational initiatives at Elawa Farm Foundation. These programs include classes, fieldtrips, and family-based activities, in the areas of agriculture, culinary and nutrition, wellness, and sustainability. These programs are offered onsite at Elawa Farm, including the ADA accessible Discovery Gardens, Learning Kitchen, and indoor classroom, as well as offered off-site at community partner locations. The Program Manager also coordinates programs offered by external instructors at Elawa.

Essential Functions

• Plan, develop, and facilitate Camp Elawa, the Foundation’s summer camp program, including curriculum development, scheduling, supply purchasing, staff and intern coordination, and daily program leadership.

• Develop and manage educational initiatives at Elawa Farm Foundation, including public programs. Responsibilities include developing curriculum, collaborating with community partners, preparing activities, purchasing supplies, and developing bilingual educational materials.

• Design and deliver in-house programs, including summer camp, youth programming, adult classes, and family activities.

• Facilitate bilingual (English/Spanish) programs for youth and adults and collaborate with community organizations and program partners on program design and delivery, in coordination with the Community Partnership Manager.

• Coordinate all in-house and vendor-led retail classes and private classes, including managing a roster of external instructors, scheduling programs, and corresponding promptly with instructors and participants by phone and email.

• Plan and execute seasonal festivals and public events and develop program-based events such as guest chef series and cookbook events in collaboration with the Event Sales Manager.

• Assist with field trips and group educational experiences in collaboration with the Community Partnership Manager and other staff.

• Manage seasonal interns who assist with program delivery, including Camp Elawa, youth programing, and weekend family activities.

• Activate the ADA accessible Discovery Garden and Discovery Hive Garden through experiential learning opportunities, family programming, and adaptive programming for participants of all abilities.

• Track program metrics for organizational evaluation and development purposes and prepare regular reports on program performance.

• Setup and break down program areas in coordination with interns, staff, or external instructors.

• Manage program budgets, including revenue projections from ticketed programs, and monitor expenditures of supplies in partnership with Finance team.

• Schedule event attendants to monitor the facility during evening and weekend programs.

• Represent Elawa Farm Foundation at community meetings and partner networks, including Lake County Nature Network (LCNN) meetings.

Professional Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage interns, engage program participants, and collaborate effectively with staff, community partners, and external instructors.

• Strong customer service skills as a public-facing staff educator; Maintain a positive, and solutions-oriented attitude.

• Demonstrated interest in gardening, cooking, and wellness topics. Comfortable teaching outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, including heat, cold, and light precipitation.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while remaining flexible, organized, and calm under pressure.

• Strong analytical mind, sound judgment, and problem-solving skills.

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and manage concurrent projects and initiatives.

• CPR and First Aid Certification required (Elawa Farm Foundation can arrange training if needed).

• Successful completion of a criminal background check required upon hire.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license as Elawa Farm most easily accessible by car. Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, preferably in Education, or equivalent professional experience.

• Minimum 3-4 years of professional education experience, including curriculum development and program delivery to groups of diverse ages and sizes.

• English and Spanish fluency is strongly preferred.

• Experience teaching in non-traditional environments, such as farms, camps, nature centers, or non-profit organization, is strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with communities and education or service-based organizations in Lake County, Illinois is a plus.

Compensation: Starting annual salary is $55,000 - $60,000 commensurate with experience and language fluency. This position is full-time and exempt. Medical benefits, 401k retirement plan, and paid PTO are provided.

Physical Demands

• Office, indoor public and outdoor public settings. Outdoor work in a wide variety of weather conditions. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and keyboarding. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, and scanners. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 40 pounds.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Elawa Farm Foundation does not discriminate in the selection of its staff on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, income, marital status, or any other dimension of identity.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000

Application instructions

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Deadline

April 01, 2026