Thank you for your interest in The Land Connection. Established in 2001, The Land Connection is a nonprofit organization working to grow our local food economy both on and off the farm. If you would like to find out more information about our organization, please visit our website history page. If you’re interested in volunteering, please visit our Volunteer page or email info@thelandconnection.org to find out what opportunities we might have available.

Current Employment Opportunities:

Food Access Coordinator

Illinois FarmLink Navigator – East Central Illinois

Illinois FarmLink Navigator – West Central Illinois

Food Access Coordinator

Location: Champaign, Illinois

Reports To: Farmers Market Manager

Employment Status: Full Time, Exempt

Salary: $40,000 – $47,500/year; based upon experience and qualifications

Benefits: Full health, vision, dental, and life benefits included, as well as partial benefit coverage for up to two dependents. Paid time off for vacation, holidays (floating holidays), sickness, and parental leave.

Summary Job Description
The Food Access Coordinator will be responsible for developing and running all farmers market food assistance programs offered through The Land Connection and overseeing the organization’s Link Hub project. They will be responsible for all aspects of coordinating the programs including securing and managing funding, working with farmers market managers and farms, managing a budget, accounting, recruiting new locations to participate in the hub, community outreach, etc. This position reports directly to the Farmers Market Manager. It requires a valid driver’s license, access to a personal vehicle or car share, and the ability to lift 50 pounds. It also requires travel and weekend/evening work.

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Oversee operation of food assistance programs, including the Link Hub  
• Maintain a vision for food assistance programming that is focused on providing equitable access to local foods  
• Manage all funding related to the food assistance programming, including (but not limited to) developing and tracking an annual budget 
• Manage recruitment and management of participating locations in the Link Hub 
• Support the Local Foods Program Manager and Farmers Market Manager in integrating and collaborating on educational programming for Champaign County 
• Oversee benefits accounting tasks like processing vendor reimbursements and tracking data 
• Support food assistance programming community outreach, volunteer, social media, and other tasks 
• In collaboration with the marketing consultant, develop materials for advertisement, promotion, and outreach of the food assistance programming 
• Manage execution of grant funded food access work including writing and submitting grant reports, budgets, financial activity, progress toward grant goals, relationships with project partners, and evaluation of projects. In addition to grant management responsibilities, identify, review, and write proposals for new grant opportunities 
• Participate in local media coverage of the food assistance programming 
• Create weekly content for organizational newsletters and social media 
• Attend weekly staff meetings, check-ins, project meetings, etc. 
• Other duties as assigned 

Qualifications 

• Passion for local food systems and food access 
• Commitment to building an equitable food system for our region 
• Thorough, clear, and compassionate verbal and written communication skills 
• Ability to understand rules and comfort holding others accountable 
• Detail oriented with regard to market benefit data tracking and reporting 
• Enjoys conversation and meeting new people 
• Experience working in a collaborative team environment 
• Strong organizational skills 
• Able to use Windows programs, Google Suite, social media platforms, and other software with training 
• Comfortable with significant time spent on computer 
• Able to work in the evenings or on weekends, as well as travel 
• Able to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions 
• Ability to lift weights up to 50 lbs.  
• Available to work in Champaign, Illinois 

Candidates are not required to have any college or higher education to apply.  

The Land Connection is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.  

To Apply: Send a letter of interest and resume with three references to careers@thelandconnection.org or visit our website and apply using the applicant form at www.thelandconnection.org/employment/. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Illinois FarmLink Navigator – East Central Illinois

Position: Farmland Access Navigator (East Central Illinois) 

Organization: The Land Connection – Champaign, Illinois

Location: Remote, but located in east central Illinois

Reports to: Illinois FarmLink Director

Employment Status: Part Time, Non-Exempt; approximately 10-15 hours/week

NOTE: We will consider combining the east central Illinois and west central Illinois Farmland Access Navigator positions for the right candidate.

Salary: $17-$22/hour; based upon experience and qualifications

Benefits: Part time, non-exempt employees of The Land Connection have access to a variety of benefits depending on the number of hours they work, including paid time off, healthcare stipend, cell phone stipend, and more.

Summary Job Description

In March 2023, The Land Connection launched Illinois FarmLink, a statewide land access program designed to help Illinois farmers find land and farmland owners find farmers. Our services include website profile posting, education, useful resources, and personalized, one-on-one advice from our Navigators. Navigators, who are based regionally throughout Illinois, advise farmers on the complex process of securing land and advise farmland owners on how to find the appropriate farmer for their farmland. Navigators will work with farmers to assess their land access situations, clarify their goals, develop appropriate search plans, and provide guidance to them during the search. In a similar way, Navigators will also work with farmland owners to assess their farmland, identify their farmland stewardship goals, develop search strategies for finding the kinds of farmers they need, and suggest approaches for them during the search. Navigators will be expected to become knowledgeable about all aspects of land access (leasing, etc.) but will not be expected to be technical specialists. They will connect farmers and landowners with helpful resources and professionals when technical matters are in question.

In addition to this hands-on work, Navigators will help expand Illinois FarmLink’s network of partners, market the program, assist in education programming, and further improve its features.

Primary Responsibilities

• Guide and support farmers and farmland owners in developing land access strategies and carrying those strategies out while also connecting farmers and landowners with useful resources
• Facilitate direct connections between farmers and farmland owners
• Help farmers and farmland owners create and enhance their profiles on the Illinois FarmLink website
• Develop, organize, and market educational programming in partnership with Illinois FarmLink Director and other staff and partners
• Contribute to development of the Illinois FarmLink program through partner network building, marketing, and program improvements
• Coordinate efforts with Illinois FarmLink Director and other Navigators
• Develop knowledge of counties in the central region
• Document services to farmers and farmland owners, assist in evaluating their effectiveness, and contribute to reports
• Participate in networking and professional development trainings
• Produce articles and other communications
• Other duties as assigned

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions and this job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to which will be required in this position. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require that other or different tasks be performed or assigned. 

Qualifications

Candidates with direct experience with farming and/or close, firsthand experience with the farmland access process are highly encouraged to apply.

The candidate must be:

• Passionate about agriculture and farmland access issues
• Excellent at communications of all kind and explanation, including a high level of comfort regularly interacting with a diverse audience of farmland owners, farmers, agricultural service providers, and other industry professionals
• Have an aptitude for assistance, education, and facilitating conversation
• Eager to grow in knowledge and understanding of diverse topics
• Equipped with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Active, attentive listener with positive, engaging presence
• Enthusiastic about contributing to development of Illinois FarmLink
• Self-motivated and able to manage projects independently while also being team player
• Committed to inclusive farmland access that serves all people
• Farming experience preferred
• Able to use Windows programs, Google Suite, and other software with training
• Comfortable with significant time spent on computer and phone
• Able to work in the evenings or on weekends as well as travel
• Able to move around on uneven ground at farms in various weather conditions

Candidate must be based in east central Illinois but can work remotely. Candidate must have access to a computer, telephone, and internet service.

The Land Connection is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. 

To Apply: Complete the form below and attach your resume with three references or email careers@thelandconnection.org a cover letter and resume with three references.

Illinois FarmLink Navigators – West Central Illinois

• Position: Farmland Access Navigator (West Central Illinois) 
• Organization: The Land Connection – Champaign, Illinois
• Location: Remote, but located in west central Illinois
• Reports to: Illinois FarmLink Director
• Employment Status: Part Time, Non-Exempt; approximately 10-15 hours/week
• NOTE: We will consider combining the east central Illinois and west central Illinois Farmland Access Navigator positions for the right candidate.
• Salary: $17-$22/hour; based upon experience and qualifications
• Benefits: Part time, non-exempt employees of The Land Connection have access to a variety of benefits depending on the number of hours they work, including paid time off, healthcare stipend, cell phone stipend, and more.

Summary Job Description

In March 2023, The Land Connection launched Illinois FarmLink, a statewide land access program designed to help Illinois farmers find land and farmland owners find farmers. Our services include website profile posting, education, useful resources, and personalized, one-on-one advice from our Navigators. Navigators, who are based regionally throughout Illinois, advise farmers on the complex process of securing land and advise farmland owners on how to find the appropriate farmer for their farmland. Navigators will work with farmers to assess their land access situations, clarify their goals, develop appropriate search plans, and provide guidance to them during the search. In a similar way, Navigators will also work with farmland owners to assess their farmland, identify their farmland stewardship goals, develop search strategies for finding the kinds of farmers they need, and suggest approaches for them during the search. Navigators will be expected to become knowledgeable about all aspects of land access (leasing, etc.) but will not be expected to be technical specialists. They will connect farmers and landowners with helpful resources and professionals when technical matters are in question.

In addition to this hands-on work, Navigators will help expand Illinois FarmLink’s network of partners, market the program, assist in education programming, and further improve its features.

Primary Responsibilities

• Guide and support farmers and farmland owners in developing land access strategies and carrying those strategies out while also connecting farmers and landowners with useful resources
• Facilitate direct connections between farmers and farmland owners
• Help farmers and farmland owners create and enhance their profiles on the Illinois FarmLink website
• Develop, organize, and market educational programming in partnership with Illinois FarmLink Director and other staff and partners
• Contribute to development of the Illinois FarmLink program through partner network building, marketing, and program improvements
• Coordinate efforts with Illinois FarmLink Director and other Navigators
• Develop knowledge of counties in the central region
• Document services to farmers and farmland owners, assist in evaluating their effectiveness, and contribute to reports
• Participate in networking and professional development trainings
• Produce articles and other communications
• Other duties as assigned

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions and this job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to which will be required in this position. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require that other or different tasks be performed or assigned. 

Qualifications

Candidates with direct experience with farming and/or close, firsthand experience with the farmland access process are highly encouraged to apply.

The candidate must be:

• Passionate about agriculture and farmland access issues
• Excellent at communications of all kind and explanation, including a high level of comfort regularly interacting with a diverse audience of farmland owners, farmers, agricultural service providers, and other industry professionals
• Have an aptitude for assistance, education, and facilitating conversation
• Eager to grow in knowledge and understanding of diverse topics
• Equipped with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Active, attentive listener with positive, engaging presence
• Enthusiastic about contributing to development of Illinois FarmLink
• Self-motivated and able to manage projects independently while also being team player
• Committed to inclusive farmland access that serves all people
• Farming experience preferred
• Able to use Windows programs, Google Suite, and other software with training
• Comfortable with significant time spent on computer and phone
• Able to work in the evenings or on weekends as well as travel
• Able to move around on uneven ground at farms in various weather conditions

Candidate must be based in west central Illinois but can work remotely. Candidate must have access to a computer, telephone, and internet service.

The Land Connection is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. 

To Apply: Complete the form below and attach your resume with three references or email careers@thelandconnection.org a cover letter and resume with three references.