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 [email protected] to find out what opportunities we might have available.

Current Openings

Position: Operations Coordinator 
Organization: The Land Connection – Champaign, Illinois 
Location: This position is based in Champaign, Illinois and eligible for our approved hybrid work schedule. This position is not eligible for remote work. 
Reports to: Executive Director 
Employment Status: 10-15 hours/week, Non-exempt 
Salary: $18.70 – $25.66/hour; based upon experience and qualifications 
Benefits: Part-time employees have access to some benefits including paid time off 

Summary Job Description 
The Operations Coordinator is responsible for coordinating a variety of day-to-day activities at The Land Connection. Their primary goal is to ensure our team operates as efficiently and effectively as possible through their support role. Responsibilities will vary each week, but include items like helping with event preparation, checking mail and directing items to appropriate personnel, ordering supplies, working on mailings, etc. 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Oversee office operations, including equipment and supply acquisition and maintenance 

• Support program staff with preparation for events and projects, specifically assist in activities like folding programs, preparing signage, printing handouts, preparing mailings, and other similar tasks 
• Assist with incoming and outgoing postal mail correspondence 
• Perform routine bookkeeping tasks, such as reporting check and cash revenues, making deposits at bank, and reconciling the database against accounting records 
• Maintain database to organization standards through regular oversight and clean-up 
• Oversee document retention and destruction protocols 
• Performs various other duties and functions as required or assigned within area of expertise or scope of the position 

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 
The candidate must have familiarity and experience with a similar set of workplace experiences. 

The candidate must be: 

• Able to set priorities, fulfill responsibilities, and organize their work with minimal supervision 
• Committed to follow-through 
• Flexible and able to multi-task 
• Successful in a fast-paced environment 
• Able to work with confidential information 
• Proficient with online platforms like Microsoft, Google, and CRMs  
• Experienced with record maintenance and office management 
• Excellent with both written and verbal communication 
• Able to remain in a stationary position for the majority of a workday 
• Able to move around the office for short periods of time to access office equipment and files 

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  

Please fill out the form below. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.  

Position: Organic Grain Mentorship Coordinator
Organization: The Land Connection – Champaign, Illinois
Location: This position is based in Champaign, Illinois and eligible for our approved hybrid work schedule. Remote work may be considered for the right candidate.
Reports to: Program Director
Employment Status: 20 hours/week, Non-exempt
Salary: $18.70 – $25.66/hour; based upon experience and qualifications
Benefits: Part-time employees have access to some benefits including paid time off, a health insurance stipend, and more.

Summary of Job Description
The Organic Grain Mentorship Coordinator is responsible for overseeing The Land Connection’s Organic Grain Mentorship program and supporting our farmer training services. The Organic Grain Mentorship officially launched in 2024 with the first cohort of mentors and mentees. Participants in the program follow a curriculum, attend additional virtual education sessions, participate in regional conferences, and have the option to receive wraparound technical assistance services. The Mentorship Coordinator is responsible for ensuring each of these pieces comes together to create a comprehensive organic grain experience for mentors and mentees in the program. They also work with our farmer training team on events and resources as time permits. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Adapt to and oversee a workplan for the Organic Grain Mentorship Program
• Provide ongoing facilitation to enable mentors and mentees to meet the goals and objectives of the Program 
• Recruit, screen, and orient mentors and mentees for the Program 
• Coordinate educational opportunities and experiences for participants beyond the standard curriculum for the Program  
• Follow approved budgets 
• Support the planning and operation of the Organic Grain Conference 
• Manage strong relationships with current and past participants of the Program 
• Work with partner organizations and industry professionals for Program outreach and promotion 
• Support the mentorship process with existing tools and resources, while also working to develop and maintain an up-to-date list of new tools and resources 
• Contribute to necessary documentation for the Program using the organization’s existing workflow 
• Maintain the Organic Grain Mentorship Program webpage 
• Support management of the IDEA Farm Network 
• Provide support to non-Program farmer training services at The Land Connection 
• Performs various other duties and functions as required or assigned within area of expertise or scope of the position  

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
The candidate must have familiarity and experience with a professional work setting where much of the work is completed through computer technologies. They must also have prior experience working for a business where they were responsible for overseeing programs or projects. The ideal candidate will have familiarity and experience with organic grain production. 

The candidate must be: 

• Personally motivated and able to set priorities, fulfill responsibilities, and organize their work with minimal supervision 
• Committed to follow-through 
• Flexible and able to multi-task 
• Successful in a fast-paced environment 
• Able to work with confidential information 
• Proficient with online platforms like Microsoft, Google, and CRMs  
• Experienced with implementing programs and executing events 
• Excellent and joyful with both written and verbal communication 
• Interested in supporting folks in their unique learning journeys 
• Able to remain in a stationary position for the majority of a workday 
• Able to move around on uneven ground in a variety of weather conditions for extended periods of time 
• Able to work on some nights and weekends 
• Able to legally drive in the United States and have a valid driver’s license 

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
Please fill out the form below. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Position: Farmland Access Navigator – Southern Illinois
Organization: The Land Connection – Champaign, Illinois
Location: Remote; must be located in southern Illinois (I-64 corridor and south)
Reports to: Illinois FarmLink Director
Employment Status: 15 hours/week, Non-exempt
Salary: $18.70 – $25.66/hour; based upon experience and qualifications
Benefits: Part-time employees have access to some benefits including paid time off, a health insurance stipend, and more

Summary of Job Description
Illinois FarmLink is 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.

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.  This will require occasional travel in southern Illinois region
• Facilitate direct connections between farmers and farmland owners
• Help farmers and farmland owners create and enhance their profiles on the Illinois FarmLink website
• Contribute, implement and execute educational programming in partnership with Illinois FarmLink Director and other staff and partners
• Coordinate efforts with Illinois FarmLink Director and other Navigators
• Perform various other duties and functions as required or assigned within area of expertise or scope of the position
• Build knowledge of counties in southern Illinois
• 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 as needed

Qualifications
Candidates must have experience with farming and/or close, firsthand experience with the farmland access process.  They must possess the drive and ability to build relationships within their region, operate with a high level of communication skills and be successful at time management and remote work.   

• 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
• Self-motivated and able to implement 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
• Able to travel as needed for job responsibilities  
• Able to move around on uneven ground at farms in various weather conditions
• Able to legally drive in the United States and have a valid driver’s license

Employment Requirements
Candidates for this position must be based in southern Illinois and will 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
Please fill out the form below. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.