The Brighton Winter Farmers Market promotes a vibrant local economy, offers access to fresh, healthy food, and provides a gathering space for the community throughout the winter months.
The Brighton Winter Farmers Market Manager is responsible for operations of the Market from January through April. The 2023 Winter Farmers Market will be held on the following Saturdays from 10 am to 1:30 pm in the PSF Community Center Parking Lot: January 28th, February 11th, February 25th, March 11th, March 25th and April 8th.
The Market Manager is responsible for vendor recruitment and planning all aspects of the Winter Farmers Market. The Market Manager is the go-to person for vendors and market shoppers during market hours, and will be responsible for set up and break down.
The job requires personal confidence, initiative and the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people including vendors, shoppers, and those for whom English is not a first language. The manager’s general responsibilities include: fostering community support for the market, helping promote the market and its vendors, and keeping accurate weekly records of market activities. Successful managers understand both the vendors’ and the shoppers’ needs and, in conjunction with the Director at PSF Community Center, design and implement strategies to meet their needs.
General Requirements
Manager will plan and develop the Winter Farmers Market. Manager must be willing and able to work outdoors and to safely lift and carry up to 50 pounds. The position requires the ability to work independently as well as inter-dependently with a team of other staff members. Additionally, the Market Manager should be able to exemplify skill sets in organization, communication and accountability. The manager is required to be on-site at the market and available to vendors and shoppers for each market day from set up to break down (8 am to 2:30 pm on January 28th, February 11th, February 25th, March 11th, March 25th and April 8th.) The manager will report directly to the PSF Community Center Director.
Responsibilities
Specific Market Manager responsibilities vary market day to market day and are determined by the needs of both the community and the specific vendors at the market. Generally, the Market Manager is responsible for the following activities:
VENDOR RECRUITMENT:
- Recruit a dynamic group of vendors that are a good fit for our community,
GENERAL MARKET SUPPORT:
- Develop and maintain a good working relationship with each farmer and vendor, shoppers, community members, groups and organizations
- Assist vendors, community representatives and consumers by providing market-related information, conflict resolution and general aid as appropriate
- Enforce market rules
- Occasionally assist vendors by providing limited set up help and brief personal breaks and by assisting vendors with sales during especially busy times
- Oversee and supervise the use of SNAP and HIP benefits
- Assist customers with coupon use
- Keep accurate and organized records of benefits use, number of weekly customers and vendors
- Provide weekly emailed report to PSF Community Center Director of attendance and coupon use
- Meet monthly with Director to assess progress.
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:
- Promote the market on email and social media with PSF Community Center Director.
- Establish a consistent space to set up and operate the Market Manager’s station. Operation of this station includes: Collecting consumer contact information; Hosting guest participants, non-profits or events; Running the EBT Terminal
- Identify and initiate follow-up communication with area businesses and community organizations, as well as local police or other municipal employees, who may provide assistance to the market
- Work with the Director to seek and coordinate volunteers to assist market operations.
MARKET LOGISTICS:
- Arrive at the market two (2) hours before opening to coordinate market set-up (including way-finding signs, banners, tent, EBT terminal, electrical, music, outreach materials) and remains at the market until all vendors have left (no more than 1 hour after market closing except on rare occasions)
- Market Manager station must be set up and operational by 10 am
- Ensure safety and cleanliness of the site before, during and at the conclusion of each market.
MISCELLANEOUS:
- Able to mediate disputes with and among vendors, shoppers, municipal employees and agencies
- Perform other duties identified in advance by the Director that are deemed necessary to support the market.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have an interest in local agriculture, food and food access, community organizing and/or local economies. S/he/they must be reliable, friendly, a strong communicator, and self-motivated. The manager must be highly organized and able to execute multiple transactions in a short period of time. S/he/they will be trained in processing SNAP/EBT, HIP, food and coupons. This position is a part-time, seasonal, hourly contract position and requires managing market operations for up to 7 hours on market days, plus up to an additional 7-10 hours per week, starting in January through April.
Bi-lingual/multi-lingual applicants encouraged to apply. Neighborhood residents encouraged to apply.
COMPENSATION: $25.00 per hour.
To apply, please email your resume to Clodagh Drummey at [email protected] as soon as possible, ideally by January 5. Please include your full name and the job title in the subject line.