Assistant manager job description
February 2023
The New Lebanon Farmers Market & Grocery is excited to announce that we are adding to our team! We are seeking a mission-driven Assistant Manager for our rapidly growing project.
Who We Are
The New Lebanon Farmers Market & Grocery is a year-round indoor market located in downtown New Lebanon, New York. We are driven by a three-fold mission:
➔ First, we support local and regional farmers and food producers in transporting, storing, promoting, marketing, and distributing their products.
➔ Second, we provide local residents and visitors with year-round and convenient access to delicious and nourishing food, including a wide variety of grocery items. We provide access to it through our website and brick-and-mortar location and by making pickups and deliveries convenient.
➔ Third, we encourage agricultural and other practices that contribute to the diversity, resilience, and justice of our local, regional, and global ecosystems. We help educate consumers on the benefits of locally and regionally produced food.
The Role
Our assistant manager will have a leadership role in developing and executing these services and will help manage our daily and weekly operations.
The ideal candidate will have some experience as a manager and a diverse set of experiences in agricultural and retail food settings. These experiences could include farming, working with farmers, producing food for sale, and working with food producers. They could also include operating a food business, serving food, and providing hospitality.
In addition, the ideal candidate will have an adventuresome disposition and a team-centric attitude. We thrive on change, making it happen collaboratively, and exceeding expectations. The ideal candidate will also understand New Lebanon and neighboring communities and will be inspired by the challenges of serving our diverse neighbors.
Key responsibilities
Work closely with the Director, Associate Director, and Operations Manager, including…
• Supporting collaboration between our market & grocery and complementary projects operated by the farmers market as well as projects operated by our close partners;
• Taking the initiative to identify and address problems and opportunities facing the operation; and
• Improving local and regional awareness of the market, expanding product offerings, growing sales volumes, and increasing efficiencies.
Communicate with and support farmers and food producers, including…
• Researching and reaching out to new producers to include their products at the market,
• Helping producers determine what products to offer and at what prices,
• Coordinating with producers to help them get their products to market, and
• Reporting to producers to help them understand what consumers have purchased and how they have enjoyed their products.
Maintain our Shopify-powered inventory system and ecommerce website, including…
• Setting up and maintaining the website and
• Maintaining accurate inventories and prices and product descriptions.
Manage our brick-and-mortar location, including…
• Keeping our space clean, attractive, fully stocked, and accurately labeled;
• Assigning and supervising tasks performed by other staffers and volunteers when appropriate;
• Welcoming customers, answering their questions, fulfilling their orders, solving their problems in a friendly, neighborly manner; and
• Addressing other operational problems and issues as or before they arise.
Key qualifications
• At least three years of farming, food business, retail, or management experience
• Passion for local, sustainable agriculture, and food access and a desire to improve our food system
• Solid project management skills with a proven ability to achieve results
• Solid writing and communication skills with a proven ability to motivate others
• Proficient at email, word processing, and spreadsheets, especially Google’s suite of services
• Flexibility and an openness to changes in direction
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please submit a resume and cover letter to hi@newlebanonfarmersmarket.com.
This is a part-time position. 25 hours/week would be ideal for now. But we are growing rapidly and would prefer that this become a full-time position by summer. For now, finding the ideal person is highest priority. If that could be you, but you need to start with just two days a week, or start full time, please drop us a line all the same.
Compensation is $20/hour. Sick pay and vacation time are available after three months. There are currently no other benefits.
The New Lebanon Farmers Market & Grocery is an equal opportunity employer. Diverse applicants, including Black, Indigenous, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, are warmly encouraged to apply.