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POSITION: Farmers Market Manager
LOCATION: Medford, MA
COMPENSATION: Hourly, based on experience
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 25, 2011
OVERVIEW
The Medford Farmers Market (MFM) Board seeks a resident of Medford or nearby neighborhoods to assist in planning the fourth season of the Medford Farmers Market and work as the market’s on-site manager.
This is a part-time, hourly position and requires managing market operations for 6 – 7 hours on market days, plus an additional 2 – 3 hours per week on non-market days. The market manger is responsible for daily operations of the Medford Farmers Market. The 2011 season of the Medford Market will begin on Thursday, June 16, and end on Thursday, October 13, with at least one training day required and additional time dedicated to pre-market planning and advertisement. The market’s operating hours are 3:00-7:00 pm every Thursday.
The market manager is the “go-to” person for vendors and consumers during market hours. The job requires personal confidence and the ability to effectively communicate with a variety of people. The MFM Board relies on the market manager to be their liaison with and between all parties served by the market. The manager’s general responsibilities include: fostering community support for the market, helping promote the market, keeping accurate weekly records of market activities, and assisting customers and vendors. Successful managers understand both the vendors’ and the consumers’ needs and work to meet these needs. The manager is required to be available for the duration of the market season and be on-site at the market to assist vendors and consumers on market days.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Managers are required to be available for cell phone contact with MFM Board members on market day and for regular e-mail contact throughout the duration of their employment. Managers must be willing and able to work outdoors and to safely lift and carry 50 pounds. The position requires the ability to work independently as well as interdependently with a team of other staff members.
EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidate will have an interest in local agriculture, food, community, and/or local economies. S/he must be reliable, friendly, outgoing, self-motivated, and have access to transportation to get all supplies to the market daily and to advertise throughout Medford and surrounding neighborhoods. Previous experience with farmers’ markets, marketing, outreach, and/or event planning and management a plus.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
The market manager is responsible for the following activities:
General Market Support
- Develops and maintains good working relationships with farmers and vendors, consumers, community members, and MFM Board members.
- Assists vendors, community representatives, and consumers by providing market-related information, conflict resolution, and general aid as appropriate.
- Enforces market rules.
- Communicates regularly with MFM Board.
- Managers may occasionally assist vendors by providing limited set up help and brief personal breaks and by assisting vendors with sales during especially busy times.
Education and Outreach
- Works with MFM Board to seek new vendors for the 2011 season and helps promote the market before and during its season.
- Educates consumers about locally grown produce.
- Staffs the market manager’s table. Operation of the market manager’s table includes:
- Displaying and distributing educational materials
- Collecting consumer contact information
- Leads efforts to bring cooking demonstrations, educational programming, music, or other cultural activities and special events to the market on a regular basis.
- Identifies and either initiates or recommends 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.
- Regularly reads community news publications and coordinates with the office staff to become involved in community functions and issues where appropriate.
Market Logistics
- Arrives at market 1 – 1.5 hours before opening to coordinate market set-up and stays at market until all vendors have left (usually no more than 1 hour after market closing).
- Ensures safety and cleanliness of the site before, during, and at the conclusion of each market.
- Places directional signs promoting the market around the community at key locations prior to opening on each market day, and removes those signs at the close of market.
- Maintains and transmits the daily records and reports required by MFM Board on a weekly basis.
Miscellaneous
- Performs other duties necessary to support the market.
TO APPLY, PLEASE SEND RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO medfordfarmersmarket@gmail.com