Position Summary
The Farmers Market Program Coordinator reports directly to the Food Access Program Director. This role is responsible for coordinating vendors, market maps and community programming at all Farmers Markets hosted by Farm Fresh RI which include the: year-round Providence Farmers Market along with the seasonal Neutaconkanut Park, Woonsocket Thundermist, Central Falls, Providence Armory Park and Providence Broad Street Farmers Markets.
Farmers markets are at the heart of Farm Fresh’s efforts to increase healthy food access in RI’s low-income communities while providing increased economic opportunities for RI’s farmers.
Creating and managing farmers markets was one of Farm Fresh’s first undertakings as an organization. Since 2004, Farm Fresh has gone from managing one seasonal market to eight, and started RI’s first Winter Farmers Market in 2007, which has grown to be the largest in southern New England.
The Farmers Market Program Coordinator is tasked with overseeing all aspects of vendor engagement for Farm Fresh markets including the application processes, upholding market rules and regulations, managing layouts and soliciting program feedback. Additionally, the Farmers Market Program Coordinator will work closely with the Food Access Team to coordinate events and activities to enhance community engagement with Farm Fresh RI Markets. The Farmers Market Program Coordinator will also supervise any AmeriCorps staff working to support the Food Access Program. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled. Applicants who apply by April 19, 2024 will be prioritized for consideration.
Program Specific Responsibilities
Farmers Market Vendor Coordination & Management
- Manage seasonal farmers market vendor application and selection processes including updating and launching application, field inquiries, communicate acceptances and confirm vendor participation.
- Recruit seasonal farmers market vendors as needed.
- Ensure market vendor applications, product lists and acceptance statuses are organized and updated as needed.
- Maintain an updated database of all vendor contact information including billing, administrative and staffing contacts.
- Draft and manage rotating vendor schedules for seasonal markets. Ensure vendor absence and rotation dates are updated within internal schedules and documents.
- Collaborate with Property Manager to oversee and fulfill vendor storage requests for Providence Market.
- Update, share and enforce seasonal vendor handbooks policies in partnership with FA Program Director.
- Monitor farmer “Buy-Ins” at our farmers markets, making sure to uphold compliance with FFRI standards around outside purchases and sales.
- Coordinate and execute annual farm visits for Farm Fresh farmers market farms in partnership with other Farm Fresh RI programs.
- Oversee vendor table auditing process at farmers markets in collaboration with FA Program Director.
- Establish vendor feedback systems (interviews, surveys, etc). Summarize vendor feedback seasonally and propose recommendations for program changes for following seasons
based on vendor feedback. - Field and confirm interested civic groups and musicians scheduling requests for markets.
- Send reminders and logistics information to scheduled civic groups and musician schedules.
- Send invoices and coordinate payments to and from civic groups and musicians.
- Oversee collection of vendor sales and customer count data at farmers markets for data evaluation for Farmers Market Promotion Program and FINI/GusNIP grants
- Write weekly wintertime market vendor update email and field ongoing vendor questions throughout the season.
- Communicate program changes and updates to summer vendors as needed.
- Schedule and facilitate preseason and postseason vendor meetings for Providence Market and other markets as needed.
- Help resolve any disputes that arise between vendors and consumers, other vendors and management in partnership with the FA Program Director.
Farm Fresh RI Farmers Market Programing & Events
- Co-Manage the winter season (Nov-May) Providence Farmers Market on Saturdays including supervising site set up, load-in, load-out, and clean up.
- Personally manage 1-2 seasonal summer markets as directed by FA Program Director.
- Coordinate planning and execution of seasonal special events and activities for summer and winter market seasons in partnership with FA Program Director and team members.
- Evaluate seasonal market events to access what added to sales, what drew more customers etc. to improve events in future years.
- Act as a liaison with farmers market site partners to establish annual market location and vendor parking logistics. Review market sites for improvements to layout and design—increase efficient flow of customer traffic, create a safer environment, increase visibility of the market.
- Draft and manage vendor placements within seasonal market maps for vendors and partners. Adjust seasonal maps as needed to accommodate events and vendor changes.
- Draft Market event outreach and communications content for newsletters and social media
and submit to Communications Director on a weekly basis. - Support Communications Director in collecting quotes and pictures to use for program outreach
- Work with Food Access Program Team to develop outreach and marketing materials and support seasonal outreach activity planning and implementation as needed.
- Support ongoing community relationship building and feedback initiatives such as focus groups, listening sessions and attending community meetings acting as a representative of Farm Fresh Rhode Island and the Food Access team.
*Conduct periodic customer counts and collect vendor sales information as needed for grant reporting and compliance.
AmeriCorps Staff Management
- Directly lead and supervise all part-time and full-time seasonal AmeriCorps staff, ensuring that program SOPs, systems, and policies are upheld Food Access Team General Support & Admin
- In consultation with FA Program Director, assist with new program planning and execution
- Support responses to markets@farmfresh email inbox & markets voicemail.
- Provide input into agendas as well as participate in meetings with external partners involved in Farm Fresh Food Access programming as appropriate.
- Assist with Food Access program data entry as needed.
- Support special vendor trainings for projects as requested by Food Access Program Direction (FMPP, FMNP).
Organizational Responsibilities
- Support Food Access Program operations in partnership with Food Access Program Director, Advancement Director, Farmers Market Account Director and Senior Management Team.
- Must uphold Farm Fresh RI Supervisor Standards in accordance with Level 2: Manager expectations.
- Must be able to collaborate and work on cross program & departmental teams and efforts.
- Must have a strong and evolving commitment to participating in Farm Fresh RI’s DEI goals.
- Must be able to build relationships with people from varied cultural, economic, educational, racial, and religious backgrounds.
- Must maintain a customer service orientation while considering solutions and interacting with external partners.
- Must be willing and able to work a flexible and changing schedule including evenings and weekends (evenings as late as 9PM and Saturdays).
- Must hold a valid driver’s license and have access to reliable transportation.
- Must compile program data as requested for Food Access partners and Communications &Development team.
- Must complete tasks as assigned by the Food Access Program Director and Managing Director.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Needed to Preform this Role
- Must be able to think, react, iterate, and redirect in a fast-paced environment.
- Self-starter and ability to maintain a self-motivating attitude.
- Passion for local food systems and social justice.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Ability to juggle and track multiple tasks and responsibilities.
- Demonstrated commitment to the success of co-workers and Farm Fresh RI’s mission and values.
- Ability to prioritize and handle a variety of assignments simultaneously in a vibrant work environment.
Physical Demands (Mental, Physical, and Environmental)
The following capabilities are required in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden on the company are available to address the following requirements.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit/stand for long periods of time at a desk; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls on computers; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear in meetings and on the telephone or on the computer in an office or variable setting.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Employees must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to travel, which may include travel via car, train, airline, overnight hotel stays.
Benefits:
- PTO and paid holiday benefits
- Monthly contributions to flexible Health, dental and life insurance plans
- Annual professional development credit and opportunities
- IRA Matching contribution after 2 years of employment
- $21 - $24/hour; salary available depending on experience
To Apply
- Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line “Farmers Market Program Coordinator”
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled. Applicants who apply by April 19, 2024 will be prioritized for consideration.
- No phone calls or drop-ins please.