JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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 Farm Fresh RI farmers markets, which include the Providence year-round market and Neutaconkanut Park, Woonsocket Thundermist, Central Falls, Armory Park and Broad Street seasonal farmers markets.

Farmers markets are at the heart of Farm Fresh RI’s efforts to increase healthy food access in Rhode Island’s low-income communities while providing increased economic opportunities for RI farmers. Creating and managing farmers markets was one of Farm Fresh RI’s first undertakings as an organization. Since 2004, Farm Fresh RI has gone from managing one seasonal market to eight, and started RI’s first Winter Farmers Market in 2007, which has grown to be our year-round market, with the largest wintertime season in southern New England.

The Farmers Market Program Coordinator is tasked with overseeing all aspects of vendor engagement for Farm Fresh RI 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.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Farmers Market Vendor Coordination & Management

• Manage seasonal farmers market vendor application and selection processes including updating and launching applications, performing field inquiries, communicating acceptances, and confirming vendor participation.
• Maintain 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.
• Update, share, and enforce seasonal vendor handbooks policies in partnership with Food Access (FA) Program Director.
• Coordinate and execute annual farm visits for FA-involved farms in partnership with other Farm Fresh programs.
• 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.
• Write weekly wintertime market vendor update email and field ongoing vendor questions throughout the season.
• Schedule and facilitate pre-season and post-season 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 FA Program Director.

Farm Fresh RI Farmers Market Programing & Events

• Co-Manage the winter season (Nov-May) at the Providence Farmers Market on Saturdays including supervising site setup, 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.
• Draft and manage vendor placements within seasonal market maps for vendors and partners.
• Draft market event outreach and communications content for newsletters and social media and submit to Communications Director on a weekly basis.
• 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, and attend community meetings acting as a representative of Farm Fresh Rhode Island and the Food Access team.

Food Access Team General Support & Admin

• In consultation with FA Program Director, assist with new program planning and execution.
• Support responses to market program email inbox and 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 Director.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed to Perform this Role

• Excellent professional communication skills (written and verbal).
• Great attention to detail.
• Self-starter and ability to maintain a self-motivating attitude.
• Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team.
• Excellent time-management skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Ability to prioritize and handle a variety of assignments simultaneously in a vibrant work environment.
• Must be able to collaborate and work on cross program and departmental teams and efforts.
• 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 7am-3pm).
• Must hold a valid driver’s license or have access to reliable transportation to transport program materials. (Business miles will be reimbursed.)

Candidates with any of the following skills will be prioritized:

• Spanish speaking or non-English language skills
• Deep understanding of communities in Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls

Physical Demands (Physical, Mental & 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 bend, lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to travel, which may include travel via car, train, airline, overnight hotel stays.

Benefits

• Annual salary range of $37,000- $41,000 commensurate with experience
• 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), 12 paid company holidays, plus 3 annual floating holidays annually
• Monthly contributions to flexible health, dental and life insurance plans
• Annual professional development credit and opportunities
• IRA matching contribution after 2 years of employment

How to Apply

• Please send your resume and cover letter Attn: Cara Mitchell to [email protected] with a subject line: “Farmers Market Program Coordinator.”
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications received by October 7, 2022 will be prioritized.
• No phone calls or drop-ins please.

Organizational Information
Farm Fresh has grown briskly since achieving 501c3 nonprofit status in 2007 — to capture the public interest in locally grown food and translate it into sales for local and regional farmers and producers. Strongly mission-driven, Farm Fresh RI hosts a variety of programs to enhance the local food system, with particular attention on farm viability and low-income access to fresh food. Farm Fresh also operates a range of marketplace programs (retail, wholesale, processing, gleaning) that engage and connect local eaters with the farmers and food producers of Rhode Island and the New England region.

Mission: Farm Fresh Rhode Island is growing a local food system that values the environment, health, and quality of life of the farmers and eaters of New England.

Vision: A New England region abundant with diverse family farms and fertile soils, with locally and honestly produced foods and flavors at the heart of every dinner table.

Farm Fresh Rhode Island is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment for all employees. We encourage enquiries from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our organization. Farm Fresh RI does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability status in employment or programming. Farm Fresh Rhode Island is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

This is a Non-Exempt, Full-Time Hourly Position (40 hrs/wk).

Farm Fresh Rhode Island is seeking a Farmers Market & Retail Sales Leader to report directly to the Harvest Kitchen Program Director. This position plays a key role on the Harvest Kitchen farmers market team by supporting all farmers market activities with a focus on organizing back-end operations and retail sales onsite at markets. This position also plays a key role in the development of the Harvest Kitchen Cafe and youth job training program by managing the cafe and retail sales, supporting social media efforts, and assisting in the training of Harvest Kitchen students.

Harvest Kitchen (HK) is part of Farm Fresh Rhode Island's initiative to increase the variety of value-added local farm products available, and part of the Farm Fresh RI mission to create a community-based food system. Started in 2010, Harvest Kitchen covers multiple facets of programming, including a 20-week culinary and job-readiness training program for youth that are involved with the RI Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF); and a sister production/training program that operates within the Rhode Island Training School. All products created by Harvest Kitchen use ingredients sourced from local farms. The program focuses on empowering youth to understand how their activities connect to the local food system while gaining the necessary skills and experiences to be able to pursue their personal and professional goals.

This role demands an ability to stay organized and readily jump back and forth between diverse task areas. Key position responsibilities will include maintaining positive relationships with customers and market vendors, posting and updating Harvest Kitchen social media, management of the Harvest Kitchen Cafe in the off-season, clear and responsive communication with the Harvest Kitchen Program Director either in person or via phone/text/email, and inventory monitoring and management. Successful candidates will have a passion for the local food system, the drive to help opportunity youth, be highly motivated, and be able to work autonomously with integrity, attention to detail, and enthusiasm.

Primary Responsibilities
Supplies and Inventory

• Organize and prepare weekly market bin(s) and inventory.
• Place and receive orders on the Market Mobile platform for products to sell at HK markets.
• Complete and submit month-end inventory reports for Harvest Kitchen.
• Maintain market supplies; ensure timely communication with supervisor regarding equipment repairs and supply orders.
• Label cases of HK jarred products as needed.

Sales and Pricing Support

• With support from supervisor, update Harvest Kitchen market sales sheets as new products are added.
• Record sales transactions, balance market transactions, and prepare deposits at the end of each market.
• Submit internal transfers for Harvest Kitchen products as needed.

Harvest Kitchen Retail Sales Table Lead

• Lead the Farm Fresh RI Harvest Kitchen retail sales table, monitoring other HK staff and volunteers.
• Assist with day-to-day operation troubleshooting for farmers market programs.
• Following HK pictures and guidelines for markets setup, prepare a clean and inviting sales table that will facilitate the purchasing of products at all markets attended.
• Support the development of Harvest Kitchen trainees in retail sales functions including customer service, merchandising, and cash handling.
• Personally represent Farm Fresh RI and Harvest Kitchen at markets, understanding and informing about our mission and products.

Cafe and Training Support

• Manage the HK Cafe during the off-season, making sure POS systems are up to date, opening and closing the register, taking inventory of retail items in the store.
• Assist with social media efforts in collaboration with the Communications Director.
• Assist in the training of HK students, both in the kitchen and in the retail aspect of the cafe.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed to Perform this Role

• Available to work a flexible schedule on Mondays and/or Thursdays to place orders and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and/or Fridays to receive product and prepare market bins. Saturdays 7am-2pm a must.
• Ability to build relationships with people from varied cultural, economic, educational, racial, and religious backgrounds
• Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills (patience, respect, transparency)
• Self-starter and ability to maintain a self-motivating attitude
• Passion for local food systems and social justice
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to juggle and track multiple tasks
• Basic math and accounting skills
• Must hold and maintain a valid driver’s license and have access to reliable transportation to deliver products to and from farmers markets (business mileage will be reimbursed by Farm Fresh RI)
• Retail sales experience is a plus, but not required.
• Spanish speaking is a plus, but not required.

Physical Demands (Physical, Mental & 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 or bus.

Pay & Benefits

• Full-time, Non-Exempt Position: 40 hours a week [Saturday mornings (7am-2pm) is required]
• $18.00/hour plus mileage reimbursement
• 15 days paid time off (PTO) and 14 paid company holidays
• Monthly contributions to flexible health, dental, and life insurance plans
• IRA matching contribution after two years of employment

How to Apply

• Please send resume and cover letter to Sean Kontos: [email protected]
• No phone calls or drop-ins please.

Organizational Information
Farm Fresh has grown briskly since achieving 501c3 nonprofit status in 2007 — to capture the public interest in locally grown food and translate it into sales for local and regional farmers and producers. Strongly mission-driven, Farm Fresh RI hosts a variety of programs to enhance the local food system, with particular attention on farm viability and low-income access to fresh food. Farm Fresh also operates a range of marketplace programs (retail, wholesale, processing, gleaning) that engage and connect local eaters with the farmers and food producers of Rhode Island and the New England region.

Mission: Farm Fresh Rhode Island is growing a local food system that values the environment, health, and quality of life of the farmers and eaters of New England.

Vision: A New England region abundant with diverse family farms and fertile soils, with locally and honestly produced foods and flavors at the heart of every dinner table.

Farm Fresh Rhode Island is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment for all employees. We encourage enquiries from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our organization. Farm Fresh RI does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability status in employment or programming. Farm Fresh Rhode Island is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

This is a part-time variable hour (24-40 hours weekly) position depending on interest and capacity.

Market Mobile Drivers help fulfill Farm Fresh RI’s nonprofit mission of growing the local food system by ensuring all products sold by local farmers and producers are safely and accurately delivered to restaurants, institutions, and home delivery customers across Rhode Island. In doing so, we are strengthening local farm viability by building a reliable sales outlet for Rhode Island grown and produced goods.

A high degree of accountability is required in order to provide excellent outcomes to our farmers, food producers, customers, and community partners. Our Drivers facilitate the flow of products from our local food warehouse to customers statewide. This position reports to and works closely with the Operations Manager to continuously improve operations. This position works closely with other Packhouse Associates, Driver Assistants, Drivers, and other Market Mobile staff in a team environment to achieve program goals.

Market Mobile Drivers support Market Mobile operations through the successful implementation of established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and compliance with regulatory guidelines. Daily tasks include customer deliveries in collaboration with Drivers Assistants, loading/unloading trucks, and completion of prescribed paperwork. Drivers may also provide support as needed with packhouse cleaning/sanitation, receiving, and packline.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Communicate effectively with delivery partners, customers, and Farm Fresh RI staff.
The driver is responsible for communicating with on-the-ground staff at delivery and pickup locations. The driver is expected to provide excellent customer service to these core customers and to be mindful of our impact on their operations. Effective, timely, and frequent communication with the Farm Fresh team and all stakeholders is key to the successful functioning of operations. Attendance at driver and full- team meetings as requested by the Operations Manager is required.

Assist in coordination, organization, and execution of distribution activities.
The Driver assists with organization and coordination under the direction of the operations management team as needed including bin labeling, pallet stacking, and product staging.

Carry out the delivery of products.
Load product into trucks and communicate effectively with customers as deliveries are made. Follow delivery protocol at each drop-off to provide an excellent experience and customer service. Communicate any challenges, concerns, or feedback to supervisor(s) promptly.

Ensure safe and proper product handling and packing.
Adhere to all policies and procedures laid out in the Farm Fresh food safety plan inside the Farm Fresh facility, while on the road, and during deliveries. Items are kept at the proper food safe temperature in the truck throughout the day in accordance with Food Safety SOPs.

Vehicle and supply maintenance.
Monitor and communicate problems with Farm Fresh vehicles, equipment, and supplies. Communicate when running low on truck supplies.

Driving performance.
Drive lawfully and carefully at all times, heeding legal load capacity of the vehicle; adjust speed and routes as needed while still delivering within time-contingencies. Driving instruction and training will be provided, which the Driver is expected to comply with.

Equipment operation.
Operate all equipment in a safe manner. Training will be provided for safe equipment operation.

Safety.
First aid training is provided, but our ultimate goal is preventing injury in the workplace. The Driver is expected to help establish a culture of safety and prevention.

Sanitation & cleaning.
Trucks are kept clean and well organized at all times. Truck cabins and beds are deep cleaned and restocked on Fridays following deliveries.

Teamwork.
The Driver is expected to take part in the cultivation of any full-team efforts with other Farm Fresh staff as requested. All Farm Fresh staff are responsible for ensuring that operations work is conducted safely and efficiently with other operations team members. Any and all conflicts with staff should be reported to the Operations Manager immediately.

Act as an ambassador of Farm Fresh Rhode Island.
Team members are required to interact with many different stakeholders as part of their daily activities. All team members are expected to act as ambassadors of Farm Fresh and treat all parties with dignity and respect to maintain a community of openness and inclusivity.

Other Duties as assigned.
Farm Fresh is a small nonprofit; at all times, a “pitch-in” spirit is expected. Assistance on special projects may be required in addition to normal duties.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Food handling experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience driving heavily loaded box trucks in urban and rural environments is strongly preferred.
• CDL- Class A license preferred but not required.
• Experience operating manual and electric pallet jacks is a plus (training is provided).
• Customer service or similar experience is preferred.
• Detail-oriented with excellent record keeping and planning skills.
• Good humor, an ability to think on your feet, and an easy but focused work style.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Neeed to Perform thsi Role

• Must be reliable, committed, and efficient at completing job requirements.
• Must be effective in communicating with other program staff and external organization stakeholders.
• Must be a responsible driver with minimum of 2 years of driving experience, valid US drivers license, and capable of passing DOT physical.
• Must have the ability and desire to relate to and work with various socio-economic and cultural groups and create a positive and safe work environment by making other coworkers and volunteers feel welcome in our space.
• Must have high attention to detail (produce quality and record-keeping).
• Basic vehicle maintenance knowledge (change tire, top-off fluids).
• Basic technology skills – computer and smartphone competency.
• Must be able to think, react, iterate, and redirect in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to the success of coworkers and Farm Fresh RI’s mission and values.

Physical Demands (Physical, Mental, 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.
• Must be able to repeatedly lift 60+ pounds in various conditions. This position is physically demanding and requires an aptitude for manual labor.

Compensation

• This is a part-time variable hour (24-40 hours weekly) position depending on interest and capacity.
• Rate of pay starts at $20 per hour for driver hours. Drivers have the option of picking up additional hours in our packhouse at a rate of $16 per hour if interested.
• Sick and Safe leave benefits starting first day of employment.
• Shifts will be Monday through Friday

How to Apply

• Please fill out our online application here.
• No phone calls or drop-ins please.