Job Opportunities

We are hiring!

 

Market Coordinator for the Melrose/Sally Frank’s Farmers’ Market  

Overview: 

The Melrose/Sally Frank’s Farmers’ Market (SFFM) is looking for a committed, passionate, outgoing, and responsible individual to fill our part-time Market Coordinator position. 

The SFFM relies on the Market Coordinator to be its liaison with and between all parties served by the market. The Market Coordinator is the “go-to” person for vendors and market shoppers during market hours, and is the SFFM representative on site. Responsibilities also include fostering community support for the market, helping promote the market, and keeping accurate weekly records of market activities. The job requires personal confidence and the ability to effectively communicate with a variety of people including vendors, shoppers, volunteers, neighborhood businesses and the City. Successful Market Coordinators understand both the vendors’ and the consumers’ needs and, in conjunction with SFFM staff, design and implement strategies to meet these needs. The ideal candidate will have an interest in local agriculture, food, community, social justice, and local economies. 

The SFFM Market Coordinator is responsible for weekly operations of the market from early June through late October as well as periodic fall/winter markets/pop up markets. The position also includes time spent on planning leading up to the summer and winter markets as well as market preparation before each market day. The Market Coordinator will work closely with the SNAP Coordinator and report to the Market Manager and the Board of the SFFM. 

About the Market: 

The SFFM has been operating in Melrose, Massachusetts since 1994.  It is an outdoor market during the summer and an indoor market during the winter. The SFFM provides fresh, in-season vegetables, fruits, grass-fed meats, locally caught fish, eggs, bread, and food grown and produced by Massachusetts farms, bakeries, and other food producers. It has been accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since 2012. All of our farms also accept Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons, allowing access for more members of the community to healthy, locally produced food. The market is located in an attractive park location providing a fun place for neighbors to meet and catch up with one another each week. We have several programs at the market to engage community members of all ages and economic levels.    

  • In 2014, we began a kid’s tasting program called Club Sprouts.  
  • Also in 2014, we began matching the SNAP benefits up to $10 each week.
  • Local yoga studios offer free yoga in the park each week. 
  • Cooking demonstrations and recipes highlight the in-season produce at the market.  
  • Local musicians every week. 
  • Free space offered to a different non-profit each week. 
  • Spaces offered to a local business and two local artisans.  
  • Once a month, Bike day provides free bicycle tune ups.  
  • Once a month, Massachusetts Master Gardeners will provide monthly ‘Ask a Master Gardeners’ help.    

As a member of the Community Coalition of Melrose, we are a 501c3 non-profit,  

 Responsibilities Include:

MARKET DAY 

  • Arrive at market location 2.5 hours before the start of the market to layout the vendor locations and coordinate market set-up. 
  • Ensure safety and cleanliness of the site before, during and at the conclusion of each market. 
  • Greet and guide vendors to where they will be located. 
  • Orient and assign volunteers. 
  • Ensure that the Market Manager’s tent is operational and staffed by a volunteer and the SNAP Coordinator. Functions of the Market Manager’s tent include: 
  • Collecting shoppers’ contact information for receiving the e-newsletter 
  • Operating the point-of-sale (POS) terminal and promoting the SNAP program  
  • Hosting the Club Sprouts kid’s tasting program 
  • Providing public information from other organizations that is consistent with the market’s mission 
  • Serve as ‘point person’ for issues and questions during market. 
  • Enforce market rules. 
  • Fill in for market assignments as needed, including POS terminal operation, Club Sprouts volunteer, counting market goers, taking pictures for social media posts, and guiding shoppers to park in requested designated spots. 
  • Occasionally assist vendors by providing limited set-up help and brief personal breaks, and by assisting vendors with sales during especially busy times. 
  • Support SNAP Coordinator, helping to problem-solve equipment problems or record transactions manually. 
  • Count, record, and collect SNAP market bucks from vendors 1 hour before market ends.  
  • Collect count of shoppers from volunteers at the end of the market and record information. 
  • Obtain SFFM camera from volunteer and transmit photos used for marketing purposes to designated person after each market. 
  • Gather and record information from vendors for the upcoming week’s market. 
  • Remain at the market until all vendors have left (approximately 1 hour after market closing except on rare occasions). 
  • Ensure the container with market supplies is locked. 
  • Collect and store approximately 4 market signs placed in specific locations around the City. 

MARKET PREPARATION 

  • Ensure all market materials are gathered together for market day including record forms, water, market layout materials, volunteer list, and garbage bin. 
  • Work with the SFFM organizers to seek and coordinate volunteers to assist market and SFFM operations. 

 Required Skills:  

  • Work independently as well as inter-dependently with a team of volunteers and other organizers 
  • Provide timely communications as needed to and from the market organizers during your employment   
  • Available for cell phone contact with vendors, SFFM organizers and volunteers on market day and outside of the market   
  • Available for regular email contact throughout the duration of your employment 
  • Knowledge of computers and software; well versed in email communication techniques and file sharing/transfer protocols, including, but not limited to Google Drive, Dropbox, spreadsheets, and word processing software 
  • Exceptional written and oral communication skills; ability to conceptualize and describe SFFM’s mission in a way that is well-defined and compelling to shoppers  
  • Strong work ethic and capability to thrive and take initiative with a commitment to, and an understanding of, a high standard of excellence, responsibility and accountability  
  • Capability to identify and document system operating problems and communicate them clearly to SFFM’s Market Manager and Board of Directors 

 Additional Requirements: 

  • Must be willing to have reliable transportation and able to get to the market on time  
  • Must be willing and able to have a computer and cell phone 
  • Must be willing and able to safely lift and carry 50 pounds and store some market materials 
  • Willingness to be flexible and cooperative with other SFFM staff, having a good sense of humor and being a quick and interested learner  
  • Must be willing and able to be prepared for, and endure, all types of weather (21 of the markets will be outdoors); a tent will protect you at times, but you will be required to walk around outside the tent during the market 

Compensation: Competitive salary with an allowance for computer and phone use. 

Working Hours: 

  • Approximately 9 1/2 hours a week during the summer; Thursdays from 12:30pm to 8:00 pm from the 2nd week of June to the end of October, plus a minimum of 2 hours of preparation before the market. 
  • Approximately 9/1/2 hours during November and December; Sundays from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm before Thanksgiving and Christmas  
  • Approximately 9/1/2 hours per market for various pop-up markets in the ‘off-season’.  
  • In addition, a minimum of 2 hours of preparation before the market.  
  • Approximately 5-8 hours to assist with annual market fundraiser.  
  • Up to 6 hours of paid training will also be provided before work begins, followed by on-the-job training during market hours.   

 

To apply, please email letter of introduction and resume to: melrosefarmersmarket@gmail.com. Include Market Coordinator in the subject line.