Part-Time Farmer's Market Manager

City of Alexandria, Virginia; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

City of Alexandria, Virginia is seeking a part-time Farmers Market Manager for the Old Town Market. The role oversees operations from setup to breakdown each Saturday, coordinates vendors, staff, and volunteers, and ensures compliance with market rules.

The position supports outreach, nutrition program promotion, and market communication. The ideal candidate will have a four-year degree with 1–3 years in marketing, event planning or public relations, strong communication, and MS Office

Qualifications

• Four year degree; one to three years of experience in marketing, customer service, event planning, public relations and/or related fields; or equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage Old Town Farmers' Market operations from setup to breakdown every Saturday.
• Review and evaluate vendor applications.
• Plan and manage market activities including staffing, volunteers, music, food demos, and children’s events.
• Ensure vendor compliance with market regulations and coordinate vendor space assignments.
• Maintain relationships with vendors and city departments; promote nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP/EBT.

Skills

Marketing

Customer service

Event planning

Public relations

Leadership

Communication

Data analysis

MS Office

Education

Bachelor degree in Marketing/Public Relations/Related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Database experience

Job description

The City of Alexandria is located in Northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the City's square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, the Part-Time Farmers Market Manager position in the Department of General Services.

An Overview

The Farmers' Market Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating all farmers market operations and activities at the award-winning Old Town Farmers’ Market, including enforcement of the Farmers' Market rules and regulations and responsibility for all administrative functions to ensure a successful and vibrant market. The Farmers' Market Manager coordinates marketing, programming, food demonstrations and outreach programs as well as serves on and administers the Farmers' Market Rules Committee. The Old Town Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday morning year-round, rain or shine from 7:00a.m. to12:00p.m.

What You Should Bring

As the Farmers' Market Manager, you must have and demonstrate passion for farmers’ markets and local foods; knowledge of the basic practices and operation of a farmers’ market; skills in program development and management; the ability to provide consistent leadership and problem-solving skills; ability to work with constituents, including vendors, government officials, volunteers and the public; ability to manage and coordinate farmers’ market activities; knowledge of marketing; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to collect and analyze data; flexible, organized, and ability to prioritize; strong attention to detail while handling multiple simultaneous projects and tasks; experience in staff and volunteer management; and the ability to work every Saturday.

The Opportunity – Examples of Work

• Manages the operations of the Old Town Farmers' Market from set up to break down every Saturday including management of support staff;
• Reviews and evaluates vendor applications;
• Plans and manages activities for the market including staffing, volunteers, music, food demos, educational and children’s events;
• Ensures vendor compliance with all market regulations;
• Coordinates and assigns vendor spaces;
• Maintains positive relationships with all vendors, stays current with vendor offerings, maintains communication with vendors;
• Maintains relationships with the Alexandria Health Department, Finance, Code Administration, VDACS and other related City and regulatory agencies
• Promotes the use of nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP/EBT;
• Works with staff to ensure that the Market is clean, free of trash and litter, during and after the close of the Market;
• Tracks fee revenue and expenditures related to Market operations;
• Provides clear and effective direction and guidance to market support staff;
• Serves as emergency contact for accidents, medical emergencies, safety or crime issues, severe weather, natural disasters or special events to City staff, market participants and vendors;
• Maintains and provides updates to the Old Town Farmers' Market webpage and social media accounts; and
• Performs related work as required.

About The Department

The Department of General Services' mission is to provide exceptional management of the City's real estate, facilities, and other support services for all our customers. The Department of General Services staff strives to provide our customers with unmatched services by proactively managing the City's assets to support the delivery of services to the City of Alexandria, responding to service requests in a timely manner, listening to our customers, and ensuring that our customers are satisfied with the resolution.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Four year degree; one to three years of experience in marketing, customer service, event planning, public relations and/or related fields; or equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Excellent written, oral communication and presentation skills required. Ability to handle multiple assignments, manage strict timelines and deadlines, and strong organizational skills. Outstanding attention to detail; ability to operate independently and in a team environment with little supervision. MS Office suite experience preferred, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database experience. Experience in public relations, social media, marketing, customer service and event planning a plus. Passion for farmers' markets and local foods, economic development and sustainability. Applicants must be able to work every Saturday.

Notes

This is a part-time position (25 hours per-week) and candidates must be available to attend and staff the Market every Saturday beginning at 5:00 a.m. year-round rain or shine. This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to drug testing and criminal background. The Department of General Services (DGS) is a first response department and as such all DGS employees are deemed essential or emergency personnel and may be required to report to work when the City government is open with liberal leave or closed during emergencies.

The City of Alexandria is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, military status, or disability.