Store & Guest Experience Associate

Mary; Ellicott City (MD); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Mary's Land Farm is seeking a personable, detail-oriented associate for the farm store, where you will guide guests through an artisan oil and balsamic tasting experience and help navigate farm-raised meat selection. You may also support the Inn and seasonal festivals as needed, including guest hosting and event setup.

Ideal candidates bring retail or hospitality experience, a passion for local foods, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• Friendly, outgoing personality with proven retail, sales or hospitality experience
• Genuine interest in local food systems, small producers, and community connection
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Able to problem-solve independently as issues arise
• Comfortable working across different roles and settings on a working farm property

Responsibilities

• Welcome customers by greeting them and offering assistance
• Guide guests through the store, suggesting products and sharing the stories behind them
• Educate customers on the farm's meats, artisan oils and balsamics, and other local partner products
• Share information about local and regional business partners, community happenings, and farm news
• Process payments accurately (cash, check, credit/debit)
• Exercise sound judgment to resolve customer issues as they arise
• Receive, inventory and stock products on store floor and back stock areas
• Support the Inn with housekeeping, turnover, and guest experience needs as scheduled
• Assist with festival and event operations, including setup, guest flow, vendor support, and day-of hospitality
• Represent the farm's mission and values consistently across every guest touchpoint, whether in the store, at the Inn, or on the festival grounds
• Contribute to overall team effort by assisting wherever needed
• Maintain scheduling commitments across all areas of responsibility

Skills

Retail & hospitality

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Adaptability

Lift 50 lbs

POS operation

Tools

POS system

Job description

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Mary's Land Farm is a 160-acre sustainable, family-owned farm with a gourmet food store at the heart of the property. It is a regenerative working farm that follows permaculture and holistic management principles, with the goal of restoring the natural biology of the land after decades of conventional herbicide and pesticide use. Beyond the store, the farm is home to the Inn at Mary's Land Farm, a summer camp, seasonal festivals such as the Clarksville Sunflower Festival, and a growing calendar of agritourism experiences and events.

Mary's Land Farm is committed to sharing the story behind each product it sells, including its origin and the people responsible for making it, so that every customer leaves with more than a purchase: a genuine connection to the farm, its neighbors, and the surrounding community.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Mary's Land Farm is seeking a personable, detail-oriented associate who values quality food and its origins, and who can communicate that value to others.

This role is centered in the farm store, where the associate will guide guests through an artisan oil and balsamic tasting experience, assist them in navigating the farm-raised meat selection, and introduce them to the local and regional producers the farm partners with. The associate will also serve as a knowledgeable resource on farm happenings, upcoming events and festivals, and the small businesses and makers within the surrounding community.

Because Mary's Land Farm operates as one connected property, this position also shares duties with the Inn and our seasonal festivals when additional support is needed, including housekeeping turnover, guest check-in support, and event-day setup and hospitality. We are looking for someone flexible and team-oriented who is willing to assist wherever the farm requires that day.

Skills for this position include:

• Genuine appreciation for quality food, local sourcing, and the stories behind products and partners
• Ability to assess customer needs and build sales through education rather than pressure
• Ability to connect with customers and explain the use of various meat cuts and culinary products
• Working knowledge of the farm's history, current happenings, upcoming events, and local business partners
• Ability to operate a point-of-sale system in a timely and accurate manner
• Flexibility to move between store, Inn, and event support, including selling, shipping, cleaning, guest hosting, and event assistance, all with a positive attitude
• Strong customer service orientation and a team-first mindset
• Ability to lift 50 lbs

Store hours: Daily 10am-5pm; willingness to work 3-6 days per week; Weekend availability expected, with additional flexibility needed during festival weekends and Inn coverage gaps.

Possible full-time positions may become available for the right candidate.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

In the Store

• Welcome customers by greeting them and offering assistance
• Guide guests through the store, suggesting products and sharing the stories behind them
• Educate customers on the farm's meats, artisan oils and balsamics, and other local partner products
• Share information about local and regional business partners, community happenings, and farm news
• Process payments accurately (cash, check, credit/debit)
• Exercise sound judgment to resolve customer issues as they arise
• Receive, inventory and stock products on store floor and back stock areas

Across the Property

• Support the Inn with housekeeping, turnover, and guest experience needs as scheduled
• Assist with festival and event operations, including setup, guest flow, vendor support, and day-of hospitality
• Represent the farm's mission and values consistently across every guest touchpoint, whether in the store, at the Inn, or on the festival grounds
• Contribute to overall team effort by assisting wherever needed
• Maintain scheduling commitments across all areas of responsibility

QUALIFICATIONS

• Friendly, outgoing personality with proven retail, sales or hospitality experience
• Genuine interest in local food systems, small producers, and community connection
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Able to problem-solve independently as issues arise
• Comfortable working across different roles and settings on a working farm property

We are looking forward to receiving your application. Thank you.

Job Type: Part-time