The César E. Chávez Farmers’ Market is a community market that provides access to locally grown fruits, vegetables and other farm products, while creating a sense of community within the Roosevelt Park neighborhood in Grand Rapids. The 2021 market season will take place at Clemente Park in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood.

Market Manager Position

The Market Manager is a part time position with primary responsibility being the day-to-day operation of the farmers’ market. This will include an on-site presence at the market during all market hours (currently scheduled for Fridays, 3pm-7:30pm from June 18 – September 25), as well as off-site work during non-market hours. The Market Manager will report to a market committee, who will set all market policy. In addition, the Market Manager will represent the market to the market’s vendors, the consumers and to the community.

Duties

· Must enroll 5 permanent vendors (4 of which are farmers, not prepared foods).

· Collect weekly stall fees.

· Arrive prior to market vendors arriving and remain throughout the market day to:

· Properly place vendors in stalls, including assigning market stalls to vendors

· Place market signs, parking signs

· Ensure all market rules and regulations are adhered to

· Answer questions for vendors and consumers and resolve any disputes that arise

· Maintain market grounds in a safe manner

· Operate market manager’s booth

· Have materials to distribute

· Have recipes for seasonal, local foods that are available in the market

· Operate market’s Snap/EBT program, including managing scrip and ensuring required documentation of payments is collected

· Communicate market policies, activities and rules to farmers, keeping them informed throughout the season. Bring suggestions from farmers back to the market board/committee.

· Follow and enforce proper public safety health guidelines such as Covid-19 safety protocols.

· Conduct periodic customer counts each market day to assess the level of growth in market usage as well as vendor and customer surveys.

· Assure the market site is clean once the market is closed and the vendors have left for the day.

· Supervise youth interns when applicable.

· Complete professional development as required.

· Work with the Market Committee to plan for market growth and development.

· Ensure that all vendor licenses or EBT signage is accurately posted.

Preferred Qualifications

Bilingual in English and Spanish
Proven experience as a market manager
Prior established relationships with the agricultural community
Dispute resolution skills
Good communication and organizational skills
Some financial knowledge helpful: i.e. basic money management and accounting skills
Self-motivated
Passionate about the community and local agriculture

Contract Details

March – May, 2021: $1,500 to secure a minimum of 5 permanent vendors for the market. 4 of the 5 must be farmers rather than prepared food vendors. Attend monthly Market Committee meetings to provide market updates (meetings are currently virtual).

June – October, 2021: $3,000 to manage 1 market day per week (approximately 5-6 hours), attend one monthly Market Committee meeting and maintain a minimum of 5 permanent vendors.

Interested applicants should send cover letter and resume by March 15 to:

César E. Chávez Farmers’ Market Committee

c/o Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association

1260 Grandville Avenue SW

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

or by email to [log in to unmask]

Amy Brower, Executive Director

Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association

1260 Grandville Avenue SW

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Phone: (616) 243-2489

Fax: (616) 243-8898

Website: rooseveltparkna.org