Union Square Greenmarket Operations Manager

Organization Information

GrowNYC is a 54-year-old environmental nonprofit organization helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential services and taking action to make NYC a livable city, one where every person can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life. GrowNYC Programs include:

• Our network of Greenmarkets, Farmstands and the work of GrowNYC Wholesale ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food.
• We build and support community and school gardens through volunteer days, technical assistance, training, grants and more.
• We provide 70,000 children each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment.

UNION SQUARE GREENMARKET OPERATIONS MANAGER (Full-time)

Position Summary

The Union Square Greenmarket Operations Manager oversees the daily operations of the Union Square Greenmarket, working with a team of staff to ensure a safe, efficient, and effective environment for Greenmarket producers, staff, and customers. Reporting to the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, this position is primarily field-based and on-the-ground at market year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. There is some required administrative work that can be conducted at the GrowNYC office or at home on Thursdays.

Requirements

Union Square Greenmarket Operations Manager Responsibilities (Include but are not limited to):

Operations and Administration

• Work with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager to oversee logistics and operations during each market day.
• Ensure that daily reports and documentation are completed accurately and that paperwork is processed and delivered to the GrowNYC office as needed.
• Work with the Operations team, Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, and Food Access & Agriculture (FAA) Director to plan daily and seasonal market layouts.
• Take the lead in tracking producer attendance changes, communicating with producers about absences and first and last days, and using shared documents to communicate this information to Union Square operations and publicity staff.
• Work with Union Square Greenmarket General Manager to onboard all new producers to the Union Square Greenmarket.
• Assist in oversight of operational aspects of Union Square Greenmarket vehicles and supplies.
• Create and edit market maps and indexes for internal use and the public, with assistance from the Publicity team and the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager.
• Collaborate with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager on decisions regarding producer reservations.
• Help track and communicate reservation changes to producers, the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, and Greenmarket administrative staff.
• Enforce Greenmarket rules and works closely with the Inspections & Compliance team, Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, Greenmarket Operations Manager, and senior staff to ensure that the Union Square Greenmarket is in compliance with city and state health and food safety regulations.
• Mediate disputes, provides support for staff when conflicts arise, and reviews any issues with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager and FAA Director for follow-up.

Staff Management and Supervision

• Supervise Greenmarket site leads and the Union Square Operations Coordinator in their operations-related duties at-market.
• Provide training, ongoing feedback, and conduct annual performance reviews for Greenmarket site leads and the Union Square Operations Coordinator.
• Conduct weekly one-on-one meetings with Greenmarket site leads and the Union Square Operations Coordinator.
• Collaborate with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, the Greenmarket Administrative Manager, and the Human Resources team to recruit, hire, and onboard new market staff.
• Work with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager and the Greenmarket Administrative Manager to monitor and modify staffing schedules according to market needs.
• Serve as USQ Greenmarket General Manager when the USQ Greenmarket General Manager is not available.
• Oversee staff management, including hiring, training, workflow, individual work plans, annual performance appraisals, professional development, conducting individual and team staff meetings, and reviewing staff time sheets as needed to ensure efficient time management and work conjunctively with HR to issue Corrective Action Notices (C.A.Ns) and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), as needed.

Stakeholder and Community Engagement

• Communicates and maintains relationships with customers, market partners, elected officials, city agencies, the NYPD, and other local entities.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with Union Square Greenmarket producers and send out operations-related communications.
• Attend community and partner meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two (2) years of work experience in project and/or operations management, preferably in an agriculture or food-related field.
• Minimum of one year of experience managing staff (preferably supervisory experience similar in scope to current Greenmarket field-based staffing) with a people-centered and inclusive leadership style.
• Demonstrated commitment to team building and creating a positive work environment.
• Excellent written and public speaking communication skills, with a desire and proven ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and knowledge levels.
• Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence, including willingness to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Proactive orientation with excellent time management skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a close-knit team.
• Dispute mediation and de-escalation skills.
• Experience working with diverse constituencies.
• Creative problem-solver, able to troubleshoot and use good judgment to make on-the-spot decisions.
• Flexible approach to work, with the ability to focus on meeting emergent needs and adjust to continuous change.
• Proven ability to be adaptable and comfortable dealing with ambiguity and complexity.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.
• Strong commitment to a racially and socially just food system.

Ideal Qualifications

• Spanish language proficiency
• Knowledge of sustainable local agriculture/farming, food systems, food access, and/or food justice.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 65 lbs and work outdoors (aiding techniques/tools will be provided for safe lifting upon request), walking, and standing for periods of up to 12 hours, sometimes in extreme temperatures. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Work outdoors, and walk and stand for periods of up to 12 hours, sometimes in extreme temperatures.
• Ability to work in a potentially noisy environment.
• A valid NY driver’s license and willingness to drive a box truck.

Schedule

The schedule is 35-40 hours a week, with field work required on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, including some early mornings (early as 5 AM) and holidays. Admin work on Thursday with the option to WFO or WFH.

Compensation

The position is an exempt full-time salaried position. It pays $65,000 - $70,000 and includes full benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, incentive savings plan, paid time off, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and potential for parental leave for full-time regular employees who have been employed with GrowNYC for 175 days and FSA programs). This position is non-union eligible/not a part of the bargaining unit.

Location

Union Square Greenmarket and GrowNYC Office at 100 Gold Street, New York, NY