Temporary Farmstand Program 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 blanket the five boroughs with resources like food scrap and clothing collections to make waste reduction, recycling, and composting easy for all. 
• 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. 

TEMPORARY FARMSTAND PROGRAM MANAGER (full-time):

Position Summary

The Temporary Farmstand Program Manager will assist the Farmstand Field Manager and the Farmstand team in the day-to-day operations of our 17 weekly Farmstand locations through a combination of regularly scheduled tasks, seasonally dependent projects, on-demand logistical support, and regular work in the field as a Farmstand Site Lead or Site Staff. The Temporary Farmstand Program Manager will work closely with the Field Manager to supervise 15-20 Farmstand Site Leads and Site Staff throughout the season.

This position is a temporary support role from June 2024 through December 2024. 

Requirements

Temporary Farmstand Program Manager Responsibilities (Include but are not limited to):

Staff Management and Supervision 

• Together with the Field Manager, conduct mid-season check-ins and end-of-season/annual reviews for all Farmstand site staff
• Train 15-20 Site Leads and Site Staff, leading biweekly check-ins and supervising their operational and logistical responsibilities
• Conduct one-on-one meetings with Site Leads bi-weekly, with half of the Site Leads
• Lead staff onboarding and schedule virtual and field training for new Farmstand field staff
• Act as point of contact for all Farmstand and field staff, including fielding staff inquiries, coordinating staff meetings and check-ins, and providing resources, materials, and ongoing guidance and support to all FS staff
• Supervise the Farmstand Program Assistant and conduct regular one-on-one check-ins 

Operational 

• Oversee the day-to-day logistics and operations for GrowNYC’s network of Farmstand locations
• Be available to provide coverage for Farmstand field staff absences, sometimes with very short notice. 
• Lead efforts to find coverage for shifts, sometimes on very short notice, and communicate with the Farmstand Field Manager.
• Travel to different Farmstand sites each week to provide support to Farmstand Site Leads and Site Staff as needed
• Oversee the schedule, use, operation, and maintenance of three Farmstand vans
• Work with the Field Manager to ensure all Farmstand equipment and site staffing needs are being met

Administration 

• Co-lead bi-weekly Farmstand Site Lead and all staff meetings to discuss sites, share lessons learned, and troubleshoot issues as they arise
• In conjunction with the Farmstand Field Manager, manage and communicate weekly Farmstand field staff schedules (maintain and update schedules, calendars, and agendas)
• With help from the Farmstand Program Assistant, ensure that all Site Leads are completing their reconciliation paperwork on time and accurately. Follow up with Site Leads that aren’t doing so and escalate as necessary 
• Update Farmstand’s online presence and ensure that our website, flyers, maps, and public-facing materials have accurate and up-to-date information
• Manage the system for receiving, approving, and tracking field staff time-off requests and communicate and approve the requests with the Field Manager
• Collaborate with GrowNYC’s Food Access programs to support staffing and scheduling at FAA field sites
• Document staff performance and coordinate performance reviews and disciplinary discussions in conjunction with the Field Manager

Staff Recruitment and Hiring 

• Work with HR to review and screen candidate resumes and cover letters applying for Farmstand field staff and track applicants’ progress via Paylocity, our Human Resource portal
• Coordinate and co-lead the interview process for prospective Farmstand field staff candidates together with the Farmstand Field Manager.  
• Draft and share interview materials with the hiring committee and lead the follow-up with successful applicants
• Discuss and decide on successful candidates with the Farmstand Field Manager and other departments during the hiring season 
• Work with the Farmstand Field Manager to assign staff roles and sites to newly hired field staff
• Coordinate with the Field Manager and HR, and make offers to successful candidates
• Participate in the weekly Hiring Meeting with HR, Food Access & Agriculture, and Zero Waste supervisors
• Update job descriptions for Farmstand field staff and work with HR to post and share job descriptions

Budget and Fiscal Management 

• Manage an internal ordering, tracking, distributing, and accounting system for Farmstand equipment and field supplies.
• Review Farmstand’s Accounting Summary spreadsheet on a monthly basis to ensure that it is accurately tracking all site financial information
• Work closely with the Farmstand Program Assistant and Assistant Director to monitor Farmstand financial accounting by site and follow up to ensure best practices are being used and to eliminate discrepancies.
• Work with the Farmstand Field Manager to improve program Key Performance Indicators based on bi-weekly sales analyses prepared by the Farmstand Program Assistant 
• Together with the Assistant Director, compile the program’s recorded accounting data to create an annual report that includes relevant statistics that describe the overall performance and share the report with relevant stakeholders

Stakeholder and Community Engagement 

• Participating in community partner meetings as needed
• Support Field Manager with  onsite logistics for events and activities planned in collaboration with community-based nonprofit organizations, city and state agencies, community businesses, and other Farmstand partners
• Assist with the implementation of outreach strategies to raise awareness about the Farmstand program

Required Qualifications

• At least one (1) year of experience managing staff, volunteers, or interns, OR one year of demonstrated leadership experience
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Be productive in a fast-paced environment
• Experience interacting with the public and handling opposing viewpoints with a calm demeanor
• Strong initiative and time management skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a close-knit team
• Creative problem-solver, able to troubleshoot and use good judgment to make on-the-spot decisions
• Strong commitment to a racially and socially just food system
• Comfortable traveling throughout the City, within a variety of diverse neighborhoods, and a demonstrated history of successfully working with people from a variety of identity groups and backgrounds
• A valid New York State driver's license for at least one year, and a willingness to operate a cargo van
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Documents, especially Google Spreadsheets

Ideal Qualifications

• Fluency in multiple languages is a big plus (especially, but not limited to, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese)
• 1-3 years of professional and/or volunteer experience in local agriculture, food systems, food access, and/or food justice.
• Passionate about farming, farmers markets, local agriculture, cooking, and/or food access
• Experience driving a cargo van or box truck

Physical Requirements

• This position requires working outdoors, sometimes in extreme temperatures and a potentially noisy environment.
• The ability to stand for lengthy periods of time (between 5-8 hours/day)
• The Program Manager must be able to lift heavy equipment and supplies, up to 50 lbs.

Schedule

This position is full-time, temporary from June 2024 through December 2024, with a regular schedule of Tuesday through Saturday. Site shifts and other logistical work may begin as early as 7:00 am, and may require evening work.  

Compensation

This is a non-exempt seasonal position that pays $38.46 per hour to $41.21 per hour and includes only statutory benefits. This position is not union eligible/not a part of the bargaining unit.  

Location

The Temporary Farmstand Program Manager will work primarily out of our office located in Downtown Manhattan, at Farmstand sites throughout New York City, and at our off-site storage locations. This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in our Manhattan office with a mandatory presence on Wednesdays or in the field at food access sites. In-person field-based work and off-site travel will be expected.

Applications

Qualified candidates for the Temporary Farmstand Program Manager position should submit a cover letter, resume, and three references. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis starting May 27th, 2024. Due to the volume of employment applications received, GrowNYC is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate. No phone calls or recruiters, please. 

Application deadline is May 30th, 2024.

Contact

GrowNYC 

P.O. Box 2327

New York, NY 10272

212-788-7900

For additional information, please see our website: grownyc.org 

GrowNYC is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and hires without regard to race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation or physical disability.