Vacancy expired!
START-UP MANAGER: LOCALLY-SOURCED & NATURAL FOODS MARKET
Join the leadership of a successful enterprise in the fast expanding $20 billion local food industry. Start-up food-hub Grow Ohio Valley has built production, sales and distribution infrastructure to grow local agriculture into a force for social and economic change throughout the Appalachian rust-belt. The company is now expanding and seeks to hire an ambitious, creative, community-minded retail manager to lead its new Public Market initiativea place based, locally-sourced and natural foods market in the downtown center of three USDA food desert census tracks in Wheeling, West Virginia. Amidst broad community interest and support from municipal, state and national funders, this venture will galvanize a thriving community through providing access to local and healthy food in a way that improves the financial wherewithal of local and regional farmers. This position is a unique opportunity to become a leader developing food systems toward prosperous economic development and real social equity.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
This position will responsible for leading the launch and management of the Public Market toward profitability. It will report the company's Executive Director and Board of Directors. Responsibilities will include to:
Maintain and establish new productive farmer and other producer relationships.
Adjust product mix and merchandizing to maximize market profitability while operating within its mission.
Develop and execute successful marketing and promotional programs.
Engage the community through creative outreach and event programs.
Track and report sales and expenses via POS and accounting systems.
Adjust and develop new operating policies and procedures as required.
Schedule and manage 2 - 4 additional market staff, and disburse payments to producers and vendors.
Develop and maintain accurate budget projections and assist fundraising efforts.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Qualified individuals will demonstrate evidence of the following skills, attributes and experiences:
Self-starter, hard worker and natural leader
Passionate local and/or natural food enthusiast
Knowledge of or experience in grocery or agriculture, especially food safety, post-harvest handling, pricing, marketing, and merchandising
Ability to coordinate and conduct successful outreach across diverse populations
Experience in all or some of the following:
- Retail merchandising and management - Accounting and budgeting
- Food handling or gardening - Profit and loss responsibility
- Managing staff and reporting to executive management
Must have or gain immediate proficiency in Excel, POS and accounting software
STORE CONCEPT
Set to open in May 2019, the Public Market is a year-round, non-profit farmers market that brings local and natural foods into the heart of downtown Wheeling (currently spanned by three USDA-classified Food Desert census tracts). The market will facilitate investment in local farmers by selling local foods on consignment when possible, returning 70-80% of sales dollars to farmers versus just 15% in traditional grocery markets. By doing so, the market anticipates channeling million dollars to local farmers.
The market will emphasize local sourced, high quality natural and ethically sourced foods. It will be housed in one of the best downtown retail spaces in Wheeling, secured through a partnership with the City. The market is clearly differentiated from other regional markets through its unique local and natural-oriented product mix, its prime location, and strong support from regional farmers and funders, including the USDA, the WV Department of
Agriculture, WV DHHR, and the City of Wheeling among others.
ABOUT GROW OHIO VALLEY
Grow Ohio Valley is a fast growing non-profit food hub with a vision to achieve regional food security. Founded in 2014 by an urban farmer and a Harvard Business School graduate, the initiative is widely recognized as a positive change agent throughout the Ohio Valley. In four years it has developed 6-productive farming sites, a small aggregation center, and a loyal customer base; aggregates fresh healthy food from over 20 local farms; and delivers food-access and food and nutritional literacy programs that reach over 5,000 students a year. Through these efforts, we hope to fashion a new economic landscape, one offering increased prosperity, improved health, and a better environment!
In addition to its food production, equitable access and related educational programs, Grow Ohio Valley hosts an AmeriCorps program, in which 15 service workers are trained in various aspects of local food systems each year. We also supply a FARMacy program, where participants receive medical prescriptions for healthy food to treat diet-related illness. Successfully launching the Public Market is our top priority for 2019.
COMPENSATION
$30,000 - $40,000 per year depending on experience
Qualified applicants should send their resume with a cover letter explaining interest to
PublicMarket@GrowOV.org . No calls please.
Vacancy expired!