Job: Farm Store Manager

Simple Gifts Farm

1089 N. Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002

Company Description:
Simple Gifts Farm is a small, diverse market farm located in North Amherst, Mass. We run a 300-member CSA program and were 18-year members of the Amherst Farmer’s Market.
Salary Range:Location:
Per Year MA
Job Type:Category:
Full TimeSales/Retail
Education Level:Work Experience:
Some College Coursework Completed
Preference: Nice to have
2+
Preference: Nice to have
Skills/Certifications/Licences:
Farm, farmer's market, and/or retail experience - Preference: Nice to have
Ability to lift 50 pounds - Preference: Required
Description:
Simple Gifts Farm Farm Store Manager Job Description
Simple Gifts Farm is a small, diverse market farm located in Western Massachusetts. We run a 300-member CSA program and were 18-year members of the Amherst Farmer’s Market. In July of 2017, we opened a full-service farm store on-site to converge our CSA and retail marketing efforts. While vegetables are our main crop, we integrate livestock into our production system to build soil fertility and to produce meat and eggs.

We lease a total of 30 acres from North Amherst Community Farm (NACF), a nonprofit formed by a coalition of passionate farm neighbors who own the land and have preserved it in perpetuity for farming. NACF selected us as farm tenants to ensure that the land remains an organic farm, a wildlife corridor, and a place for local residents to enjoy nature and walking trails. We run the farm as an ecological unit, working to improve the health of micro and macro-organisms alike, and connecting our CSA members and other neighbors with their local food supply. We also pride ourselves on being a working educational farm by offering an immersive organic farming apprenticeship program. We maintain a collaborative and professional work environment where all staff are encouraged to achieve excellent results, both independently and as members of a team.

Overview:
The Farm Store Manager will oversee all daily operations of the Simple Gifts Farm store and will work to ensure smooth and timely completion of duties, communication with other segments of the farm operation, and to foster a friendly, professional, collaborative and harmonious work environment at the store. The successful applicant will also bring some entrepreneurial drive to the position and will be actively involved in improving the sales and profitability of the store. This position is a full-time, year-round management position that will include some weekend duties. Please apply by sending a resume, a list of at least 3 work references, and a cover letter explaining your interest in the position to Jeremy Barker Plotkin at simplegiftsfarm@gmail.com.

Specific Responsibilities of Farm Store Manager

Maintain beautiful and bountiful produce display
Collaborate with Harvest Manager and other Farm staff to keep inventory of produce from Simple Gifts and other farms well-stocked in farm store walk-in cooler and on display
Proactively manage produce display in store to highlight seasonal specials and maximize produce quality and sales
Supervise farm store staff to achieve above results

Maintain Inventory and POS system
Manage data entry to ensure accurate record-keeping and projections
Order products for farm store as needed to optimize sales, maintain abundant display and minimize spoilage
Source new products for sale in the store
Collaborate with Farmer, Harvest Manager, and other farm staff to continually improve inventory, POS, and record-keeping systems

Manage farm store staff
Schedule and supervise farm store staff
Train farm store staff in operation of POS system, display management, and all other tasks as needed
Participate in hiring of new farm store staff as needed
Foster collaborative, friendly, and productive work environment


Manage physical appearance of store environment
Maintain upkeep of perennial flower and herb landscaping around farm store
Monitor PYO gardens and communicate with CSA members and other customers about PYO crop availability and location
Build and maintain seasonal displays including signage, decorations, and merchandising (bedding plants in spring, pumpkins/squash in fall, etc.)
Collaborate with other farm staff to accomplish the above duties

Manage promotion of store
Produce and publish weekly newsletter
Regularly update farm’s social media account
Regularly generate special sales and other promotions for stand
Collaborate with other farm staff to solicit content for social media and newsletter
Collaborate with farm management and graphic designer to generate and manage print, radio, social media, and other advertising
Help to create a welcoming environment for customers
Bring an entrepreneurial attitude towards increasing sales and margins in the store.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience, and future increases will be tied to the performance of the store. This job has the potential to be remunerative to an employee who actively works to bring the store to a high level of performance.
Requirements: