Oak Park, IL – Farmers Market Manager

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

Job Classification: Farmers’ Market Manager
Department/Division Health Department
Employment Status: Full-time
Annual Salary/Grade: $50,000 – $62,500 +/- DOQ/Grade 6
FLSA: Exempt
Union: Non-Union
Employment Commission: N/A
Deadline for Application: Open until filled

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position manages the strategic planning and operation of the Oak Park Farmers’ Market; develops sustainable food strategies; and provides health and nutrition education, programming and promotion for the Village. During the Market season, this position would manage the internal staff and contractors needed to operate the Market, provides staff level support to the Farmers’ Market Commission, and manages vendor relations.
The Market season runs from May through October, with the Market itself held outdoors each Saturday. During this time, the work week for this position is Tuesday through Saturday. Year-round, this position will provide nutrition education programming for the community in collaboration with the Health Education and Nursing divisions.

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:
Applicants can apply directly using the following link:
https://secure.entertimeonline.com/ta/6141780.careers?ApplyToJob=537107615
For additional information on the position visit our website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Applications and resumes may also be submitted by mail to: Human Resources, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302; by email to: jobs@oak-park.us; or by fax to: 708-358-5107. The Village of Oak Park offers a highly competitive benefit package that includes a retirement plan, deferred compensation program, social security, health & life insurance, vacation, sick leave & other benefits.

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION

This position manages the strategic planning and operation of the Oak Park Farmers’ Market; develops sustainable food strategies; and provides health and nutrition education, programming and promotion for the Village. During the Market season, this position would manage the internal staff and contractors needed to operate the Market, provides staff level support to the Farmers’ Market Commission, and manages vendor relations.
The Market season runs from May through October, with the Market itself held outdoors each Saturday. During this time, the work week for this position is Tuesday through Saturday.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the Health Education Manager.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES – Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential duties and responsibilities:

Farmer’s Market
1. Reviews the operations of the Farmer’s Market to provide a strategic vision for financial sustainability, food and nutritional programming, and meaningful community events to ensure the high quality of the Oak Park Farmer’s Market.
2. Ensures that Market day activities are implemented efficiently. This includes but is not limited to set-up and tear-down, customer service, selling of merchandise, managing staff, and overseeing special events.
3. Maintains Market finances including creating and overseeing the budget, bookkeeping, petty cash system, and LINK system; provides periodic reports and accounting for sales, grant reporting and inventory.
4. Provides staff support to the Farmers’ Market Commission including monthly meetings and special events planning and execution.
5. Interfaces with the farmers/vendors of the Market; issues vendor permits, processes associated fees, and conducts annual surveys as well as farm visits.

Nutritional Education
1. Provides high quality, interactive in-person, and virtual nutrition education instruction to community members, covering topics on basic nutrition, food buying practices, physical activity, and other nutrition-related topics
2. Assists Health Education, Nursing and other appropriate Health Department staff in community-wide as well as Health Department-driven nutrition education initiatives.
3. Creates and seeks partnerships with and serves as a liaison between the Health Department and relevant community organizations that address food insecurity and nutrition issues and topics
4. Raises awareness of, educates on and assists community members with accessing and utilizing the SNAP program and other available nutrition programs effectively and efficiently as consumers
5. Manages relevant Health Department grant programming and reporting that pertains to nutritional programming and education

Food Sustainability
Ensures the Health Department accomplishes assigned tasks within the Climate Ready Oak Park plan and other ongoing Village sustainability efforts with a food or health component. These tasks could include, but are not limited to:
1. Identifying opportunities to collaborate with neighboring jurisdictions for sustainable food strategies
2. Preparing a Food Justice Plan
3. Creating guidelines to enhance safe food production
4. Identifying opportunities for community food production and implementing a program to connect residents with resources to grow food
5. Establishing a task force to develop an affordability strategy for community supported agriculture

Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:
Health education and communication strategies on nutrition, food preparation and community engagement

Operations and logistics of open market environments.

Sustainable food production methods and sustainable waste management

Principles of bookkeeping/accounting and grant management

Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations regarding the sale of perishable and non- perishable food items and Market-related merchandise.

Ability to:
Provide nutrition education.
Interpret and explain Village ordinances and regulations related to the operation of the Farmers’ Market.
Prepare clear and concise reports.
Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance.
Attend meetings and functions before and after regularly scheduled work hours, and manage the Market on-site from pre-opening set up to post-closing tear down each Market day May – October.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with vendors, the public, Village of Oak Park managers and members of the Farmers’ market Commission and others contacted in the course of work.

Lift and carry materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
Work independently in the absence of supervision.

Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:

— Making observations
— Communicating with others
— Reading and writing
— Operating assigned equipment

Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of:

— Making sound decisions
— Demonstrating intellectual capabilities

Maintain mental capacity which allows for effective interaction and communication with others.

Collaborate with community partners to curate appropriate sustainability and health programming for
Market customers and Oak Park residents

Experience and Training Guidelines

Experience:
Demonstrated responsible community experience including familiarity with the Village of Oak Park Farmers’ Market or similar open-air markets.
Demonstrated experience with health education, nutrition education, health programming or nutrition programming.

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Food Sciences or related field, or any combination of experience and education.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time.
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
As a condition of employment, all Village employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must submit proof of vaccination or a completed exemption form. Those employees who are not fully vaccinated shall be required to participate in the Village’s COVID-19 testing program and wear a mask at all times in the workplace except when actively eating or drinking.