Seasonal Farmstand Site Staff and Site Lead

Seasonal Farmstand Site Staff and Site Lead

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. 

SEASONAL FARMSTAND SITE STAFF AND SITE LEAD (Part-time or Full-time):

Position Summary

GrowNYC Farmstand is part of a network of food access retail sites operated by GrowNYC. Through Farmstand, GrowNYC sells fresh, affordable food in neighborhoods throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. The food sold at Farmstand locations is grown by farmers in the Northeast and transparently sourced through GrowNYC Wholesale. The Farmstand Site Staff will help sell fruits, vegetables, and other products outdoors throughout New York City with leadership and guidance from a Farmstand Site Lead. Please note that some shifts require driving and, therefore, a driver’s license. The Farmstand Staff and Lead positions and roles are seasonal, part-time, or full-time, depending on the availability of applicants and program needs. Each Farmstand site is typically staffed by 2-4 Site Staff and 1 Site Lead.

Responsibilities (include, but are not limited to)

Staff Duties/Responsibilities:

Operations 

• Set up and break down the Farmstand, carrying equipment and cases/bags of produce weighing up to 65 lbs, folding tables and tents, standing for up to 8 hours per shift, and performing other physical labor. (Aiding techniques/tools will be provided for safe lifting upon request)
• Daily market operations— product display, merchandising, sales, customer service, inventorying, and site clean up according to schedule
• Answer customer questions about products, including sourcing, farming practices, and food preparation 
• Attend meetings with supervisors, regular ongoing trainings, and departmental outings 
• De-escalate conflict at the Farmstand between customers and/or the public as it arises 
• Support the driver in maintaining a well-organized van

Food Access 

• Educate customers regarding food access and nutrition incentive programs
• Perform debit/credit, cash, SNAP/EBT, and other nutrition benefit transactions 

Promotions and Outreach 

• Provide exceptional customer service to Farmstand customers
• Conduct cooking demonstrations and onsite promotional events (varies by site) 
• Post informative and engaging content to GrowNYC social media channels
• Perform outreach in the local community to promote Farmstand and the use of SNAP and other nutrition incentive programs

Site Lead Duties/Responsibilities (all of the above, plus):

Administration

• Oversee daily market operations, product displays, customer service, inventorying, and site clean-up
• Delegate tasks to site staff as needed
• Ensure that site bins are fully stocked with all necessary materials each week, by picking up supplies from the office and bringing it to your site
• Manage conflict at the Farmstand between site staff, customers, and the public as it arises and observe protocol for reporting and follow-up
• Attend meetings and complete administrative work remotely or at the GrowNYC office, including a mandatory in-person bi-weekly meeting on Tuesdays at 10 am and bi-weekly virtual check-ins with supervisors
• Maintain accurate records for debit/credit, cash, EBT, and other nutrition benefit transactions 
• Be responsible for a bank of cash, an iPad, and other equipment necessary for completing transactions
• Safely deposit cash income into the GrowNYC bank account within 24 hours of site closing each week (cash deposits for Saturday sites should be made by Monday at 12pm)
• Maintain organized accounting records for the Farmstand and complete weekly reports for each site
• Complete and distribute a “Run of Show” (operations schedule) to site staff for each Farmstand shift

Driver Duties/Responsibilities: (for Site Staff who drive only)

• Safely operate a cargo van on NYC roads and highways, distributing market equipment to Farmstand sites (may include multiple sites)
• Report vehicle issues to Supervisor and/or Fleet Administrator immediately as they arise
• Complete the pre trip vehicle inspection forms for every driving shift
• Complete the weekly dry goods inventory spreadsheet
• Park the van in a legal street location which often requires parallel parking. Use Google van channels to communicate the van location at the end of the shift. Parking location can vary throughout the season based on a van plan
• Drop off unsold food donations at designated locations
• Follow all procedures for incidents and accidents and comply with the Vehicle Collision SOP 

Required Qualifications (for ALL)

• Willing to work every scheduled shift throughout the season (July through November), including weekends and holidays 
• An early riser who enjoys working outdoors in all weather conditions 
• Experience working in retail and/or customer service
• Willing to work weekdays and weekends
• Enjoy talking and working with people of all backgrounds
• Comfortable working with the public in a variety of NYC neighborhoods
• Strong communication skills and the ability to respond to work-related communication in a timely manner
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Works well both independently and as a member of a team 

Additional Required Qualifications for Site Leads only:

• Creative problem-solver, able to troubleshoot and use good judgment to make on-the-spot decisions 
• Competency with Google Suite 
• Experience handling and managing cash in a retail setting
• Demonstrated ability to pay attention to detail

Additional Required Qualifications For Site Staff who drive only:

• A valid driver’s license with at least one year of experience and willingness to drive a cargo van
• Have a satisfactory driving record 
• Experience driving on NYC streets and highways 
• Able to use good judgment and make safe decisions while driving 
• Comfortable driving in all weather conditions and able to start driving early if there is inclement weather

Ideal Qualifications for ALL

• Passionate about farming, farmers markets, local agriculture, cooking, and/or food access
• Experience in community outreach and food justice work 
• Fluency in multiple languages is a big plus (especially, but not limited to, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese)
• For Drivers only: experience driving a cargo van or box truck

Physical Requirements

Ability to lift up to 65 lbs (aiding techniques/tools will be provided for safe lifting upon request), though employees may request accommodations as needed. For field staff positions, GrowNYC will relay important information to you on an ongoing basis. You will need to access certain platforms (apps) to communicate with your team. We require a phone/smartphone that has access to the internet/email and call/text at the time of hire. 

Position Details 

Schedule

The schedule and amount of hours are subject to change and may vary from 6.5 hours a week to up to 35 hours per week. Overtime work requires the program director’s approval. Shifts are available Wednesdays through Saturdays and usually need to arrive on-site by 7 am. 

Compensation

The position is a non-exempt seasonal and variable hourly position. It pays $21/hour when performing Staff and/or Driver role and $22/hour when performing Lead role, and includes only statutory benefits. All positions and roles are union-eligible.

Location

Farmstand shifts take place at different outdoor sites across New York City in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. Staff should not expect to retain the same schedule or site throughout their employment, and we reserve the right to modify as needed.

Applications

Apply for the Seasonal Farmstand Site Staff and Site Lead part-time or full-time position with a resume and at least one reference.

Interviews and hiring will take place on a rolling basis from May through July. Training begins in late June, and all seasonal Farmstand sites will open in early July. Hours will ramp up to the regular full or part-time schedules during this time.

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.