Foodchester, Inc. is the community-based organization that operates the award winning, Best of Westchester (11 years in a row!) Pleasantville Farmers Market.

We are a values-driven nonprofit with a three-part mission:

• Encourage a healthy community by promoting a sustainable food system with wholesome regionally grown and produced food;
• Foster a culture of community and pride in our village, and a farmers market that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Support Pleasantville’s economic development by bringing more visitors and activity to the retail shopping districts, and encouraging visitors to explore the Village’s historical and cultural offerings.

Among vendors, we have a reputation of being clear communicators, professional and meticulous. The organization has well-developed and tested processes for every aspect of our operations, and we are thoughtful and rigorous about continuous improvement. What makes us different:

• We are the only market that regularly inspects vendors to ensure that they are growing or producing what they are selling. We do this on short notice and vendors know we are serious about compliance.
• Farm and business owners often staff their own tents at the PFM and pay reps to work at other markets. Why? Because we attract serious foodies who want to talk to the people who grow or make their food. Our shoppers are a curious and dedicated group!
• We support the local community with programming and student scholarships, and have a close collaboration with our Chamber of Commerce.
• We are volunteer driven: over 20 adult and 25 student interns take regular shifts to welcome shoppers from across the region and help operate our amazing market.

We need a strong team of reliable, focused, and eager staff members to make an event like this happen every week, in any kind of weather. Read on to learn about the opportunity to join the market that our County Executive, George Latimer, calls “The mother of all markets!” We offer the highest pay rate in the region for this role, because we want the best and most dedicated people. If that describes you, then we look forward to talking to you!

JOB POSTING: ASSISTANT MARKET MANAGER, PLEASANTVILLE FARMERS MARKET

Start Date: ASAP

Title: Assistant Market Manager 

Commitment: 10 hours per week, Saturdays, April - November 

7-8 hours per week, Saturdays, December - March

Location: All paid time is on-site, outdoors, at Memorial Plaza in Pleasantville, NY

Overview:

Join our friendly, hardworking team, which comes together every Saturday to produce a large, vibrant farmers market that’s a community hub and a source of some of the best food around.  

The Assistant Market Manager supports the mission and operations of the Pleasantville Farmers Market, which is operated by Foodchester, Inc., a Pleasantville-based non-profit organization. The Market is the largest year-round farmers market in the region, with about 60 vendors, and has won “Best of Westchester” 11 times in a row. We have one of the highest rates of owner representation, and as a result, the Market attracts devoted “foodies” from around the county, and region, who see PFM as a destination to connect directly with farmers and small batch food artisans. It operates year-round, outdoors in Memorial Plaza, with a full schedule of music, culinary, health and sustainability, kids and community events during the summer months. At its peak, the Market attracts upwards of 3,000 shoppers per week. 

Our weekly market operation requires two paid staff members supported by Village DPW and a rotating set of adult and youth intern volunteers. The position includes assisting with setup and breakdown of the Market every Saturday (around 4:40 or 5:00am to 2:30pm in summer, 6:00am to 1:30pm in winter; hours can vary slightly based on adjustments for weather or market events), oversight of vendors, engaging with the public as host, ensuring compliance with market rules, managing adult volunteers and youth interns, and teamwork with all staff to successfully implement logistics and themes to assure a smooth and safe market. There are physical requirements for this position (details below). Works under general supervision of the Manager of Market Operations.

Responsibilities: 

• Assist the Manager of Market Operations in implementing market set-up and logistics
• Unload and reload sheds of all materials needed to support municipal, volunteer, vendor and shopper needs 
• Stage elements of vendor queue systems (rods, cones, signs) 
• Direct municipal (DPW) employees and support market volunteers in a variety of setup, breakdown or market operations goals
• Ensure vendors comply with food safety standards and safety protocol. 
• Enforce market rules (e.g., no smoking, no dogs, etc.) and respond to customer or vendors’ needs; attend to and/or report grievances (involving customers or vendors) or accidents
• Supervise and coordinate vendors and volunteers to ensure safety as vendor vehicles enter/depart and oversee orderly breakdown and storage of all market equipment and collateral
• Assist with special Market programs – like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), music, culinary events 
• Assist in tracking and reporting weekly attendance estimates

Qualifications:

• Ability to start early workday (4:30am/5:00am) and work in all weather conditions, year-round
• Available to start immediately and work every Saturday 
• Able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and walk and stand for several hours at a time
• Reliable, punctual, mature, organized, cheerful
• Attention to detail; ability to multitask, think on one’s feet to solve operational problems, and own processes through to completion
• Previous retail or customer service experience
• Knowledge of, passion for and/or experience in local food systems, food distribution, the importance of local farms, and/or farmers markets
• First aid and CPR training a plus
• Spanish language proficiency a plus

Compensation: 

• Hourly rate: $23

Please note: Foodchester, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Foodchester, Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, compensation and training. 

Foodchester, Inc. expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Foodchester, Inc.’s employees, volunteers or vendors to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.