Union Square Greenmarket Operations Manager

Union Square Greenmarket Operations Manager

Organization Information

GrowNYC is a 53-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 blanket the five boroughs with resources like food scrap and clothing collections to make waste reduction, recycling, and composting easy for all.
• 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.

Note to applicants on COVID safety:Note to applicants on COVID safety: GrowNYC is committed to stopping the spread of Covid-19. All new hires are encouraged to take the COVID vaccine (as defined by the CDC) and if you have received the vaccine, we kindly ask you to submit proof to our HR department within 30 days of hire. Employees may be required to follow COVID safety protocols as the situation evolves, which may include daily health screenings, mask wearing, and other mitigation measures as deemed necessary by local conditions, mandates, and applicable guidelines.

UNION SQUARE GREENMARKET OPERATIONS MANAGER (Full-time)

Position Summary

The Union Square Greenmarket Operations Manager oversees the daily operations of the Union Square Greenmarket, working with a team of staff to ensure a safe, efficient, and effective environment for Greenmarket producers, staff, and customers. Reporting to the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, this position is primarily field-based and on-the-ground at market year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. There is some required administrative work that can be conducted at the GrowNYC office or at home.

Union Square Greenmarket Operations Manager Responsibilities (Include but are not limited to):

Operations and Administration

• Works with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager to oversee logistics and operations during each market day.
• Ensures that daily reports and documentation are completed accurately and that paperwork is processed and delivered to the GrowNYC office as needed.
• Works with the Operations team, Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, and Food Access & Agriculture (FAA) Director to plan daily and seasonal market layouts.
• Takes the lead in tracking producer attendance changes, communicating with producers about absences and first and last days, and using shared documents to communicate this information to Union Square operations and publicity staff.
• Works with Union Square Greenmarket General Manager to onboard all new producers to the Union Square Greenmarket.
• Assists in oversight of operational aspects of Union Square Greenmarket vehicles and supplies.
• Creates and edits market maps and indexes for internal use and the public, with assistance from the Publicity team and the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager.
• Collaborates with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager on decisions regarding producer reservations.
• Helps track and communicate reservation changes to producers, the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, and Greenmarket administrative staff.
• Enforces Greenmarket rules and works closely with the Inspections & Compliance team, Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, Greenmarket Operations Manager, and senior staff to ensure that the Union Square Greenmarket is in compliance with city and state health and food safety regulations.
• Mediates disputes, provides support for staff when conflicts arise, and reviews any issues with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager and FAA Director for follow-up.

Staff Management and Supervision

• Supervises Greenmarket site leads and the Union Square Operations Coordinator in their operations-related duties at-market.
• Provides training, ongoing feedback, and conducts annual performance reviews for Greenmarket site leads and the Union Square Operations Coordinator.
• Conducts weekly one-on-one meetings with Greenmarket site leads and the Union Square Operations Coordinator.
• Collaborates with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager, the Greenmarket Administrative Manager, and the Human Resources team to recruit, hire, and onboard new market staff.
• Works with the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager and the Greenmarket Administrative Manager to monitor and modify staffing schedules according to market needs.
• Acting as USQ Greenmarket General Manager when the USQ Greenmarket General Manager is not available.

Stakeholder and Community Engagement

• Communicates and maintains relationships with customers, market partners, elected officials, city agencies, and other local entities.
• Works with Union Square private security partners and facilitates dialogue and coordination with City agencies, including the NYPD, to ensure the safety and security of GrowNYC staff, producers, the public, and key stakeholders at large.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with Union Square Greenmarket producers and sends out operations-related communications.
• Attends community and partner meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two (2) years of work experience in project and/or operations management, preferably in an agriculture- or food-related field.
• Experience managing staff (preferably supervisory experience similar in scope to current Food Access field-based staffing) with a people-centered leadership style.
• Demonstrated commitment to team building and creating a positive work environment.
• Excellent written and public speaking communication skills, with a desire and proven ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and knowledge levels.
• Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence, including willingness to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Proactive orientation with excellent time management skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a close-knit team.
• Dispute mediation and de-escalation skills.
• Experience working with diverse constituencies.
• Creative problem-solver, able to troubleshoot and use good judgment to make on-the-spot decisions.
• Flexible approach to work, with the ability to focus on meeting emergent needs and adjust to continuous change.
• Proven ability to be adaptable and comfortable dealing with ambiguity and complexity.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.
• Strong commitment to a racially and socially just food system.
• Knowledge of sustainable agriculture and farming and related issues (ideal).
• Spanish language proficiency (highly desirable).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., work outdoors, and walk and stand for periods of up to 10 hours, sometimes in extreme temperatures.
• Ability to work in a potentially noisy environment.
• A valid NY driver’s license and willingness to drive a box truck.

Schedule

The schedule is 35-40 hours a week, with work required on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, including some early mornings and holidays.

Compensation

The position is an exempt full-time salaried position. It pays $65,000 - $70,000 and includes full benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, incentive savings plan, paid time off, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and potential for parental leave for full-time regular employees who have been employed with GrowNYC for 175 days and FSA programs). This position is non-union eligible/not a part of the bargaining unit.

Location

Union Square Greenmarket and the office located in Manhattan

Applications

Qualified candidates for the USQ Greenmarket Operations Manager position should submit a cover letter, resume, and three references. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis starting Monday, February 12, 2024. Due to the volume of employment applications received, GrowNYC is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate. No phone calls or recruiters, please.

Application deadline is Friday, March 1st, 2024.

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.