Retail Operations & Sourcing Manager

Retail Operations & Sourcing Manager RUSTIC ROOTS SANCTUARY CO

Location: Rustic Roots Sanctuary in Spanish Lake, MO

On-site at the Farm & local Farmers Markets to start the transitioning to the retail location in 2027. Position Type:
Full-Time, Hourly (35 hours/week, requires weekend availability)

Starting Rate (Phase
1): $23.00 – $25.00 per hour (based on experience)

Store Launch Rate (Phase
2):
Automatically scales to $26.50 – $28.50 per hour once the physical storefront opens.

At Rustic Root Sanctuary, we are cultivating more than just fresh, local food—we are building a thriving community food hub. We are seeking a dynamic, organized, and business-minded Retail Operations & Sourcing Manager to join our team on the ground level.

E-Commerce Management:
Manage the daily operations of our online storefront. This includes updating inventory, fulfilling digital orders accurately, and maintaining a seamless digital customer experience.

Farmers Market Execution:
Lead our weekend farmers market operations. You will handle market logistics, drive on-site sales, engage with our community, and analyze consumer buying trends.

Inventory Tracking:
Master the unique mechanics of “farm-to-sales” conversions. Track seasonal harvest yields, monitor product shelf-life, and optimize pricing to maximize velocity and minimize waste.

Boots-on-the-Ground Marketing:
Partner with our digital marketer, to drive local sales. You will capture real-time photo/video content on the farm and at markets (“What’s fresh today!”), draft local customer emails, and design eye-catching physical market signage.

Vendor Identification:
Research, identify, and vet high-quality external vendors, local artisans, and regional producers to supplement our farm-fresh goods in the upcoming retail store.

Relationship Building:
Initiate contact with potential vendors, negotiate wholesale pricing, and sample products to ensure they align with the Rustic Root Sanctuary ethos.

PO System Design:
Build and implement a structured Purchase Order (PO) system from scratch to streamline how we source and track inventory from both our own farm and external vendors.

Brick-and-Mortar Transition:
Assist leadership in setting up the physical store layout, building the POS system, and creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) for daily store operations.

Storefront Management:
Transition into the day-to-day manager of the brick-and-mortar retail space once the doors open next year, blending our online, market, and physical storefronts into a unified operation.

• Experience:
  
  2+ years in retail operations, e-commerce fulfillment (Shopify, Square, etc.), inventory management, or local food systems.
• The Systems Mindset:
  You love organization and are excited by the challenge of building tracking spreadsheets and PO frameworks from scratch.
• Sourcing & Negotiation Savvy:
  Comfortable reaching out to new businesses, evaluating product quality, and negotiating vendor terms.
• Communication & Content Comfort:
  Excellent interpersonal skills for market customers. Comfortable taking quick, high-quality photos/videos on a smartphone to pass along to our marketing lead.
• Physical Stamina &
  
  Schedule:
  
  Ability to work outdoors at weekend markets, stand for extended periods, and lift up to 40 lbs.
• Alignment with Mission: A genuine passion for sustainable agriculture, healthy food access, and community wellness.

To ensure fairness and clear tracking, this position uses a transparent hourly structure:

On-Site Tracking:
All work—including e-commerce fulfillment and marketing content capture—must be done on-site or at designated market locations using our geofenced time-tracking app.

Schedule Balance:
Shifts will be carefully structured across a strict 40-hour workweek to balance weekday farm/online tasks with required weekend market hours.

You aren’t just managing a cash register; you are helping build a local food institution. This role offers a rare professional runway, allowing you to master our business inside and out before taking the reins of a brand-new physical retail launch next year. Plus, enjoy a highly coveted “farm fridge” perk with access to fresh farm products!

Please send resume and cover letter to (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).