Market Support Assistant - Temporary

Market Support Assistant Historic Marion Tailgate Market - Marion, NC Temporary Part-Time | Saturdays | September–October | $15–$17/hour About the Historic Marion Tailgate Market

The Historic Marion Tailgate Market is a weekly community farmers market in downtown Marion, bringing together local farmers, food producers, artisans, and community members from across McDowell County and surrounding areas. The market is a gathering place for fresh, locally grown food, connection, and community, and is operated by McDowell Local Food Advisory Council.

The market runs Saturdays from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM, May through October, and welcomes hundreds of community members throughout the season.

The Market Support Assistant helps ensure smooth market operations from setup through breakdown each Saturday. This hands-on role works alongside the Market Manager, vendors, volunteers, and community partners to create a welcoming, organized, safe, and enjoyable market experience.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors, interacting with the public, and being part of a vibrant community market.

Saturdays, September–October
Approximately 7:00 AM–1:30 PM, including setup and breakdown.

The position requires reliable attendance and punctuality, as market days operate on a tight schedule.

• Assist with setup and breakdown of market infrastructure, including signage, flags, tents, tables, chairs, and activity areas.
• Help prepare the market site to be clean, organized, safe, and accessible for vendors and customers.
• Assist with moving supplies and equipment throughout the market site.

• Greet and direct incoming vendors and use the vendor map to confirm assigned spaces.
• Staff the Market Info Booth and assist customers with general market questions.
• Support Kids Corner, community seating, and other market activities.
• Assist customers with EBT/SNAP and token transactions as trained.
• Help maintain a welcoming and positive environment for vendors, customers, volunteers, and community members.
• Relay questions, concerns, or feedback from vendors and customers to the Market Manager.

• Operate Square, Totil Pay, iPad, card readers, and other market technology as trained.
• Handle market tokens and vendor deposits accurately and responsibly.
• Assist with organizing vendor token deposits and distributing vendor payments as directed by the Market Manager.
• Follow established procedures for cash, tokens, EBT/SNAP transactions, and other payments.

• Check in with the Market Manager before each market day regarding the day's schedule, activities, vendors, and special events.
• Assist with children's activities, special events, and other market programming as needed.
• Help monitor the market environment and promptly report safety, maintenance, or other concerns to the Market Manager.
• Assist with other market-related tasks as assigned.

• Dependable and punctual, with a commitment to working every scheduled market day.
• Comfortable working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
• Comfortable with early-morning physical work, including lifting, carrying, walking, standing, and moving equipment.
• Friendly, welcoming, and comfortable interacting with the public.
• Able to follow multi-step instructions and checklists with limited supervision.
• Comfortable learning and using basic technology such as tablets, point-of-sale systems, and card readers.
• Able to handle money, tokens, and customer transactions accurately and responsibly.
• Able to stay organized and flexible when priorities change throughout the market day.
• Interest in local food systems, agriculture, farmers markets, or community food access is a plus.

$15–$17/hour, depending on experience.

This is a temporary, part-time position for the remainder of the 2026 Marion Tailgate Market season.