Suffolk Farmers' Market Facilitator

Farmers' Market Facilitator

Under general supervision, the Farmers' Market Facilitator position facilitates the weekly operations, logistics, vendor relations, and administrative duties of the Suffolk Farmers' Market and associated events produced by Suffolk Tourism. This role requires up to 29 hours per week, combining administrative tasks during the week with active, on-site facilitation on market days. The facilitator serves as the primary face of the market, ensuring a safe, vibrant, and profitable environment for vendors and shoppers alike.

Reports to the Tourism Development Manager. The Suffolk Farmers' Market operates February through early December. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Essential Job Functions:

• Market Day Operations:
  On-site attendance is mandatory every Saturday from 7am-3pm for setup, market hours, and teardown as well as at any associated market events.
• Weekday Operations:
  Weekday hours are dedicated to vendor communication, marketing, administrative items, planning, and outreach.
• Weekly schedule includes Mondays 9am-5pm, Tuesdays 9am-1pm, Fridays 9am-5pm, and Saturdays 7am-3pm. May include occasional travel within Virginia and the East Coast for agriculture or event-related conferences, professional development and/or events.
• Onsite Logistics:
  Solely responsible for early morning Market set-up, site map/vendor layout/space assignments, enforcing safety rules and market guidelines, and after-market breakdown and clean-up.
• Vendor Management:
  Research and recruit agricultural and artisan vendors, review applications, collect vendor fees, and ensure compliance with market policies. Maintain vendor database, tracking availability and requests, monitoring product saturation and planning accordingly.
• Book live entertainment, exhibits, food trucks, and family-friendly activities for the Market.
• Marketing and Promotions:
  Assist with maintenance of the market's social media page, update weekly vendor lists, and coordinate local community outreach.
• Create market programs and weekly, monthly and annual reporting. Maintain records of vendor sales, provide product category breakdowns at end of season.
• Conflict Resolution:
  Serve as the primary point of contact to resolve vendor disputes and shopper inquiries calmly and professionally.
• Coordinate the Market's annual Pickle Palooza event off-site at the Downtown Festival Park. Plan and execute the Annual Artisan Gift Fair in December, as well as any other specialty Markets (i.e. Winter, Thanksgiving, etc.)
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, stand for long hours, and lift up to 40 lbs. (tents, signs, umbrellas, tables, etc.)
• Excellent communication skills to include conflict resolution, customer service, and public speaking abilities.
• Experience with basic spreadsheet creation and tracking, knowledge of various social media platforms.
• Reliable, consistent weekend availability during the market season. Able to work mornings as early as 6:30am and possible evenings as late as 11:00pm.
• Greets and assists visitors promptly; provides accurate information regarding City's highways, transportation systems, weather conditions, attractions, hotels, etc.

Projects a positive public image and promotes City of Suffolk attractions, restaurants, and hotels in response to personal, telephone, and email inquiries.

Receives moneys in payment of registration fees, purchases, donations, or other fees and services; records transactions, issues receipts, prepares bank deposits, and forwards as appropriate.

Performs general and/or clerical tasks, which may include answering telephone calls, sending/receiving emails, entering data into computer, making copies, filing documentation, processing incoming/outgoing mail, or taking photographs at events/activities

Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, calendars, schedules, attendance records, monthly digital newsletters flyers, mailing lists, sales tickets, bank deposits, payment vouchers, or other documents.

Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, registration forms, membership lists, invoices, cash and checks, handbooks, policies, procedures, directories, manuals, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.

Operates a computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data; verifies accuracy of entered data and makes corrections; utilizes word processing, spreadsheet, database, desktop publishing,…