​Overview

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The Hingham (MA) Farmers Market (HFM) is a 501(C)(6) non-profit that operates both a summer session from May to November and a winter session from January through March every Saturday. Officially established in 1977, the market is the third oldest in the state and has been a proud advocate for the local food economy and entrepreneurship ever since.

 

The HFM Market Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of market operations and administration, ensuring the market's success and its positive impact on local farmers, creators, market goers, and our community. The HFM Market Manager works directly with vendors, sponsors, nonprofits, and entertainers to provide the best farmers market experience for attendees. They are responsible for overall market day operations including vendor management, volunteer guidance, and community engagement. The Market Manager is required to be on-site at the market and available to vendors and consumers during market hours. 

 

A successful Market Manager has genuine enthusiasm for local agriculture, entrepreneurship, and community building. They understand the needs of both vendors and market goers and, in conjunction with the market Board of Directors, designs and implements strategies to meet these needs each market season. They are responsible for market administration including operational and vendor planning, payment / budget management and market reporting, in addition to  market promotion and communications.

 

The job requires confidence, composure, and the ability to effectively communicate with a variety of people. This position works under general supervision of the Market President and Executive Committee, with the opportunity for increasing market leadership.

 

Market Day Responsibilities

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Market day operations and vendor implementation

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• Lead set up, tear down and care of market equipment including tents, wifi devices, speakers, entertainer equipment, etc. with the help of market volunteers. Ensure the market shed is well maintained at all times.

• Ensure vendors, sponsors, nonprofits and entertainers understand and are in compliance with laws/guidelines for selling their respective products / services and comply with the rules of the Hingham Board of Health as required.

• Inform vendors of market rules and handle enforcement of HFM procedures and policies on market day. Monitor vendor attendance and the market area for safety hazards and takes appropriate on site and follow-up actions.

• Ensure cleanliness of market area before and after market hours and throughout the market day.

• Must be onsite and accessible to vendors and patrons on market days, during market hours, in rain-or-shine conditions.

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Community engagement and administration to deliver a positive market day experience for all stakeholders

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• Interact with and collect feedback from customers and vendors to ensure the best market experience for all involved.

• Work with the volunteer Friends of the Market to facilitate acceptance of SNAP/EBT benefits and matching donation program.

• Liaison with market day VIP’s including local public officials, sponsors, and “bell ringers” at the market open.

• Guide market day social media. Secure approvals and collect visual assets for use in market communications.

• Troubleshoot and drive to resolution market day situations as required.

 

Administrative Responsibilities

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Operational and vendor planning to continually improve the market experience for market stakeholders

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• Organize rental of main season and winter market locations. Work closely with town and park officials to ensure fees and permitting requirements are met.

• Recruit and select vendors and assist applicants through the registration and permitting processes as needed. 

• Manage all vendor applications, communications, scheduling, farm inspections, and reporting. 

• Work with the Board of Directors to set the market product mix. Identify product opportunities, help source new vendors, and contribute to the vendor approval process in unique situations like overlapping offerings. 

• Coordinate rental of portable potty for the season.

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Budget oversight and market reporting to ensure financial health and data-driven decisions

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• Collect vendor fees and maintain an accurate market budget at all times.

• Work with the Board President and Treasurer to ensure the market is on budget and anticipate additional expenses

• Manage market reporting. Collect market day registration, attendance report, transactions, weather conditions) and maintain an ongoing performance tracker.

• Prepare twice annual state of the market reports to present to the Board of Directors, with recommendations for continuous market improvement.

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Market promotions and communications to create awareness and drive market day attendance

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• Write a weekly newsletter and weekly social media content, flyers, ads, etc, to keep the community engaged with the market.

• Keep the website up to date, consistent with market seasons.

• Develop & maintain partnerships with community organizations.

• Help recruit and maintain a roster of entertainers to foster an energized and festive market experience

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Highly Desired Skills and Experience 

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• Excellent communication skills, both interpersonally and digitally

• Highly organized, creative problem solver with strong attention to detail and ability to juggle several tasks and responsibilities simultaneously

• Passionate about local food and the importance of local farms and farmers markets

• Confident navigating a range of personalities and needs at the market and comfortable setting and enforcing boundaries and rules

• Able to develop good relationships with board, farmers and vendors and work well with the public

• Comfortable working outside in all weather

• Able to lift 50 pounds

• Able to commit to a full-year season

• Experience with software/technology to automate communication and organization such as Wix, Airtable, Google, Instagram, Facebook

• Management experience preferred

• Experience in retail or customer service preferred 

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Start Date: May 2025

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Salary Range

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Pay is $20-$22 per hour, commensurate with experience

Hours estimated is approximately 12 hours per week with some weeks requiring more, and some less.

 

How to Apply

 

Please send a resume and answers to the following questions to Bev Vernon at info@hinghamfarmersmarket.org.

 

Are you available to be at the market every Saturday from about 7am-2pm May through November and 8am-2pm January through March? (Coverage can possibly be arranged for special circumstances)

 

Please describe why you are specifically interested in the Hingham Farmers Market Manager position and what you will bring to the role.