Company description

The Gullah Farmers Cooperative Association is the largest Black-owned and Black-led farmers cooperative in South Carolina. It was formed in 2010, and today represents a number of Gullah farm operations in the Low Country.

The Cooperative’s mission is to establish a profitable, significant local food market for Farmer-Members who are honoring and continuing the agricultural traditions of our communities by growing fresh produce.

The Cooperative has opened a new facility on St. Helena Island this spring that will provide packing, processing, aggregation, distribution and marketing services for current and new members, as well as other local farmers. This 10,000 square foot facility has: a sorting, washing and packing line; a cut & chop produce line; significant cooler storage; and a delivery truck. The facility will be food-safety certified (GAP, FSMA & Wholesale Food Manufacturing Certified) and follow the highest standards of food safety, post harvest handling and quality controls.

Job description

The Processing & Procurement Manager will report to the Cooperatives’s Director, work closely with the sales team and supervise part-time staff in processing and logistics.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Work directly with farmers to update weekly product availability and price lists, manage purchase orders for produce and receive product.
• Ensure all products meet quality and food safety requirements, and work with farmers to ensure the best post harvest standards are met.
• Coordinate the packing, processing and delivery operations for at least two weekly cycles of orders.
• Ensure food safety and other compliance requirements are met.
• Coordinate seasonal crop planning with farmers.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Two years’ farm production experience, including some supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of food safety and/or agribusiness strategies.
• Demonstrated high-level organizational skills, orientation to deadlines and details, and a high degree of motivation and comfort working independently within a collaborative leadership environment.
• Ability to work with MS Office, excel and other basic computer functions.
• Valid driver's license at time of employment with a clean driving record is required for insurance reasons; ability to lift up to 50 lbs. regularly as part of the job.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $35,000 - $50,000

Application instructions

Deadline

June 30, 2021