Union Square Greenmarket Programming Assistant (Full-time)

Position Summary

The Union Square Programming Assistant provides market, administrative, and programming support as part of the Union Square Publicity team to represent and promote Greenmarket’s flagship market and the GrowNYC mission. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic, skilled at communications, and can provide high-quality customer service while sharing their passion for cooking, local produce, and farming. This position reports to the Union Square Publicity Manager and Union Square Greenmarket General Manager.

Union Square Greenmarket Programming Assistant Responsibilities (include, but not limited to):

Market Support 40%

• Contribute to keeping the Market Information Tent clean, organized, and attractive.
• Provide excellent customer service for shoppers: answer customer questions with knowledge, friendliness and respect and educate customers on GrowNYC’s mission and programs.
• Display and sell merchandise.
• Keep the Information Tent, truck and market bins presentable, organized and well-stocked, and coordinate delivery/pick-up of market materials from the office.
• Assist in addressing and coordinating film shoots at market.
• Other ad hoc duties as assigned.

Programming and Publicity 40%

• Help implement at-market programming, including but not limited to cooking demonstrations, book signings, special events, guest tabling events, and educational displays.
• Set-up and break-down for market programming and events.
• Help create collateral needed for programming (design a-frames and signage, create social media squares, print handouts, recipes, and posters).
• Generate engaging and educational social media content about the market, taking high quality photos and videos of market products, producers, and programming and writing and editing copy for social media posts.
• Work with Union Square Publicity Manager to develop relationships with community partners and stakeholders, including chefs, influencers, farmers, customers, and more.

Administrative 20%

• Attend weekly check-ins and planning sessions with the Union Square Greenmarket Leadership Team.
• Brainstorm and assist in planning programming as well as social media stories, posts, and campaigns to promote our producers, seasonal eating & cooking, special holidays and months & days of recognition.
• Prepare materials for market including but not limited to printing recipes and market handouts and cooking demo supplies, and materials for special events.
• Assist in creating and maintaining a publicity calendar for social media and programming.
• Assist in tracking social media metrics.
• Stay aware of farm, sustainability and food industry news, social media trends, and happenings within our producer community.
• Contribute to and monitor @UnSqGreenmarket social media feeds to provide customer assistance and partner outreach.

Required Qualifications

• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Comfortable with public speaking.
• Passionate about food and farming: enjoys cooking, eating with the seasons, talking about food access, and researching the Greenmarket's producers, products, and history.
• Creative and curious thinker and problem-solver who is detail-oriented and comfortable multitasking.
• A go-getter attitude. Enjoys working in a highly collaborative and fast-paced team environment.

Ideal Qualifications

• Fluency in a second language (ideally Spanish, Mandarin, and/or Cantonese).
• 1+ years of experience in communications or public relations.
• Prior social media experience.
• Prior administrative experience.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to set up and/or break down the Market Information Tent, which involves carrying weights, tents, and folding.
• Ability to stand for 8 -10 hour shifts and perform various labor-intensive tasks in all weather conditions.
• Ability to sit at a computer and perform administrative tasks for up to 8 hours.

Schedule

The schedule is 35-40 hours a week, consisting of market shifts on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and a shift in the office on Thursdays. This role may require shifts starting as early as 6:30am.

Compensation

The position is non-exempt, full-time, and salaried. It pays $50,000 - $53,000 and includes full benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long term disability, Incentive Savings Plan, paid time off, loan forgiveness and parental leave).

Location

Union Square Greenmarket and the GrowNYC office (located in Manhattan).