Company description

Located in Essex, NY, our diversified farm encompasses nearly 170 acres of tillable and forested land that was acquired through conservation partnerships and a 75 acre lease of the Sayre Family Farm. Nestled between Sprig and Whipple Mountains, Echo Farm originated as a diversified homestead and dairy operation, and has earned its name from the distantly reverberating sounds of life on the farm.

For our team of artisans, the growing season begins long before the snow is gone. In late winter, we assemble our clients’ menus, flower decorations, beverage needs and gather our team’s attention around the upcoming season. Our planning process is really a formal integration of the experiences we want to generate and share with guests at our events. Impeccable timing of harvests is a key reason why we are able to bring meals and floral arrangements that stimulate all of the senses.

The variety of produce and animals raised here vary from year to year based on our client's preferences and their selected menus. Regardless of the diversity of crops, our practices remain consistent with the philosophies and values of organic and sustainable small-scale farming. The animals are fed a custom organic multigrain mix and have consistent access to pasture three seasons of the year. Many of our livestock come from heritage breeds. We never use chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides or antibiotics in producing any of the food. Because we plan our harvests with optimum flavor in mind, we select heirloom varieties for menus that accentuate their unmatched flavors and colorful presentation. Our catering service is a culinary invitation to not only join us around the farm table, but also to explore the magic of Echo Farm.

Watch our video: From Seed to Service to learn more.

Job description

Echo Farm is based in Essex, New York is in search of a competent, well-organized, professional to join our team on a part-time basis. We operate a farm to table catering business focused on delivering unique food experiences for our clients, their guests and our local community. While not the most visible aspect of our work, administrative tasks comprise some of the most vital functions of our business: financials, promotion, client relations, compliance, scheduling and cloud management. We encourage collaborators who are driven by similar aims: reviving the agricultural economy, promoting transparency in food; feeding our neighbors (and ourselves) healthy food, and taking pride in a good day’s work. Work can be partially remote and will average 20 hours per week with a flexible schedule. Room for growth into a leadership or full-time role is possible.

JOB DESCRIPTION & ROLES

Administration (8-10 hrs/week)

• Prepare invoices, receive and apply payments, create bank deposits
  Prepare Water Reports and Testing to NYS
  Prepare client/event updates to share with team
• Weekly check-in w/ supervise & attend weekly staff meetings
• Monitor and respond to email communication
• Monitor Google voice phone number and respond to incoming queries
• Google Drive management - organization, privacy, & employee access
• Submit reports
• Assist with annual business and property tax filings
• Manage human resources paperwork/filing
• Track and reconcile budget figures
• Purchase and manage inventory of office supplies
• Schedule subcontractors for operational maintenance
• Develop professional company resources (i.e. logos, letterhead, memos)

Client Relations & Event Planning (6-8 hrs/week)

• Client portal management, including:
  - Field new inquiries by email
  - Set up new client project & Google folders
  - Schedule consultations
  - Develop client proposals
  - Respond to questions from prospective and existing clients
  - Draft and send contracts
  - Work through contract with clients over phone/video call
  - Schedule farm visits
  - Schedule site visits to venues
  - Track client payments
  - Establish & review vendor and contractor agreements
  - Solicit client reviews
  - Arrange for photo documentation of event
  - Solicit client-sponsored or independent professional photography for events
  - Work with Event Coordinator to publish and share event-related documents

Marketing & Promotion (2 hrs/week)

• Promote business social media - Instagram, Facebook, etc.
• Develop professional company resources (i.e. letterhead, branding guidelines, etc.)
• Manage ticket sales for public events
• Manage advertising and public-facing media
• Update website as needed
• Manage Google listing and client reviews
• Maintain newsletter mailing list
• Attend periodic networking events

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

March 01, 2025