Company description

Join our friendly, hardworking team, which comes together every Saturday to produce a large, vibrant farmers market that’s a community hub and a source of some of the best food around.

The Assistant Director supports the mission and operations of the Pleasantville Farmers Market, which is operated by Foodchester, Inc., a Pleasantville-based non-profit organization. Our mission is to:

• Encourage a healthy community by promoting a sustainable food system with wholesome, regionally grown and produced food
• Foster a culture of community and pride in our village, and a farmers market that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Support Pleasantville’s economic development by bringing more visitors and activity to the retail shopping districts, and encouraging visitors to explore the Village’s historical and cultural offerings

The Pleasantville Farmers Market is the largest year-round farmers market in the region, with about 60 vendors, and has won “Best of Westchester” 12 times in a row. We have one of the highest rates of owner representation, and as a result, the Market attracts devoted foodies from a wide geographic radius who see PFM as a destination to connect directly with farmers and small batch food artisans. We operate year-round, outdoors in Memorial Plaza, with a full schedule of music, culinary, health and sustainability, kids and community events during the summer months. At its peak, the Market attracts over 3,000 shoppers per week.

Job description

Our weekly market operation requires on-site paid staff members, supported by Village DPW and a rotating set of adult and youth intern volunteers. This position includes assisting with setup and breakdown of the Market every Saturday (approx. 5:00am to 2:30pm in summer, 6:00am to 1:00pm in winter; hours can vary based on weather or market events), as well as office/computer-based tasks during the week. There are physical requirements as well as office-based skills necessary for this position (details below). Works under general supervision of the Director of Market Operations.

We are looking for a dedicated “people person” who is equally at home in the Market and behind a desk. THis role requires approximately 16 hours/week from April–November and 13 hours/week from December–March.

Market Day Responsibilities:

• Present a friendly, engaged, helpful, professional face to all shoppers and vendors
• Assist Director in market set-up, breakdown, and general logistics. Tasks include but are not limited to:  
  • Unload sheds of all materials needed to support municipal, volunteer, vendor and shopper needs
    Stage elements of vendor queue systems (rods, cones, signs)
  • Set up Management Tent and train or manage volunteers as needed
  • Direct municipal Department of Public Works (DPW) employees and support market volunteers and interns in a variety of setup, breakdown or market operations goals as needed
  • Ensure vendors comply with food safety standards and safety protocol, as well as signage, display and other protocols.
  • Enforce market rules with shoppers (e.g., no smoking, no dogs, etc.) and respond to customer or vendor needs; attend to and/or report grievances (involving customers or vendors) or accidents, de-escalating conflicts
  • Supervise and coordinate vendors and volunteers to ensure safety as vendor vehicles enter/depart and oversee orderly breakdown and storage of all Market equipment and collateral in sheds
• Assist with special Market programs and events
• Track and report weekly attendance estimates
• Collect Market coinage and oversee cash management

Office-based weekly responsibilities:

• Log vendor coin redemption and sales, merchandise sales, customer attendance, intern attendance, petty cash
• Maintain petty cash
• Update EBT Log
• Process mail at office (prepare checks for signing, file receipts, etc.)
• Make deposits at bank

Office-based monthly/seasonal/as needed responsibilities:

• Manage website: update vendor profiles and other elements of website
• Create and distribute flyers
• Monitor presence and update PFM info on Google, Yahoo, other external websites
• General office support, including but not limited to:
  • Ensure bills are paid and relevant memberships are up to date
  • Create and maintain databases of volunteers, lot coordinators, etc
  • Google Forms: create, maintain, generate reports
  • Order supplies
  • Organize gifts, holiday cards, swag bags, prizes
  • Recording bookkeeping and tracking data
  • Maintain filing system
  • Submit SNAP log annually
  • Update PFM info on Google, Yahoo, other external websites

Qualifications:

• Ability to start early on Saturdays (approx. 5:00am) and work in all weather conditions, year-round
• Able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and walk and stand for several hours at a time
• Reliable, punctual, mature, organized, cheerful
• Attention to detail; ability to multitask, think on one’s feet to solve operational problems, and own processes through to completion
• Previous retail or customer service experience
• Access to reliable transportation and technology (e.g., smartphone)
• Knowledge of, passion for and/or experience in local food systems, food distribution, the importance of local farms, and/or farmers markets
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Fluency with Word, Google Forms, Excel
• First aid and CPR training a plus
• Spanish language proficiency a plus
• Graphic design and HTML skills a plus

Please note: Foodchester, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Foodchester, Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, compensation and training.

Foodchester, Inc. expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Foodchester, Inc.’s employees, volunteers or vendors to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

July 29, 2025