Company description

Global Growers increases the number of food producers who create access to healthy, sustainably-grown food and also prepares commercial farmers to be competitive in their local marketplace.

Global Growers grew out of the tremendous demand among international farmers, many of whom came to Atlanta as refugees of war. These farmers sought to reconnect to their agricultural heritage in their new home. Recognizing this exceptional talent, Global Growers connects local families to land, education, and markets in order to build healthier communities and to strengthen our local economy. Global Growers is committed to cultivating growing spaces and other resources for farmers  who are traditionally underserved by mainstream agricultural service providers and community food organizations.

Global Growers started in 2009 as a project of the local nonprofit Refugee Family Services and as of 2013 is an independent 501(c)(3) organization based in Atlanta, GA. Co-founders Susan Pavlin and Robin Chanin broke ground on our first farm site, Umurima - The Burundi Women’s Farm, in 2010 in the city of Decatur, GA. This was accomplished in partnership with a Burundian former agricultural extension agent and a Burundian preacher. Umurima is a women-managed community farm that produces food for the farm families families as well as for local market sales. That same year (2010), Susan Pavlin and Robin Chanin also began building relationships with community leaders in the Clarkston area who were already engaged or interested in pursuing opportunities in food systems in order to develop a network of projects and leaders to provide mutual support.

In 2012, Global Growers added three additional sites to bring nearly 20 acres of land under our management. Decatur’s Kitchen Garden is a 2-acre community garden. The Clarkston International Garden is a ½ -acre community garden. Bamboo Creek Farm is a 15-acre cooperative farm site used for commercial food production. Altogether, Global Growers manages four farm and garden sites, and supports a network of independently managed community, apartment, and home garden sites in DeKalb County.

Since our first season of growing, Global Growers has developed expertise in cooperative marketing systems to increase market access for partner farmers, as well as expertise in agricultural education and technical assistance for farmers from diverse lingual, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Global Growers has trained more than 200 unique food producers and sold nearly half a million dollars worth of produce on behalf of our partner farmers from 2010-2016.  

Job description

Position Summary:  

The Sales Manager will be responsible for leading Global Growers’ expanding Sales Program while working closely with the Farm Operations Manager.  Responsibilities include management of sales through GG’s wholesale, restaurant, farmers markets, and FarmShare CSA programs.  The Sales Manager will be responsible for active marketing and outreach to new and current sales outlets as well as day-to-day administrative and communication required by the Sales Program.

Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate for this position is extremely organized with excellent attention to detail, a high degree of motivation, and a commitment to excellence.  The candidate has the confidence, passion and ability to actively promote Global Growers in the market place and increase the size and scope of our sales outlets. The ideal candidate is familiar with restaurant and wholesale markets in particular and capable of developing new relationships in that field.  The candidate has well-developed interpersonal skills in order to work in a small team setting and build meaningful relationships with customers.  The candidate is knowledgeable about innovations in local food system development with an understanding of market and agricultural trends in order to serve sophisticated customers and support local producers. 

Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills are essential, with the ability to gather information from various sources and propose appropriate solutions for tasks as assigned.  The candidate will have the ability to develop and execute a plan by managing time and resources effectively and prioritizing work with organizational goals in mind.  The candidate should motivate others to action and influence positive outcomes.  The candidate will be comfortable working independently/remotely as well as in a collaborative team environment.  Most importantly, the candidate will believe in and feel connected to the mission of Global Growers and the idea that our food system can and should be democratized. 

 

Primary Responsibilities

Develop a coherent implementation plan for outreach to existing and new partners and customers

1. Lead development and implementation of Marketing & Outreach Strategy for Farm Share CSA, farmers markets, and wholesale/restaurants accounts.
2. Actively promote Global Growers’ to customers across market channels with a special emphasis on wholesale and restaurant markets
3. Coordinate with Community Development Manager and partner farmers to increase produce sales in Greater Clarkston

Monitor and evaluate the Sales Program

1. Identify and communicate market trends and changes
2. Generate and analyze monthly market reports for various sales outlets
3. Design, distribute and analyze customer satisfaction and demographic surveys.
4. Regularly evaluate and adapt all programs in coordination with Farm Manager and distribution partners with input from customers

Maintain communication within Global Growers and across distribution partners to ensure smooth flow of operations

1. Communicate and coordinate with GG team and partners as needed to coordinate sales, sourcing, and availability
2. Coordinate distribution to CSA Farm Share locations, farmers markets, and wholesale and restaurant customers

Establish and maintain mutually supportive relationships with all customers/partners

1. Maintain consistent communication over phone or email with current and new customers
2. Develop and manage customer logs to track communication
3. Provide customers with farm, food storage and preparation information

Provide excellent products, reliable service and accurate orders to customers

1. Source diverse, high quality, and in-demand partner products for Farm Share program
2. Ensure quality of all products before delivery to customers
3. Troubleshoot problems with customers and site coordinators
4. Maintain understanding of product and pricing via Availability List and Pricing Sheet
5. Manage online store to ensure ease and accuracy of ordering

Be an ambassador for Global Growers across sales outlets by strategically and creatively promoting GG’s mission and work while providing opportunities for customers to become more connected

1. Actively communicate mission to customers and partners
2. Promote mission-related programming and activities
3. Develop appropriate and effective print and digital marketing materials, in conjunction with Graphic Designer and Development & Communications Coordinator

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Significant experience in marketing/sales preferably as related to food, restaurants, wholesale, and local agriculture.
• Significant experience in various methods of administration and communication.
• Understanding of sustainable agriculture and local food systems, as well as social and racial justice issues impacting agriculture in the South
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills (Word and Excel)
• Experience analyzing data using Excel
• Preferred: Basic Quickbooks experience

Baseline Requirements

• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record and access to a reliable vehicle
• Flexible work hours to accommodate some evening work and regular Saturdays (with corresponding days off during the week based on a regular fixed schedule)
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Compensation:  $28,000 - $32,000, commensurate with qualifications, plus 5% commission on all sales exceeding annual sales targets.  Benefits and PTO included

Reports to:  Director of Programs

Compensation this position is : salaried Application instructions Deadlineno deadline