Lead Farmers Market Manager - Alchemist Community Development Corporation
Schedule: Full time, 40 hours/week, Wednesday – Sunday
Compensation: $28/hour, non-negotiable.
Benefits:
3 weeks’ vacation/PTO annual accrual (accrual rate increases with length of service)
100% company paid “Silver Level” Dental, Vision and Health insurance
10 paid holidays annually
Minimum 1 day paid volunteering time off
5 sick days accrued annually (up to 120 hour accrual limit)
Professional development opportunities and growth/advancement potential
Flexible schedule and remote work possible 1-3 days per week, on non-market days, per operational needs. Office space available for you to use if preferred. [If hired, candidate will need to reside locally to Sacramento region]
Employer-provided laptop and phone.
Location: From May – October (2025) and April – October (2026), Sundays will be worked on-site at the Meadowview Certified Farmers’ Market (3501 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA).
Coverage of other markets will vary week to week, but may include Thursdays at the Florin Certified Farmers’ Market (3001 Florin Rd., Sacramento), and Saturdays at the Rancho Cordova Certified Farmers’ Market (11164 Folsom Blvd, Rancho Cordova), Country Club Plaza Certified Farmers’ Market (2400 Butano Dr., Sacramento) , or Laguna Certified Farmers’ Market (8245 Laguna Blvd., Elk Grove).
Non-market days will include administrative work that will be performed in the Alchemist CDC office (4625 44th Street, Sacramento) and remotely, as operational needs dictate. It is expected that at least 1 day per week can be performed via telecommute (typically Wednesdays).
About the Role:
Do you have a passion for supporting local farms and small food businesses, increasing food access, and community development? Do you love farmers’ markets and dream of being the person who actually makes them happen? Do you enjoy interacting with others and solving problems on the spot? Are you happy to work Saturdays and Sundays and taking your weekend during the week? This may be the role for you! The Lead Farmers’ Market Manager will play an essential role in running the Meadowview Certified Farmers’ Market and supporting our other farmers’ markets with administrative leadership and market coverage.
About Us:
Alchemist Community Development Corporation (Alchemist CDC) is a mission-driven organization that connects Sacramento area communities to land, food, and opportunity – toward a vision in which all neighborhoods are vibrant, equitable, healthy, and diverse. We are best known for enhancing the quality of life in under-resourced communities by improving access to nutritious foods, implementing community-supported public green spaces, and fostering economic self-sufficiency through business entrepreneurship. With a commitment to community development centered on the local food system, we find that each of our programs are not only inextricably linked to one another but also to many issues, policies, and partner organizations throughout the region and across the state. Learn more about our organization and programs at: www.alchemistcdc.org
Alchemist’s food access programs include the CalFresh at the Farmers’ Markets, Neighborhood Empowerment, Community Food Connections, and Farmers’ Market programs. Farmers’ Markets are a great asset to communities, provide essential market opportunities for California’s small farms, and can lead to improved health for area residents. Alchemist currently operates three (3) certified farmers’ markets in identified food deserts and/or under-served communities: two in the City of Sacramento (Florin Certified Farmers’ Market and Meadowview Certified Farmers’ Market) and one in Rancho Cordova (Rancho Cordova Certified Farmers’ Market). Alchemist’s total number of markets is expected to grow in 2025.
Job Summary:
Market Management
The Farmers’ Market Managers at Alchemist CDC typically work part-time under the direction of the Food Access Director, and serve as the on-site manager for their assigned Certified Farmers’ Markets. In addition to on-site management, they are responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with market vendors and stakeholders that participate in the markets they operate, through thoughtful planning, execution of operational tactics, and outreach to the communities surrounding their markets. The Lead Farmers’ Market Manager will be assigned the Meadowview Certified Farmers’ Market (Meadowview CFM), and take on additional duties supporting the other Alchemist CDC certified farmers’ markets to comprise a full-time workload.
The Lead Farmers’ Market Manager will spend roughly 16-24 hours per week serving the Meadowview Certified Farmers’ Market which is a seasonal market (May – October in 2025, April – October in 2026) that operates on Sunday mornings from 9 AM – 1 PM. Roughly eight (8) hours will be spent on-site managing and operating the Meadowview CFM, and another 8-16 hours each week doing necessary back-end work to promote the market to customers, attract and retain vendors, schedule special events, work with community partners, etc. The Lead Farmers’ Market Manager is anticipated to have a part-time assistant at the Sunday market to share some responsibilities as assigned.
An additional 8-16 hours each week (typically 8) will be spent on-site at other Alchemist CDC farmers’ markets. This may include assisting another market manager with their market, filling in as manager at another market when the other manager has time off, and may eventually include being permanently assigned to a second certified farmers’ market. We expect the Lead Farmers’ Market Manager to be on-site at markets two (2) days in a typical week, but operational schedules may occasionally require additional market day.
Administration/Organization
Finally, this role is expected to spend an estimated 8-12 hours each week providing administrative leadership for all Alchemist CDC certified farmers’ markets. This will include ensuring regulatory compliance, obtaining/maintaining/renewing permits, organizing and tracking vendor compliance (permits, insurance, etc.), tracking market expenses and revenue, filing quarterly reports with governmental bodies, and more.
During periods in which regularly assigned duties do not fill a full 40 hours, additional tasks will be available, such as promotional work for the farmers’ markets, conducting interviews with farmers and customers for future marketing usage, etc.
Essential Functions:
Act as staff lead with primary responsibility to operate and continually improve the Meadowview Certified Farmers’ Market.
Coordinate and supervise the operations of one to two farmers’ markets, acting as the on-site manager and doing necessary administrative, compliance and logistical planning work.
Maintain working knowledge of current vendors, their operations, and their products.
Complete office duties related to planning, record-keeping, and correspondence for the market.
Ensure markets operate in compliance with state law, county permit requirements, health regulations, and association rules and regulations. This includes applying for and maintaining the markets’ status as Certified Farmers’ Markets, community market permits (as applicable), and various vendor permit requirements. You will need to become an expert on regulatory requirements for farmers’ markets, food vendors, etc.
Secure market site, including all set-up and break-down, according to the permit map and standard market procedures. This can include the transportation, maintenance, and storage of market equipment and supplies, as well as sweeping and picking up trash on site. The Meadowview CFM has an on-site storage container for most market equipment.
Ordering and keeping inventory of market supplies.
Understand and enforce market rules and regulations, and inspect each vendor’s certificates, permits, and licenses necessary for compliance.
Encourage compliance with market regulations by posting required signage, distributing necessary information for first-time market participants, reminding vendors of regulations as needed, and fielding questions. Visit your vendors’ booths often, check their signage and paperwork frequently, verifying product compliance and quality, as well as booth cleanliness.
Ensure the farmers’ markets’ set-up, operation, and shut-down are completed to Alchemist CDC’s standards.
Resolve vendor disputes when possible and/or refer problems to the Food Access Director as necessary. Make a written note of any disputes or grievances that arise.
Arrive at each market 90 minutes prior to opening and stay until one hour after closing, or until all vendors are packed up and the site has been restored to prior working order.
Ensure the market site is clean at the end of each market day in compliance with contractual agreement with the site landlord.
Assign all stall spaces to vendors and supervise appropriate stall space use.
Implement safety and emergency procedures when necessary, including calling law enforcement in the event of an emergency or hazardous situation.
Collect payment from farmers and other participating producers, complete logs and reports, etc.
Provide customer service to consumers at the market by establishing and staffing a market information booth.
Assist Executive Director in communicating with market sponsors/funders.
Work with vendors to respond to questions and concerns.
Assist in recruiting farmers and other vendors to participate in the market.
Assist in hosting market special events as directed.
Perform planning, record-keeping, correspondence, and other office activities to support the market and the organization.
Coordinate and collaborate with Alchemist CDC CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets staff and volunteers.
Distribute promotional materials to local merchants and associations.
Assist Executive Director with solicitation of sponsorships and other donations on behalf of the market.
Assist with market promotions, outreach, social media and other press coverage; including developing written, photo, video and audio content.
Organize and attend community meetings for ongoing input regarding the farmers’ market
Attend monthly Alchemist staff meetings.
Perform all other related duties as assigned.
Track and stay within project budgets.
Requirements:
This list of requirements is lengthy in order to help give a sense of the type of work this position will be performing and the background experience that will help an individual to be well-prepared for the role. If you do not meet every one of these requirements but fit the overall picture and are willing to learn new skills, we encourage you to apply!
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills, including effective verbal and written communication skills in English.
Experience with Certified Farmers’ Markets, farmers’ markets, and small-scale agriculture (preferred).
If no experience directly with Certified Farmers’ Markets, candidates must have prior experience in customer service, community engagement and/or event planning/coordination.
Ability to complete tasks on time.
Ability to work cooperatively with people from diverse backgrounds, including the ability to be kind, courteous and direct to all people regardless of age, race, nationality, ethnic background, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, disability, economic or housing status.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.
Must be willing to work weekends, early mornings, and occasional holidays. This role will work 8-hour days on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 6:00 AM on Saturday and 7:30 AM on Sundays. You must be willing and able to be punctual and reliable despite very early start times for setting up the markets.
Must have reliable transportation and the ability to transport supplies as needed. Public transportation may be an option some of the time, as long as early punctuality on market days can be maintained. Alchemist CDC aims to store all major market equipment on site for each market, but does face constraints and some equipment may need to be transported.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team.
Ability to adapt to change.
Ability to take charge and make decisions if problems arise.
Experience coordinating logistics and schedules for multiple sites and/or staff
Experience training staff or volunteers
Commitment to professionalism in representing Alchemist CDC in the broader community
An authentic desire to serve customers and vendors alike
Must be detail oriented with a high level of accuracy.
Must be flexible in your work schedule and able to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Time management skills are essential.
Must be friendly, level-headed and patient, demonstrating “grace under pressure”
Basic competency with email, basic math, electronic file organization, and computer skills, including spreadsheets, word processing, Google Drive/Dropbox, and database programs. Ability to manage the market using a dedicated market management software system.
Bilingual a plus (especially Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Hmong, or Cantonese)
Familiarity with the local community, its geography, demographics and community resources (preferred).
Recognizing that one individual may not have expertise in all desired areas, it is crucial that candidates be eager to learn, self-motivated, and able to learn those skills and find information as needed.
Physical Demands:
This position requires the employee to work outside in all weather conditions and requires work in an office environment.
On market days, this position requires a high volume of light physical activity, as it is essential to routinely make the rounds to take customer counts, observe vendors for compliance, identify potential safety issues, etc.
This position must regularly lift and/or move 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move 45+ pounds with assistance or with the aid of equipment.
To Apply: Fill out the form at the bottom of this page and submit your resume.
As Alchemist CDC is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity and inclusion among its workforce anddoes not discriminate against employees, job applicants or program service recipients on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, mental or physical disability, reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, veteran or family status, traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and hairstyles e.g., braids, locks, twists, and other unspecified hairstyles associated with race, or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies. This policy extends to all aspects of the employment relationship, including, but not limited to, recruiting, interviewing, job assignments, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, use of facilities, participation in Alchemist CDC-sponsored activities, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment
Alchemist CDC provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Please notify us if you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.
**You will be required to complete a criminal background check after a conditional job offer is made. Alchemist CDC will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Alchemist CDC is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage.