Market Manager

Job Type: Full-time

About Cultivate Collective: Cultivate Collective’s mission is to unite education, wellness, sustainability and economic vitality to drive meaningful, multi-generational impact in our LeClaire Courts community on Chicago’s southwest side. In the fall of 2023, we opened the doors to a six-acre neighborhood learning and wellness hub that includes comprehensive community facilities, resources and programming, including a health care center, fresh foods store and café, teaching kitchens, community gardens, wellness facilities, neighborhood walking trails and green spaces, and a three-acre urban farm. The Academy for Global Citizenship’s nature-based and innovative Head Start early childhood center and K-8 public school is also housed on-site, enabling a cradle-to-college pipeline that is fundamental to the Purpose Built Communities model of ending intergenerational poverty. The project is on track to be the first in the state to achieve full climate resiliency through on-site net-positive energy production, battery storage, and net-positive water.

Cultivate Collective's six-acre development serves as a catalyst for the neighboring 34 vacant acres and future mixed-income housing development, all of which are located on the former LeClaire Courts Chicago Housing Authority site. The $85 million investment is generating greatly needed economic and community development to the city’s under-resourced southwest side. Our vision is to serve as a model and national demonstration site for driving the future of resilient, equitable and vital communities from within.

Job Summary: The Market Manager is a key role responsible for the successful launch, management, and long-term sustainability of a new 360 square foot community market at the Cultivate Collective hub. This individual will be integral in overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring regulatory compliance (including setting up and accounting for Federal benefits such as SNAP), documenting operational procedures, and supporting the market's financial sustainability.

Additionally, this role will engage with the community, manage vendor relationships, and drive sales through strategic marketing and outreach efforts, with a strong focus on promoting access to fresh, locally procured foods and enhancing community health and wellness. The Market Manager will play a pivotal role in offering nutritious, locally sourced options that address food insecurity and support sustainable, healthy lifestyles for all community members.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the curation of locally farmed, fresh, and nutritious foods, ensuring the market provides diverse and accessible healthy food options
• Build relationships with local farmers and vendors, food artisans, suppliers, and community members to foster a vibrant, sustainable market
• Ensure compliance with federal programs like SNAP, creating an inclusive and equitable environment where all customers can access fresh, affordable, and nutritious foods
• Incorporate seasonal and sustainable food options in market offerings to encourage healthy and environmentally conscious eating habits.
• Launch and manage the day-to-day operations of the market
• Develop and document standard operating procedures for market operations
• Be prepared to report out regularly on sales, inventory and waste to the Cultivate Collective
• Build relationships with local vendors, customers, and community members to foster a vibrant market environment
• Oversee inventory, sales tracking, and financial reporting
• Brainstorm and support marketing initiatives to increase customer engagement and sales
• Train and manage market staff, student workers and volunteers
• Work collaboratively across Academy for Global Citizenship and Cultivate Collective to develop creative ways to engage students and community
• Coordinate any market related special events or popup partners
• Understand, document, maintain and train others on food safe standards for any prepared foods or beverages including regularly rotating shelf stable, refrigerated and frozen inventory

Qualifications:

• At least three years of experience in grocery, retail or farmers markets at a manager level
• Experience tracking and compliance in federal programs such as SNAP
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Eligible to work with children in a K-12 public school setting
• Experience operating a POS or similar customer management system software
• Language proficiency in English and Spanish (preferred)
• Strong communication skills and a love for collaboration
• Experience in and enthusiasm for building and implementing programs and systems in an early stage operation
• Comfortable identifying and delivering measurable outcomes and products within a determined timeline
• Passionate about serving in diverse communities and comfortable working in a multilingual environment
• Reliable transportation and the ability to commute to work on a daily basis in an area with limited public transportation