Common Ground Country Fair Manager

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association•Unity, ME

13d•$58,000 - $63,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Common Ground Country Fair Manager manages administrative and retail operations for MOFGA’s Common Ground Country Fair. Reporting to the Common Ground Country Fair Director, the Manager oversees exhibitor application workflows and the Fair’s CRM system, leads Country Store budgeting, inventory forecasting, and vendor coordination, and assists with Fair budgeting, revenue forecasting, and stipend processing. The Manager supervises the CGCF Fair and Store Assistant, trains volunteers, and manages the Fair Office as a central hub for vendor support and inquiries. The position also involves updating digital and print materials and assisting with Fair set-up and clean-up. The role is based at MOFGA’s office in Unity, Maine. Work is primarily on-site: a minimum of three days per week in the office starting in the summer and full-time on-site during September. A flexible hybrid schedule may be arranged during the remainder of the year. The usual schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional weekend hours and extended hours around and including the Fair. This is a salaried, exempt position and is not eligible for overtime or MOFGA’s collective bargaining unit. The annual salary range is $58,000–$63,000, depending on experience. MOFGA describes its benefits package as including paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; parental leave; paid vacation and sick time; three personal days; two week-long office closures; 14 paid holidays annually; and a sabbatical after seven years of employment.

Requirements

Passion for organic farming, gardening, and community-based work in Maine.
Experience planning and executing events while managing multiple projects concurrently.
Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage a high volume of administrative data.
Outstanding written, proofreading, and interpersonal communication skills across diverse stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, vendors, and the public.
Demonstrated success leading, supervising, and training small teams and volunteers.
Strong computer literacy, including CRM databases, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and website content management, and aptitude for learning new systems.
Creative problem-solving skills and ability to take initiative where appropriate.

Responsibilities

Coordinate Common Ground Country Fair Planning Team members to ensure exhibitor correspondence, applications, contracts, and guidelines are updated and accurate each year.
Manage exhibitor applications, contracts, and Fair Office correspondence, ensuring required paperwork and information are collected.
Support and oversee Planning Team members as needed to ensure planning and implementation are completed on time and follow MOFGA policies and Fair and Area guidelines.
Manage and facilitate the Fair CRM and ensure CGCF information is entered accurately.
Manage relationships and communications with Country Store third-party vendors; forecast merchandise inventory, place orders, and manage orders.
Coordinate and place the ribbon order by the discount deadline.
Support increased diversity at the Fair and MOFGA’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice work.
Coordinate review of Food Area applications and support Food Vendors in collaboration with the Food Liaison.
Write and distribute communications to the Fair Steering Committee, Planning Team, and CGCF participants.
Update CGCF website content in collaboration with the Communications Team.
Supervise and train the CGCF Fair and Store Assistant and foster a positive work environment that supports Fair goals and volunteer collaboration.
Attend all Fair Steering Committee meetings and represent the Fair at MOFGA committee meetings and external meetings outside regular business hours as needed and directed by the CGCF Director.
Assist the CGCF Director with compiling the Fairbook and preparing other internal and external communications.
Participate in on-site Fair set-up and clean-up as needed.
Coordinate Fair Office operations during the Fair, serving as a primary vendor resource during set-up and Fair weekend; handle questions about fees and tickets, coordinate office volunteers, answer phone and email inquiries, sell ice, and act as a communication hub for Fair participants.
Record and report Fair participant stipends and payments.
Assist the CGCF Director in preparing the annual stipend report for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Assist the CGCF Director with projecting the annual budget for Fair revenue streams, including tickets, merchandise, booth fees, and other Fair-related fees.
Procure goods and services for the CGCF as needed.
Participate in and lead aspects of the annual post-Fair review, reporting, surveys, and lessons-learned sessions concerning CGCF systems and procedures.
Carry out responsibilities in accordance with MOFGA’s mission, goals, and philosophy, and perform other duties as needed.