Farm Retail Manager

Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center • East Thetford, VT

20d • $23 - $27

About The Position

The Farm Retail Manager oversees daily operations of the farmstand and Hello Café, with support from the Farmstand and Café Leads. They also manage sales through farmers' markets and wholesale accounts. As a member of the management team, the Retail Manager helps set and meet sales goals while maintaining the integrity, values, and community focus that define Cedar Circle.
While department managers oversee growing and production decisions, the Farm Retail Manager is responsible for ensuring that all farm products-including food, plants, and flowers-are accurately represented and tracked in retail systems.

Requirements

• 2-3 years of leadership experience in a retail environment, ideally food- or farm-based
• Strong knowledge of seasonal produce and familiarity with Vermont or New England-grown foods
• Experience training, supervising, and motivating staff
• Comfort working with sales data, budgets, and spreadsheets
• Experience or working knowledge of sales tax requirements for food and retail products, including proper product categorization
• Experience using and managing point-of-sale systems, including back-end functions such as inventory, reporting, pricing, and item setup for diverse product types (produce, prepared foods, plants, and flowers)
• Genuine enthusiasm for vegetables, local food systems, and organic agriculture
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative working style
• Ability to work effectively across departments and within a management team

Nice To Haves

• Additional experience in retail or sales management with demonstrated success
• Knowledge of produce handling, storage, and display best practices
• Interest in and curiosity about plants, flowers, and native species is a plus
• Experience sourcing local products or working with small vendors
• Strong visual merchandising skills and an eye for abundance and beauty
• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for organic and regenerative agriculture

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the day-to-day operations of the farmstand and café, with support from the Farmstand & Café Leads
• Develop, train, and retain a knowledgeable retail team focused on customer service, produce education, and mission-driven sales
• Collaborate closely with the Vegetable, Annual & Perennial, and Kitchen Managers to plan, prioritize, and effectively sell farm-produced goods
• Manage the point-of-sale system for the farmstand, café, and farmers' markets; Coordinate with the other department managers to ensure accurate retail pricing, product setup, and sales tracking
• Ensure proper sales tax application across all retail channels, including correct tax categorization of products and coordination with administrative staff as needed
• Source and manage a curated selection of local, organic, and mission-aligned products to complement farm offerings
• Foster clear communication and strong working relationships between retail and all other departments
• Oversee merchandising, displays, and signage in collaboration with Leads, with attention to seasonality, abundance, and visual appeal
• Coordinate staffing, stocking, and merchandising for farmers' markets
• Manage the retail side of CSA distribution in collaboration with the Administrative Manager
• Develop annual retail sales projections and monitor performance in collaboration with the Executive Director
• Track sales trends and adjust purchasing, pricing, and merchandising strategies accordingly
• Participate as an active member of the management team in planning for sustainable sales growth
• Work with the Vegetable Production Manager to support and expand wholesale relationships with restaurants and local businesses
• Collaborate with the Development Director and Outreach & Engagement Coordinator to support coordinated marketing and outreach efforts
• Share retail insights, seasonal highlights, and customer feedback to inform broader marketing strategies
• Represent Cedar Circle's mission and values in all customer-facing interactions
• Support farm events, festivals, and educational programs as appropriate

Benefits

• health insurance (premium 100% employer paid, 50% paid for minor dependents)
• paid personal, sick, and parental leave
• a 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer safe harbor match
• short-term disability insurance (100% employer paid)
• 20% discount at our farmstand
• 50% off summer camps for dependents
• access to an employee assistance program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed