Suffolk Farmers' Market Facilitator

City of Suffolk•Suffolk, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Farmers’ Market Facilitator manages the weekly operations, logistics, vendor relations, and administrative duties of the Suffolk Farmers’ Market and related Suffolk Tourism events. The facilitator is the market’s primary public contact and helps ensure a safe, vibrant, and profitable environment for vendors and shoppers. The position reports to the Tourism Development Manager. The market operates from February through early December. The role requires up to 29 hours per week. The stated weekly schedule is Mondays 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturdays 7 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday attendance is mandatory for setup, market hours, and teardown, as well as for associated market events. Weekday work includes vendor communication, marketing, administration, planning, and outreach. Occasional travel within Virginia and the East Coast may be required for agriculture- or event-related conferences, professional development, or events. The facilitator handles vendor recruitment and administration, site logistics, promotions, reporting, customer service, conflict resolution, and the planning and execution of the market’s special events. The job also includes broader visitor-assistance, clerical, cashiering, recordkeeping, computer, and City event-support duties. Work may involve outdoor conditions, prolonged standing, lifting, weekend and seasonal schedules, and occasional early mornings or late evenings.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, supplemented by one year of experience and/or training that includes hospitality operations, travel or tourism, marketing, customer service, office administration, and computer operations; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Valid driver’s license.
Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, stand for long periods, and lift up to 40 pounds.
Excellent communication skills, including conflict resolution, customer service, and public speaking.
Experience with basic spreadsheet creation and tracking and knowledge of social media platforms.
Reliable, consistent weekend availability during the market season.
Ability to work mornings as early as 6:30 a.m. and possibly evenings as late as 11:00 p.m.
Ability to maintain a flexible schedule that includes weekend, seasonal, and holiday work.
Knowledge of office administration, customer service, cashiering, local attractions and tourism resources, and relevant departmental policies and procedures.
Computer proficiency and familiarity with relevant software programs.
Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, volunteers, the public, outside agencies, and other stakeholders.
Ability to prepare concise, clear written reports and documents.
Ability to use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision as situations warrant.
Ability to perform calculations using percentages and decimals and to perform basic arithmetic.
Ability to read, understand, interpret, classify, analyze, and apply reports, regulations, procedures, and other information.
Ability to coordinate activities using persuasion or influence, speak confidently in public, and exercise judgment and decisiveness.

Responsibilities

Attend the market on Saturdays for setup, market hours, and teardown, and attend associated market events.
Perform weekday vendor communication, marketing, administrative work, planning, and outreach.
Set up the market site, prepare vendor layouts and space assignments, enforce safety rules and market guidelines, and handle breakdown and cleanup.
Research and recruit agricultural and artisan vendors, review applications, collect fees, and ensure compliance with market policies.
Maintain the vendor database, track availability and requests, monitor product saturation, and plan accordingly.
Book live entertainment, exhibits, food trucks, and family-friendly activities.
Assist with the market’s social media page, update weekly vendor lists, and coordinate community outreach.
Create market programs and prepare weekly, monthly, and annual reports; maintain vendor sales records and provide end-of-season product-category breakdowns.
Serve as the primary contact for vendor disputes and shopper inquiries, addressing them calmly and professionally.
Coordinate the annual Pickle Palooza at Downtown Festival Park and plan and execute the Annual Artisan Gift Fair and other specialty markets.
Greet and assist visitors, provide information about City highways, transportation, weather, attractions, hotels, and related tourism resources, and promote City attractions, restaurants, and hotels.
Receive payments for registration fees, purchases, donations, and other fees; record transactions, issue receipts, prepare bank deposits, and forward them as appropriate.
Perform clerical and administrative tasks, including answering calls, handling email, entering data, copying, filing, processing mail, and taking event photographs.
Prepare and complete forms, reports, correspondence, calendars, schedules, attendance records, newsletters, flyers, mailing lists, sales tickets, deposits, payment vouchers, and other documents.
Receive, review, process, forward, and retain records and other documentation as appropriate.
Use computers and relevant software to enter, retrieve, review, and modify data; verify and correct entries; and perform basic maintenance of computer systems and office equipment.
Communicate and coordinate with supervisors, employees, docents, volunteers, students, City departments and officials, local businesses, community organizations, visitors, residents, media, outside agencies, and others.
Attend meetings, represent the City at special events, maintain professional affiliations, and participate in appropriate training and workshops.
Assist visitors and customers, set up or move equipment and exhibits, and support City special events.
Perform other related duties as required.