Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Manager Job, Massachusetts

Assistant Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Manager Job in Massachusetts

Farm Description: Farmer Dave’s is an 80 acre diversified vegetable and fruit farm in Dracut, Mass, entering its sixth CSA season. Over the years the CSA has grown to over 1200 members and serves fourteen communities in the Greater Boston area. For the 2012 CSA season we are looking to grow membership to 1400. In addition to operating the CSA, Farmer Dave's also attends several farmer's markets, has two farmstands and sells produce to a few wholesale markets and restaurants. We are currently looking to fill the position of Assistant CSA Manager. Position Description: The Assistant CSA Manager will assume responsibility for all member service aspects of the CSA, including e-mail and phone communication, member registration, and billing. The position involves a lot of time on the computer, answering e-mails and entering data. It also involves face-to-face time with members and prospective members. The position includes work in the office, with the public, and on the farm. Specific responsibilities vary depending on the time of year.  While we are a farm, this position is NOT a farming position – it involves membership (customer) service, marketing and publicity, operations management, and more. The position will involve assisting the CSA Manager, the owner of the business, and the accounting staff in clerical and other tasks as business needs present themselves. While the CSA will be the emphasis, this position will be more than “CSA-only” and will often entail other farm activities. The number of hours per week will fluctuate with the season; as such, the Assistant CSA Manager will be expected to work more hours per week in the spring, summer, and fall (45+), and fewer hours per week in the winter(25-35). The Assistant CSA Manager will work alongside the CSA Manager in many aspects of the operation of the CSA program. Depending on the successful candidate’s skills, there is the opportunity to be trained in all aspects of CSA management. For more information about the job and how to apply, click "Read More" below

Tweet

WINTER/SPRING: In the winter/spring work includes marketing & outreach, management of registration, management of the subsidized share program, developing/designing promotional materials, communicating with members, and coordinating the spring share and add-ons. It may also involve delivering spring shares to the pick-up locations and/or staffing spring share distributions.

SUMMER: When the CSA season begins in June, the amount of work increases and responsibilities shift to communicating daily packing, add-on, and delivery needs to the CSA crew, preparation of produce and packing of CSA shares, documentation of weekly share contents, continued communication with members and CSA site coordinators (work trade members), and planning and implementing the annual CSA potluck (Sept/Oct). It will also involve delivering CSA shares to the pick-up locations, staffing CSA distributions and/or farmers markets and/or farm stands.

FALL: When the main CSA season finishes at the end of October, the focus is shifted to evaluating the past

season and planning for the coming year, coordinating the late fall share through mid-December, and crop planning for the following season. It may also involve staffing CSA distributions and/or farmers markets and/or farm stands.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The successful candidate will assume additional responsibilities depending on his/her skills and the staffing needs at the farm. Examples of these responsibilities may include writing newsletter content, maintaining inventory for the add-on program, or maintaining and updating website content.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate for the Assistant CSA Manager position must love working with people and with computers, have a desire to grow within Farmer Dave’s, and be enthusiastic about being mentored and trained. (S)he must have strong professional written and verbal communication skills and a strong “customer service” ethic.  (S)he must have strong computer/internet skills and be very comfortable with web-based database software, Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher. S(he) will also have a great enthusiasm for and knowledge of fresh vegetables & fruit and sustainable agriculture.

(S)he must have a strong understanding of the CSA model. (S)he must have the ability to work efficiently, both independently and as part of a team. As much of the work involves computers and data entry, (s)he must be willing to do such work for the majority of the day on many days, with careful attention to detail. (S)he must be comfortable and willing to work in a fast-paced environment.  (S)he must be able to lift at least 50 pounds unassisted.
Additional preferred skills:
Familiarity with (and/or willingness) to driving a box truck (no specific license required)

Knowledge of vegetable cooking

Familiarity or experience with graphic design

A basic familiarity or understanding of database design.

A basic familiarity or understanding of html.

Working knowledge of Spanish

At least one season of experience working on a farm (not required, but nice to have!)

 

Compensation: Commensurate with experience. Health insurance. One paid week off per year.

 

How to Apply

Use your cover letter as your one and only opportunity to tell us why we should read your resume! Please emphasize how your background and skills are an excellent fit for the responsibilities and qualifications in this job description.  As Farmer Dave’s is a small operation and every person holds many responsibilities, please feel free to also highlight other skills you possess that would be valuable to a small business.

E-mail your cover letter, resume and salary requirements to jobs@farmerdaves.net  (The subject line should read: Assistant CSA Manager Position) OR mail your cover letter and resume to: Farmer Dave’s, attn: Bethany Bellingham, 437 Parker Road, Dracut, MA 01826. No phone calls, please.