CSA Program Manager (on-site)

Community Supported Agriculture Program Manager

Who we are –

Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative is a nonprofit organic farmer’s cooperative of over 100-member farmers in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. We focus on creating healthy high-quality foods from our highly maintained and enriched soils on our small-scale family farms. LFFC serves all Eastern Pennsylvania, New York City, and most of the tri-state area by connecting the farmer and customer, delivering the best local organic produce, value added products, and humanely raised and pastured animal products to retail establishments, co-ops, restaurants, and institutions.

The perks of working here –

• Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
• 3% match for Simple IRA
• Paid time off and paid sick days
• Free summer CSA (community shared agriculture) share
• Access to employee store with discounted organic food and drink and awesome LFFC-branded swag
• Being part of something that will make you feel good at the end of the day
  
  

Position Summary –

The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program Manager is a results driven position that leads our CSA program. The primary focuses of this role are sustainable CSA program growth, customer retention, and the pursuit of new markets with the potential to address new and unique ways to build upon our model. The CSA Program Manager leads the CSA Team and works directly other LFFC Managers to develop and sustain our market share growth, program profitability and customer satisfaction. The position is based in Lancaster to ensure that the CSA Program Manager can engage with the communities our farmers and our customers are residing in.

Position Responsibilities & Tasks –

• Design and implement business strategies which deliver CSA program expansion and sales growth
• Develop and maintain collaborative long-term relationships with wholesale customers, community partners, other stakeholders, and members of the public
• Build a strong rapport and trust with colleagues by demonstrating timely communication, high level of participation, honesty, and a team mentality
• Lead and develop an effective department of five CSA team members by providing guidance, support, and clear objectives
• Identify and attend community events, gatherings, and conferences to promote the CSA program
• Create seasonal promotions and campaigns that align with the most appropriate message and mission for LFFC, demonstrating a deep understanding of our values and our customer base
• Plan and maintain inventory within LFFC systems to satisfy CSA program requirements; exercise good judgment with regards to availability of seasonal farm products
• Coordinate with the Purchasing Manager, Executive Director and Business Development Manager for solutions to sourcing needs (demand planning, specifications, pricing, etc.)
• Establish long and short-term CSA team priorities and workflow, with an emphasis on organization and communication
• Maintain sales, inventory, and financial reports reflecting CSA program data and trends
• Evaluate customer engagement and CSA program enrollment on a quarterly basis to ensure customer satisfaction and to protect margins
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Marketing to develop communications including marketing collateral, promotional items, direct mail, social media, and all other aspects of CSA promotions
• Monitor and follow up on operating performance of each share program with specific regard to sales and profit performance of all existing and new products and programs
• Maintain current knowledge of market conditions through periodic reviews of customers’ needs and competitive offerings
• Structure CSA program processes and SOPs to clearly communicate responsibilities to team members; promote and establish cross-training systems where applicable
  
  

Who you are –

• No minimum education is required; a bachelor's degree may be an indicator of capacity for this position; 3-5+ years in a perishable sales environment preferred or other similar community focused role
• Ability to develop and maintain effective, positive internal and external working relationships with a diverse group of individuals; a team player but also able to work just as well independently
• Demonstrated understanding of how to lead and develop a successful team by building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members
• Provide friendly, efficient, and accurate solutions for customers with the goal of customer loyalty and increased business sales
• Attention to detail, flexibility and demonstrated capacity to operate in a fast-paced environment
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office-Word, Excel and Outlook, Google Docs, and social media sites; experience with Adobe suite and/or graphic design and newsletter layout is a plus
• Passion and knowledge of organic produce, pastured meats/dairy products, and the natural food industry, including current food trends
• Ability to handle shifting priorities while maintaining a high level of productivity, organization, and communication
• Outstanding organizational skills; capable of handling many tasks at once and strong attention to detail.
• Experience working with fresh food products, preferably fruits and vegetables
• Broad knowledge base of retail purchasing, pricing, gross profit margins, and basic inventory management principles
• Strong work ethic, with a sense of seasonal urgency and ability to work under tight deadlines; reliable and highly motivated to get the job done
• Proactive with excellent follow-through and able to resolve issues appropriately and in a timely manner
  
  

This job description is intended to describe the general requirements for the performance of this job. It is not a complete statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Other duties, not listed here, may be assigned as necessary to ensure the proper operations of the team.

Physical Requirements –

Essential Functions / Tasks:

Requirements:

Physical:

Vision

Ability to read data and the computer screen.

Hearing

Hearing required to hear customers and co-workers make requests.

Sense of Smell

Ability to smell is not relevant.

Gripping

Infrequently.

Lifting

Infrequently.

Stooping

Infrequently.

Squatting

Infrequently.

Push/Pull

Infrequently.

Kneeling

Infrequently.

Climbing

Infrequently.

Bending

Infrequently.

Reaching

Infrequently.

Equipment Operation

Infrequently.

Carry Objects

Infrequently.

Sitting

Prolonged sitting.

Walking

Occasional walking.

Standing

Infrequently.

Work environment

Office environment.

Climate

Temperature controlled.

Mental & Psychological Demands:

Comprehension

Understands and retains directions.

Reading/Writing

Excellent reading/ writing skills.

Speaking

Communicate effectively with co-workers and customers.

Decision Making

Use advanced problem-solving techniques.

Attention To Task/Detail:

Critical Thinking Skills

Organize tasks and set priorities.

Multi-Tasking

Perform and /or direct multiple tasks simultaneously.

Interaction With Others:

Customer Service

Ability to interact with the public in a positive and friendly manner.

Co-workers

Ability to interact with co-workers in a positive and friendly manner.

Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Candidates from ALL walks of life are encouraged to apply.