POSITION: Market Operations Manager

For Immediate Hire

Hours: max. 30 hours/week, with the potential to increase

Monday through Saturday, please note The Bulb operates in varying capacities 50 weeks per year, please note The Bulb takes a midyear break and an end of year break.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience and qualifications

OVERVIEW

The Bulb is a nonprofit and grassroots social justice organization focused on filling gaps in access to fresh produce for those living in underserved communities. We believe nutrient-rich whole foods can provide food security and improve community health outcomes. Our mobile farmers markets bring fresh fruits and vegetables directly to food-insecure neighborhoods, offering households access to fresh food in a barrier-free environment in an effort to build a healthier, more resilient Charlotte.

As the Market Operations Manager, you will work closely with the Food Operations Manager and partners to strategize and coordinate the ongoing success of our mobile market program. This role is ideal for someone passionate about food access, community engagement and innovative solutions to serve diverse populations.

The Bulb looks for team members who are proactive self-starters and who work well independently as well as collaboratively. Please note that this is a physically demanding job requiring the ability to lift up to 50 lbs. 

This position reports to the Leadership Team.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Market Program Oversight:

  • Lead Mobile Market Program providing fresh produce at no cost to underserved communities. 

  • Serve as the primary point of contact, ensuring seamless coordination, clear communication with partners, volunteers, and guests, and a welcoming, well-maintained market environment.

  • Manage conflict resolution and enforce market policies by addressing disruptive behavior from attendees or volunteers in a professional and diplomatic manner, ensuring a safe environment for all

  • Collaborate with the Food Operations Manager to maintain and optimize the mobile market schedule.

Partner Engagement & Communication:

  • Attend regular market partner check-ins

  • Collaborate with the Executive Director to prepare data and key discussion points

  • Provide a post-meeting summary with action items for The Bulb’s Leadership Team

  • Collaborate with the Executive Director to develop mobile market partner MOUs and ensure market programming aligns with these agreements

  • Proactively communicate with partners about changes to normal market operations, including upcoming holidays, weather contingencies, etc.

Community Engagement & Outreach:

  • Increase awareness of The Bulb and its mobile markets through strategic marketing, event tabling, outreach and direct community engagement

  • Build and strengthen partnerships with mission-aligned organizations to enhance market offerings

  • Create and implement a timely text messaging campaigns that align with character limits, Spanish translation needs and monthly plan restrictions. Ensure messages are distributed on schedule and effectively inform market guests about services, scheduling changes, and other important updates

Volunteer Management & Recruitment:

  • Oversee market volunteers, ensuring compliance with The Bulb’s service standards and best practices

  • Proactively recruit volunteers to fill all open positions and recommend improvements for efficiency and service quality

  • Coordinate and manage group volunteer activities with the Food Operations Manager and Executive Director

Data Management & Reporting:

  • Collect and compile post-market summaries from market leads

  • Conduct daily data reviews in AirTable, ensuring accuracy and reporting discrepancies to the Operations & Finance Director

  • Identify trends and share monthly insights with The Bulb’s Leadership Team

Survey & Impact Assessment:

  • Plan, develop and execute bi-annual surveys with support from Operations & Finance Director

  • Analyze survey data to understand market demographics, gather community feedback and inform program decisions

Partnership & Service Coordination:

  • Coordinate with partners to schedule complementary services at markets, engaging the Operations team as needed

  • Ensure host agencies are informed of supplemental activities and that all site compliance standards are met

Staff Management & Development:

  • Lead and support intern, assistant and coordinator level staff with guidance, hands-on training and constructive feedback to help them grow and succeed

  • Delegate tasks effectively to optimize workflow and ensure smooth market operations 

  • Foster a positive, collaborative and service-focused work environment

Nutrition Education & Resource Distribution:

  • Collaborate with the Operations & Finance Director to develop and distribute nutrition education materials for market guests

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain Clean & Organized Workspaces: Ensure the Barn, cooler and company vehicles remain organized and sanitary by:

  • Appropriately disposing of trash, compost and recycling

  • Sanitizing surfaces and maintaining cleanliness in all storage and work areas

  • Organizing supplies for efficiency and accessibility

  • Washing tablecloths and rinsing bins to uphold hygiene standards

Food Rescue & Sorting: support food operations including picking up donations from farm and grocery partners, assessing and sorting food for freshness, composting unusable items, tracking food weights for reporting, and delivering surplus to approved food-access partners to maximize community impact and minimize waste.

Community & Public Engagement: Represent The Bulb at community, corporate and fundraising events, fostering relationships and increasing organizational visibility 

Time Management & Compliance:

  • Track and submit hours accurately for timely timesheet processing

  • Maintain hours at or below 60 per pay period unless explicitly authorized by the Executive Director

  • Proactively communicate with the Executive Director regarding any concerns or challenges related to scheduling or workload

REQUIREMENTS 

  • Bachelor's Degree

  • 5+ year(s) of professional work experience, inclusive of people management

  • Background in food justice, hunger relief and nonprofit programming (preferred, not required)

  • Familiarity with data collection, management, and data-driven decision making

  • Experience in marketing and promotion print, digital, radio and news media channels

  • Basic financial and budgeting knowledge

  • Proactive, positive, solution-oriented and collaborative attitude 

  • Strong communication and time management skills

  • Outgoing personality, a strong public speaker

  • Exceptionally organized with the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, effectively prioritize responsibilities and task shift in a fast-paced environment

  • Proficiency in Google Suite/MS Office

  • Experience in Canva

  • Knowledge of AirTable or similar databases (preferred, not required)

  • Ability to lift up to 50lbs 

  • Valid driver’s license and clean driving record 

  • Ability to work outside in varying weather conditions

  • Access to reliable transportation and technology (cell phone, computer or tablet)

  • Spanish language fluency

To apply, email us with your resume, a cover letter and 3+ references that include a current or former supervisor!