Food Access La

About Food Access LA

Founded in 1996, Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (Food Access LA) is a leading Southern California nonprofit organization, connecting people to healthy food, promoting economic development, and building sustainable food systems. We operate the largest network of mission-driven farmers' markets in Los Angeles as well as programs that provide nutrition education, food access, and opportunities for small regional farms and local food businesses to thrive. 

Our programs include: 

• Operating a network of community-based certified farmers' markets in Los Angeles. 

• Piloting and championing programs that stretch public nutrition benefits for the purchase of fresh, nutrient-rich food. 

• Providing extensive nutrition education programs to low-income families and children in underserved schools. 

Summary of Responsibilities 

Reporting to the Director, Farmers' Market Operations, the Regional Manager, Farmers' Market Operations provides operational and strategic oversite to a regional network of Food Access LA's Certified Farmers' Markets. The South LA Regional Manager will oversee the Central Avenue, Crenshaw, Compton College, and Watts Farmers' Markets. The Northeast LA Regional Manager will oversee the Atwater Village, Echo Park, Little Tokyo, and LA River Farmers' Markets. And the Hollywood Farmers' Market Regional Manager will oversee the Hollywood Farmers' Market - Food Access LA's oldest and largest farmers' market. Each Regional Manager will manage one farmers' market and supervise the Market Managers within their assigned region.  

The Regional Manager will develop a deep knowledge of each market's operations, communities, and challenges and work with the Market Management team to create, strengthen, and refine operational practices that promote positive and productive staff, vendor, and customer experiences. 

The ideal candidate is passionate about local food systems, thrives in a fast-paced environment, can effectively juggle many and often competing responsibilities at once, has an affinity for creating and maintaining structure while allowing for fluidity, and gains fulfillment in a role that requires a unique blend of interpersonal and administrative skills. This position supervises 2-3 staff members in a peer leadership structure.  

Specific Responsibilities 

• Provide strategic guidance to the region-specific team of Market Managers in maintaining the weekly operation of farmers' markets and manage the assigned market to: 

• • Ensure, support, and promote the following standard practices on market days:  

• • • Compliance with, and communication of, Food Access LA Rules & Regulations and all local, State, and Federal regulations pertaining to the operation of Certified Farmers' Markets and Community Events 

• • • Productive coordination of market site staff with the set-up, breakdown, and effective management of the market 

• • • Fill in, or support finding coverage, for Market Managers as needed due to call outs, vacation schedules, personal emergencies, etc. 

• • Work with managers to effectively implement administrative tasks such as: 

• • • Vendor recruitment, onboarding, and management practices 

• • • Draft, edit, translate, and / or send vendor, customer, or stakeholder communications 

• • • Order market site supplies and oversee supply request processes 

• • • Maintain vendor files in market management database and work with vendors to keep files up to date 

• • • Market reconciliation and reporting, with reconciliation supported by a Market Administrative Assistant for the market the Regional Manager operates 

• • Promote the safe operation of and support the health and growth of each market: 

• • • Work with Market Managers to develop + implement market specific programming, community outreach initiatives + partnerships, and other market events + activities with Food Access LA's Benefits & Incentives, Nutrition Education, Food Distribution, and other internal program partners and external partners 

• • • Facilitate the development of market- / region- specific marketing and community outreach plans and design / inform the design of marketing materials as needed  

• • • Support the Market Management team in establishing and maintaining productive and communicative relationships with market funders, regulatory agencies, government officials, market partners, and other key stakeholders and effectively troubleshooting operational, logistical, and administrative challenges 

• • • Applying for and managing grants that maintain or expand market operations and programs within region 

• • • Organize and attend farm, kitchen and studio visits as needed. 

• • • Inform the operational budget of each market and support with tracking income and expenses 

• Collaborate with Regional Management + Market Management team, Director, Farmers' Market Operations, and other Food Access LA staff across programs and departments to create a strong foundation for the operation of Food Access LA's farmers' markets and market programming by: 

• • Developing, refining, implementing, and managing administrative and operational systems that foster consistency and coordination in the management of Food Access LA's farmers' markets 

• • • Developing, revising, and updating Food Access LA's Rules & Regulations and Market Management Manual as needed 

• • • Working with Market Facilities Manager to ensure training of market site assistants, and the repair, order, and streamline use of market equipment and facilities (i.e. tents, tables, chairs, storage unit, porta potties, etc.) 

• • • Updating Food Access LA website, newsletter, and social media pages with events calendar and market / programs news  

• • • Managing market volunteer inquiries and opportunities 

• • Hiring, training, and managing Market Managers within regional network 

• • Working with Food Access LA's Benefits & Incentives, Nutrition Education, Food Distribution and other internal program managers, as well as external partners to organize market programming, community outreach and engagement events, and other strategic initiatives that support Food Access LA's mission and Strategic Planning goals 

• • • Strategizing market promotional, social media, and community engagement efforts 

• • • Supporting the development, planning, and launch of new Farmers' Markets 

• • • Representing Food Access LA at relevant meetings, conferences, and trainings through writing, public speaking and other communications strategies 

• • • Amplifying the visibility of Food Access LA fundraisers 

• Staff Supervision 

• • Review and approval of all supervisees timesheets every other week 

• • Assess supervisee performance with annual performance reviews 

Required Skills and Experience 

• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience. 

• Some personnel or group management experience 

• Ability to work productively and collaboratively in a team, playing a facilitator role within a peer leadership model 

• A working knowledge of basic business and food retail operations, experience working with small- business owners, and/or past experience owning a small business. 

• Experience with executing communications and community outreach strategies. 

• Experience managing multiple tasks and working with competing deadlines. 

• Can work independently, organized and detail-oriented. 

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Zoom, Social Media apps and other technology platforms. 

• Basic accounting skills 

• Ability to work nights and weekends as needed / scheduled. 

Desired Skills and Experience 

• Multilingual; particularly Spanish or Chinese-language proficiency. 

• Experience working in community food systems especially those within the assigned regional area  

• Experience working at a Certified Farmers' Market (vendor, management, staff, etc) 

• Experience working with underserved, low-income communities with awareness and integrity. 

• Knowledge of standards and compliance and other protocols related to the Department of Agriculture, Department of Public Health and other local, state and federal agencies. 

Compensation & Benefits  

• Market competitive salary, dependent on experience 

• Employer covered Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Coverage upon completion of 90-day probationary period 

• Open PTO, plus 14.5 Holidays  

• Employee Assistance Program 

• Option for 403b Retirement Plan 

Physical demand and work environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard reach, stoop kneel to install computer equipment. Most work will take place indoors, but some work may take place outside in rainy, hot, or cold weather conditions. 

May perform related duties assigned by management.