Lyons Recruiting

We are partnering with Saba Grocers Initiative to hire a Store Growth & Program Manager.

Saba Grocers Initiative is a grassroots initiative of corner store owners in Oakland founded in 2019. Saba’s mission is to shift liquor stores to community stores by increasing produce inventory and healthy products on the shelf of small businesses. We work with each corner store owner on a transition plan to increase healthy produce in a safe and responsible way considering market growth strategies, sustainable supply channels and community engagement tools to anchor each market in the surrounding neighborhood. The majority of our participating stores are located in East and West Oakland. The position will lead our Fresh5x (SNAP match) and corner store programs. This role will be key to the strategic growth of the organization's nonprofit engagement. 

Store Growth & Business Development 70%

• Lead research and site analysis to identify high-potential corridors/neighborhoods for new corner store partnerships, factoring in logistics routes, delivery feasibility, and community need
• Develop and manage a strategic pipeline of prospective stores, prioritizing outreach based on research findings
• Own the store recruitment process — initiate contact, build relationships, and present the program's value to prospective owners
• Conduct on-site visits to prospective and current stores to assess fit and support relationship-building
• Manage end-to-end onboarding of new stores — produce delivery setup, refrigeration equipment purchase/installation, Fresh5x enrollment, and initial merchandising support
• Develop and execute community-facing marketing and outreach strategies to drive customer foot traffic into participating stores and increase produce purchases
• Oversee store relationship management to drive retention, deepen program engagement and increase produce sales
• Partner with the community organizing team to align expansion strategy with neighborhood outreach efforts & store events

Fresh5x Program - 30%: 

• Lead and manage the deployment and administration of the program’s online platform
• Grow the number of average program users
• Support store owners with retail promotion and product merchandising.
• Assist in promoting BIPOC farmer products and new healthy products in corner stores 
• Support community organizing team in acting as neighborhood marketing, outreach, education, and evaluation agents for the program 
• Collaborate on project budgets (e.g . events, merchandising)

What You'll Bring

• 2+ years or more of project management experience 
• Bachelor’s degree preferred 
• Experience in food systems or food-related marketing
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with small & immigrant-owned businesses (strong customer service & sales mindset)
• High proficiency in Excel/spreadsheets and experience with budget monitoring 
• High proficiency and adaptability in using Android and Iphone platforms, and experience in learning and using new technologies is required 
• Proactive, organized, structured, independent, motivated, and detail-oriented team player
• Proficient in time management 
• Adaptable and capable of working autonomously 
• Position requires ability to drive. Mileage is reimbursed by the federal rate
• Spanish language skills highly preferred; Arabic proficiency is highly preferred 
• Car/Driver’s license required 
• Possibility for evening & weekend events based on program needs
• Being part of the Oakland community is a plus 

Compensation & Benefits

• Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
• Status: 100% FTE + benefits
• Location: Oakland, CA
• Compensation: $30-$33 per hour, non-exempt (depending on experience)
• Benefits: Healthcare, dental, and vision coverage for full-time employees (provided based on percentage of time employed); 26 days of PTO annually; 11 company holidays; 401(k) match plan (company match up to 4%; employees must contribute at least 1% to be eligible).

Work Schedule

Saba's office is open 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. This is a hybrid role with 3 days onsite and 2 days remote.

Ongoing Schedule

• Monday - Wednesday: Onsite, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Thursday & Friday: Remote, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Equal Employment Opportunity: 

Saba Grocers is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.