Star Farm Chicago is an urban farm in the Back of the Yards neighborhood that seeks to increase accessibility and of locally grown organic produce through affordable farm stands, CSAs, year-round farmers markets participation, food donations, and providing local jobs, job training, and business incubation for adults with developmental disabilities and/or employment barriers, while engaging local families through our Children’s Community Garden Program, after-school program, hosting community events and workshops, and fostering a safe, green space for all.
We encourage women, black, indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), bilingual and multicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities to apply. Interested candidates shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, medical condition, or other status.
Job Title: Fresh Market Manager
Department: Community Food Systems
Reports to: Executive Director
Status: Full time, exempt
Timeline: Apply by February 14th. Position to begin by Mid-March
Summary Job Description:
The Fresh Market Manager is a senior operational and community-facing leadership role responsible for the strategic oversight, performance, and growth of Star Farm Chicago’s Fresh Market.
This position leads all market operations end-to-end, including inventory and facilities management, staff leadership, vendor and account management, sales performance analysis, and marketing execution. The Fresh Market Manager plays a key role in revenue generation, customer experience strategy, and cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring the market operates efficiently while remaining deeply aligned with Star Farm Chicago’s mission and community values.
This role is well-suited for an experienced grocery, food retail, or market professional seeking to apply their operational expertise in a values-driven, community-centered environment.
Values
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Food justice and equitable access to fresh, healthy food
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Sustainability and support for local food systems
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Community-driven economic development
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Relationship-based leadership and accountability
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Operational excellence in service of mission
Responsibilities:
Market Operations, Systems & Facilities Leadership
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Provide full operational oversight of the Fresh Market, ensuring excellence in customer experience, food safety, merchandising, and daily execution.
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Lead facilities management, including space organization, equipment coordination, maintenance planning, and vendor or contractor oversight.
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Design, maintain, and continuously improve inventory management systems, including forecasting, ordering, shrink control, and margin awareness.
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Oversee POS systems, cash handling protocols, reporting accuracy, and operational compliance.
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Support Shared Kitchen activities, including coordination of meal prep, tastings, and cooking demonstrations as needed.
Team Leadership & Workforce Management
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Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise part-time and seasonal market staff.
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Establish clear expectations, workflows, and accountability systems for staff performance.
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Foster a professional, mission-aligned workplace culture grounded in trust, consistency, and growth.
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Provide coaching, performance feedback, and leadership development to team members.
Sales Performance, Analytics & KPIs
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Track, analyze, and report on sales performance across daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes.
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Develop and monitor sales KPIs, customer purchasing trends, and inventory metrics.
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Use data to inform pricing strategies, product mix decisions, promotional planning, and revenue growth initiatives.
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Collaborate with leadership to align market performance with organizational financial goals.
CSA Program Management & Member Experience
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Provide end-to-end management of Star Farm Chicago’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, overseeing operations, customer experience, and fulfillment accuracy.
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Serve as the primary point of contact for CSA members, managing customer inquiries, service issues, and complaint resolution with professionalism, empathy, and efficiency.
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Proactively communicate delivery schedules, delays, substitutions, and program updates to members via email and other channels.
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Develop and produce weekly CSA communications, including member letters, product descriptions, farm updates, and usage guidance.
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Coordinate product procurement for CSA shares, aligning ordering with seasonal availability, vendor capacity, and budget considerations.
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Manage CSA inventory allocation, ensuring accurate forecasting and balance between market, CSA, and other program needs.
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Oversee CSA order packing and fulfillment processes, ensuring consistency, quality control, and timely preparation.
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Manage delivery logistics, including route coordination, delivery scheduling, and issue resolution related to missed or modified deliveries.
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Track CSA participation, retention trends, and feedback to inform program improvements and future planning.
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Collaborate with leadership to align CSA operations with organizational revenue goals, community impact priorities, and staffing capacity.
Vendor, Partner & Account Management
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Serve as primary relationship manager for local farmers, producers, and vendors.
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Negotiate ordering schedules, pricing structures, delivery logistics, and invoicing processes.
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Maintain strong, transparent communication with vendors to ensure product consistency and alignment with market needs.
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Cultivate strategic partnerships that enhance product offerings and community impact.
Marketing Strategy & Implementation
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Lead market-level marketing planning in collaboration with leadership.
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Develop and execute promotional campaigns to drive customer acquisition and retention.
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Create and manage social media content highlighting products, vendors, events, and seasonal offerings.
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Ensure brand consistency and storytelling that reflects Star Farm Chicago’s mission and values.
Community Engagement & Program Support
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Serve as a visible and trusted ambassador for the Fresh Market within the community.
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Build lasting relationships with customers, neighbors, and community partners.
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Support the planning and execution of community events, workshops, and special programs.
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Gather and synthesize customer and partner feedback to improve operations and deepen engagement.
Qualifications & Experience
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Minimum of 5+ years of progressive experience in grocery, food retail, farmers markets, or related operations.
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Demonstrated experience in people management, inventory systems, and operational leadership.
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Strong financial and analytical skills, including sales tracking, KPI development, and data-informed decision-making.
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Strong attention to detail, including product quality monitoring,
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Proven ability to manage vendor relationships and complex operational workflows.
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Experience with marketing execution and social media strategy in a retail or community-based setting.
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Deep commitment to food justice, sustainability, and local food systems.
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Exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
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Ability to operate independently while collaborating cross-functionally in a small, dynamic organization.
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Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.
Compensation
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.
To Apply
Please submit a resume and brief cover letter to stephanie@starfarmchicago.com with the subject line:
Fresh Market Manager Application