Open Positions
operations manager
Position Title: Operations Manager
Status: 20 hours/week year-round. Part-time, non-exempt
Reports to: Hillsdale Farmers’ Market Board of Directors, under supervision of Market Director
Compensation: $1,907/month, salaried
Desired Start Date: May 17, 2026
Application Period: Through May 1, 2026
Position Overview
The Hillsdale Farmers’ Market (HFM) is a 501(c)4 non-profit, founded in 2002 by Hillsdale community members who wanted a source for locally grown food and a community gathering place. The market runs year-round from 9am-1pm on Sundays, weekly from April - November and twice a month December - March. HFM is a loved and respected part of SW Portland. Our local customers are loyal shoppers, rain or shine, but we also serve people from all around the Portland area. Our vendors come from all over Oregon and Washington to bring the highest quality products to market.
The Operations Manager (OM) is responsible for ensuring a safe, welcoming and positive market environment and ensuring that the market runs smoothly for vendors, volunteers and shoppers. The position requires someone capable of providing confident, strong leadership that is consistent with the market’s values. The OM works alongside the Community Relations Manager (CRM) and Market Assistant (and occasionally the Market Director) on market days, and supports the Market Director “behind the scenes” with larger-scale decisions and logistics.
The OM is responsible for all aspects of market-day implementation, including vendor mapping; driving, unloading and loading the market truck; volunteer coordination and supervision; and on-the-spot decision-making when incidents arise. They are also responsible for accurately counting and reporting vendor token/voucher totals for reimbursement after each market. The OM works with the Market Director to develop and enforce market policies, update the Vendor Handbook, process vendor applications and curate a diverse product mix in the market. Along with the CRM, the OM is the face of HFM on market day, both to our customers and the many vendor businesses we support.
We are looking for a dynamic OM to join our team who is passionate about farmers markets and has a desire to contribute to the success and growth of our local community of vendors and shoppers. While farmers market and food backgrounds are desirable, our staff brings a broad range of experiences to their role at HFM. A successful OM is enthusiastic, outgoing, and takes initiative on problems to come up with solutions. They are well-organized and flexible, and can think on their feet in a fast-paced environment. Event management/production, hospitality, project management, and other related skills are great fits.
Primary Responsibilities
Market Day Implementation
Sunday work hours required: approx. 6am-3pm. The OM is the “Person in Charge” on site when the Market Director is not present.
Create weekly market map (MarketWurks platform + Excel). Record vendor attendance. Maintain spreadsheet to track vendor/product mix weekly by season.
Drive market truck (17’ box truck) approximately 1 mile to market site, arriving at 6am. Measure + chalk vendor booth spaces prior to vendor arrival.
Lead physical setup and breakdown of all HFM equipment. Maintain well-organized and secure storage of equipment in truck.
Continually assess and maintain market site condition and safety; be available to solve disputes, answer questions, or address incidents as they arise; check in with vendors and volunteers throughout the day, and offer support as needed.
Post-Market Processes
Charge Info Booth phone and all transactional devices between markets.
Count all tokens/vouchers submitted in vendor token bags; record totals in shared spreadsheet for Market Director to process payments. Check totals against recorded transactions for the day; address any discrepancies. Maintain certain paper records for annual reporting.
Re-stock Information Booth token bin with pre-counted token bags and bundled vouchers for the next market day.
Weekly credit union visit: deposit of cash/check vendor stall fees, make change to ensure cash box is adequately stocked for the next market day.
Vendor Selection & Communication
The OM works closely with the Market Director to recruit, select and retain a diverse mix of vendors and products in the market, and to develop vendor policies, resources and communications. Responsibility level will increase with time and experience in the role.
Review and respond to vendor inquiries, primarily via email.
Assist with annual updates to the Vendor Handbook and other vendor-facing materials.
Maintain current vendor email list in Mailchimp; send periodic vendor emails with market updates, timely news, trainings and resources.
Assist with management of vendor applications, ensuring vendors comply with all market requirements; communicate individually with vendors as necessary.
Schedule Community Non-Profit and Sponsor booth spaces.
Volunteer Coordination
HFM relies heavily on volunteers to make the market run smoothly. We have 10-18 volunteer slots available at the market, plus opportunities to help outside market day as well.
Manage volunteer email account and listserv; respond to inquiries in a timely manner.
Build weekly shift sign-up sheet and distribute to volunteer email list (Tuesdays); follow up before the market (Fridays) to communicate any remaining open shifts.
Recruit new volunteers and ensure volunteers have necessary training and supplies to successfully complete their duties. Organize volunteer training events as needed.
General Duties
Create and maintain a market environment and culture that is safe, welcoming, inclusive, and supportive for all participants. Ensure that the market is a positive presence in the business district and a good neighbor in the community.
Maintain OM email address. Work with shared Google Drive files for collaboration with other market staff. May be asked to monitor a market phone (TBD).
Assist with product/service research and procurement, e.g., new merchandise items.
Administrative duties include printing/copying, supply purchases, storage unit transfers, checking mail, etc.
Work with CRM and Market Director to plan and execute market special events (4-6 per year).
Provide brief monthly program report to Board of Directors, via Market Director. May be asked to attend occasional board meetings to present or discuss reports or proposed changes.
Assist Market Director with brainstorming, troubleshooting, and major decision making as needed.
Cross-Training with Other Positions
For the resiliency of the organization, each position receives cross-training to enable them to assist with tasks outside their usual roles, as needed. These will not be primary duties.
Information Booth financial transactions (market tokens, DUFB, merchandise sales). The OM is the backup staff member for the Information Booth if the Market Assistant is absent.
Power of Produce (POP) Club assistance as needed, if we are short on volunteers. POP Club is our kids’ program, running April-October (managed by the CRM).
Occasional contribution to the market’s weekly e-newsletter (managed by the CRM).
Manage the market’s social media accounts if the CRM is absent.
Work Schedule and Working Conditions
Hillsdale Farmers’ Market is a year-round outdoor market held on Sundays. The market site address is 1405 SW Vermont St. Portland, OR 97219 (in the parking lot between Ida B Wells High School and Rieke Elementary School). Markets are weekly during the main season from the first Sunday in April through the last Sunday before Thanksgiving, and bi-weekly during the winter from December through March. The market is held in all weather, with very rare early closure or cancellation due to unsafe conditions, e.g., extreme heat, wind, or ice.
Sunday is a required work day for the Operations Manager and is spent entirely outdoors, with canopy tents for shelter. Remaining work hours are flexible and largely remote (we do not have an office), though token processing should ideally be done as early in the week as possible. The OM will be asked to store the main token bin and cash box in a secure location between markets; no-cash-value bins may be transferred to the truck as soon as token processing is completed.
During the winter months when the market is held bi-weekly, a portion of the OM’s hours will shift on the “off” weeks to projects such as vendor handbook revision, vendor application processing, event planning, and volunteer recruitment.
Required and Preferred Skills and Experience
Sunday availability required. Ability and willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions year round.
Physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds while walking, squatting, or reaching; ability to stand for long periods on concrete; ability to climb in/out of a box truck. Required.
Current driver’s license with clean driving record and no at-fault accidents in past 3 years required. Willingness to drive a large vehicle (17’ box truck) short distances, and to park in tight spaces. Some personal vehicle travel is necessary for market errands.
Regular access to a computer with a reliable internet connection required.
Bilingual English-Spanish preferred.
Cash handling experience preferred.
Competence with social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook) preferred.
First Aid/CPR Certification (current, or to be obtained within 3 months of hire, required - HFM will reimburse the cost of Red Cross training).
Food Handler’s Card (current, or to be obtained within 3 months of hire, required - HFM will reimburse the cost).
Required Training Post-Hire/Ongoing
DUFB Customer Experience Workshop (offered annually by Farmers Market Fund)
Anti-Racist Farmers Market trainings (review Toolkit upon hire, attend trainings as available)
Mental Health Crisis De-Escalation training (live if possible; otherwise, recordings as available)
Application Instructions
In lieu of a cover letter, please submit answers to the following questions, along with a current resume and two professional references:
What short-term and long-term roles do you think farmers markets play within a community?
What interests you about the Operations Manager position? How do your unique experience and skills make you a good fit for the role?
Email application to hfmboard22@gmail.com
The application period runs through May 1, 2026.
Interviews will be conducted virtually during the week of May 4, 2026.
Final round applicants will be subject to a background check.