Open Positions
community relations manager
Position Title: Community Relations Manager
Status: 20-24 hours/week (varies seasonally), part-time, non-exempt
Reports to: Hillsdale Farmers’ Market Board of Directors, under supervision of Market Director
Compensation: $2,360/month, salaried
Desired Start Date: May 1, 2026 or earlier
Application Period: Open until filled. Priority application period through March 25, 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 Community Relations Manager (CRM) performs a wide range of duties, so the position requires someone capable of providing confident, strong leadership that is consistent with the market’s values. The CRM will work alongside the Market Director and Market Assistant; we plan to add an Operations Manager to our team in 2027.
Along with the Market Director, the CRM is the face of HFM, both to our customers and the many vendor businesses we support. The CRM is responsible for management of essential market programs and communications platforms, including e-newsletter creation, social media management, volunteer coordination, and running our very successful kids’ program. The CRM also serves as an on-site presence and is responsible for helping the Director prepare for the market each week, assisting with market setup and tear down, ensuring that each market day runs smoothly.
We are looking for a dynamic CRM 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 CRM is enthusiastic, outgoing, enjoys working with children, 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, education, social media/digital marketing, and other related skills are great fits.
Primary Responsibilities
Market Promotion
The Community Relations Manager is the public voice of the market, responsible for producing the weekly e-newsletter and managing HFM’s social media presence. Other promotional duties include pursuing creative avenues for advertising and facilitating market events:
Create, format, and distribute weekly e-newsletter: write 500-word articles and “Manager’s Corner” intro; source relevant seasonal recipes; update vendor and product lists; format in MailChimp; schedule accompanying social media posts, and send to audience (Wednesdays).
Maintain consistent social media presence on Instagram and Facebook: create stories, reels, and posts highlighting our market, vendors, and community.
Develop and implement advertising opportunities (digital and print).
Work with the Board and other staff to plan and coordinate market events, including shopper-facing events, community tabling opportunities, and vendor- and volunteer- appreciation parties.
Power of Produce (POP) Program
The Community Relations Manager is responsible for implementing our POP program, designed for kids aged 4-12. Each week between April-October, kids are offered an activity (educational, tasting, hands-on, etc.) and a chance to earn $2 in “POP Bucks” to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at the market. In 2025, an average of 85 kids participated each market day.
Plan weekly POP activities April-October (approx. 30 activities/year). Create activity sheets and/or procure necessary materials. Collaborate with local organizations to bring their own activities to the POP Club.
Oversee POP volunteers; staff POP Booth as necessary on market day.
Oversee recordkeeping, e.g., parent permission forms and participant tracking.
Compile periodic and end-of-season reports for major POP sponsor(s) and Board.
Evaluate program’s impact using participation metrics, POP Bucks distribution and redemption data, and parent/guardian surveys.
Volunteer Coordination
Note: This set of duties is a temporary responsibility for the CRM. Volunteer Coordination duties will be transferred to the Operations Manager when that position is filled in 2027. There will be no reduction in hours or compensation for the CRM as a result of that change.
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.
Market Day Implementation
Assist Market Director on market day, including physical setup and breakdown of all HFM equipment. Sunday work hours required: approx. 7am-3pm.
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.
Act as second-in-command on market day; be able to run market solo in the event that the Market Director is absent.
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.
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.
Provide brief monthly program report to Board of Directors, via Market Director. May be asked to attend occasional board meetings to present or discuss program 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.
Early morning (6am) market setup, including driving market truck to site (approx. 1 mile) and chalking stall spaces, in the event the Director is absent.
Information Booth financial transactions (market tokens, DUFB, merchandise sales).
Perform end-of-day vendor token/voucher count, process vendor stall fee payments.
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 Community Relations 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 final newsletter editing and sending must be completed on Wednesdays. Social media activity occurs throughout the week.
Due to the seasonal nature of the POP program and the winter newsletter schedule, CRM weekly hours are expected to vary seasonally: approximately 24 hours/week April-November and 20 hours/week December-March. The salary for this position has been calculated to provide a consistent paycheck over the course of the year, taking into account these seasonal variations. Equivalent hourly rate will thus be slightly lower in the summer and slightly higher in the summer.
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. Some personal vehicle travel is necessary for market errands.
Regular access to a computer with a reliable internet connection required.
Competence with social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook) required; experience with social media management for businesses strongly preferred.
Bilingual English-Spanish preferred.
Cash handling experience 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 Community Relations Manager position? How do your unique experience and skills make you a good fit for the role?
Email application to hfmboard22@gmail.com
The priority application period runs through March 25, 2026.
The first round of interviews will be conducted virtually during the week of March 30, 2026.
Final round applicants may be asked to submit a writing sample
and will be subject to a background check.