Union Square Greenmarket General Manager

Description

Organization Information 

GrowNYC is a 54-year-old environmental nonprofit organization helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential services and taking action to make NYC a livable city, one where every person can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life. GrowNYC Programs include: 

• Our network of Greenmarkets, Farmstands, and the work of GrowNYC Wholesale ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food. 
• We blanket the five boroughs with resources like food scrap and clothing collections to make waste reduction, recycling, and composting easy for all. 
• We build and support community and school gardens through volunteer days, technical assistance, training, grants and more. 
• We provide 70,000 children each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment. 

UNION SQUARE GREENMARKET GENERAL MANAGER (Full-time)

Position Summary

The world-famous Union Square Greenmarket began with just a few farmers in 1976 and has grown exponentially. During its peak season, the market hosts more than 150 Producers weekly and is frequented by hundreds of thousands of loyal market shoppers. It is open year-round every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

The Union Square Greenmarket General Manager is responsible for the operation, planning, and promotion of this vital and vibrant market. The ideal candidate will have strong management and operations skills and an unsurpassed work ethic, and will thrive in a challenging and fast-paced environment. Reporting to the Director of Food Access & Agriculture (FAA), this position requires a proven team leader who can work collaboratively with fellow staff to execute all aspects of the Greenmarket mission and strive to continuously implement market improvements to ensure a successful marketplace.

Requirements

Union Square Greenmarket General Manager Responsibilities (Include but are not limited to):

Operations and Administration 

• Oversee and manage all aspects of day-to-day market operations, including but not limited to market staffing, producer reservations, market security, and on-site special events.
• Manage Union Square Greenmarket Producer relations, including developing and maintaining relationships with Producers, serving as the main market point person, and sending out operations-related communications.
• Work with the FAA Director, Greenmarket Operations Manager, and Senior Staff to manage and administer market reservations for Producers in the Greenmarket Program. 
• Plan and execute daily market layouts and work closely with Producers to support their continued success in the market.
• Enforce Greenmarket rules and work closely with the Greenmarket Inspections & Compliance team, Greenmarket Operations Manager, and Senior Staff to ensure that the Union Square Greenmarket is in compliance with federal, state, and city health and food safety regulations.
• Work with the Union Square Operations Manager to ensure all operational equipment, including tents and appliances, are in good working order and provide recommendations for repairs, upgrades, or replacement of market equipment.  
• Manage the Union Square Greenmarket vehicle(s) with assistance from the GrowNYC Fleet Administrator.

Staff Management and Supervision 

• Oversee staff management, including hiring, training, workflow, individual work plans, annual performance appraisals, professional development, conducting individual and team staff meetings, and reviewing staff time sheets as needed to ensure efficient time management and work conjunctively with HR to issue Corrective Action Notices (C.A.Ns) and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), as needed.
• Supervise and train on-site contractual market security guards and manage the relationship with our security company.
• Work with the Union Square Greenmarket Operations Manager and Greenmarket Staffing & Administrative Manager to develop and execute the Union Square Greenmarket staffing and scheduling plan. 

Stakeholder and Community Engagement 

• Maintain relationships and communicate regularly with city agencies, partner organizations, and local stakeholders. 
• Represent the Union Square Greenmarket to various organizations, community partners, and the media as needed.   
• Attend community and partner meetings as needed.
  

Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of work experience in operations and/or program management, preferably in a public-facing setting, e.g. retail, agricultural, restaurant, or culinary.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing staff (preferably supervisory experience similar in scope to current Greenmarket field-based staffing) with a people-centered and inclusive leadership style.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, a high level of emotional intelligence, and experience working with people from diverse backgrounds in terms of race, ethnicity, gender (including trans* and nonbinary), sexual orientation, class, and religion.   
• Strong written and public speaking communication skills, with a desire and proven ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and knowledge levels.
• Highly organized with exceptional time management skills and a proactive, results-driven orientation.
• Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot and use good judgment to make on-the-spot decisions. 
• Agile, with the ability to focus on meeting emergent needs, and adaptable to continuous change.
• Strong dispute mediation, conflict management, and de-escalation skills, with a willingness to compassionately and firmly manage the complex dynamics of operating an outdoor public space in New York City.
• Strong commitment to a racially and socially just food system.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite. 
• A valid New York State driver's license, with a satisfactory driving record and a willingness to operate a box truck.

Ideal Qualifications

• Spanish proficiency (preferred but not required).
• Knowledge of sustainable local agriculture/farming, food systems, food access, and/or food justice.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 65 lbs (aiding techniques/tools will be provided for safe lifting upon request) and work outdoors, walking and standing for periods of up to 12 hours, sometimes in extreme temperatures. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Ability to work in a potentially noisy environment. 

Schedule

Workdays are Tuesdays through Saturdays, including early mornings and holidays.  Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays require at-market attendance. At-office attendance is required on Thursdays. Flexibility is required and the ability to be “on-call” for producer and staff communication.

Compensation

This full-time, exempt and salaried role pays $85,000 - $88,000 annually, and includes benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, incentive savings plan, paid time off, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, FSA programs, and potential for parental leave for full-time regular employees who have been employed with GrowNYC for 175 days). This position is not union eligible/not a part of the bargaining unit.

Location: 

Field-based (at the Union Square Greenmarket), with some days requiring work at the GrowNYC office (100 Gold St, New York, NY 10038) or from home.

Applications

Qualified candidates for the Union Square Greenmarket General Manager position should submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to: GrowNYC

Interviews will take place on a rolling basis starting Friday, April 25, 2025. Due to the volume of employment applications received, GrowNYC is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate. No phone calls or recruiters, please. 

Application deadline is Friday, May 2, 2025.

Contact

GrowNYC 

P.O. Box 2327

New York, NY 10272

212-788-7900

For additional information, please see our website: grownyc.org 

Salary : $85,000 - $88,000