General Manager
Accepting applications July 1, 2022 until filled
The Yellowstone Valley Food Hub is a grower’s cooperative based in Billings, MT. It was conceived by a vision of changing the local food network and its systems by a small group of passionate agricultural producers in 2019 and has been growing to meet the demands of the local market steadily. The Hub sells locally produced agricultural products primarily through an online sales platform aimed at the direct to consumer markets in Billings, Red Lodge, and surrounding areas. The Hub markets, aggregates, and distributes local meat, veggies, eggs, dairy, and value-added products on a weekly basis year round.
Our mission is to connect local farmers and ranchers to local consumers and strengthen our regional food system. The cooperative members are the producers themselves who play an active role in the hub operations as well as govern the business by sitting on the board of directors.
OPEN IMMEDIATELY: General Manager, Full-time Salaried
Location: Billings, MT
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The YV Food hub is seeking a passionate, detail-oriented, and self motivated food systems professional with great communication and problem solving skills. The General Manager is in charge of executing the decisions related to ongoing operation of the Food Hub, implementing the business plan, recruiting and retaining member producers and strategic partners, engaging wholesale accounts, overseeing marketing, and fundraising (including grant writing).
The ideal candidate should be highly motivated, possess passion for local/agricultural products and local food network, be organized, and outgoing with excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills. Experience with farming, food or community development work and working knowledge of basic computer software skills, such as Google Docs, square, and online food marketing (Local Food Marketplace or a similar software) is a must, experience marketing on a variety of social media platforms is a plus.
The General Manager is a full-time salaried position that will work very closely with a group of dynamic agricultural / local food entrepreneurs and is accountable to the Board of Directors. The General Manager must have an ability to exercise independent judgment to develop and execute strategies to achieve the organization’s goals.
Core Competencies
Specific Responsibilities
Preferred Qualifications
Work Conditions
Compensation
Benefits
HOW TO APPLY
Please send your resume, cover letter, and 2-3 references to yellowstonevalleyfoodhub@gmail.com with the subject line “General Manager Application, [DATE]”
Email response will be provided within a week and successful candidates will be approached for an interview. This position advertisement is posted until the position is filled, starting July 1st, 2022.
Our mission is to connect local farmers and ranchers to local consumers and strengthen our regional food system. The cooperative members are the producers themselves who play an active role in the hub operations as well as govern the business by sitting on the board of directors.
OPEN IMMEDIATELY: General Manager, Full-time Salaried
Location: Billings, MT
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The YV Food hub is seeking a passionate, detail-oriented, and self motivated food systems professional with great communication and problem solving skills. The General Manager is in charge of executing the decisions related to ongoing operation of the Food Hub, implementing the business plan, recruiting and retaining member producers and strategic partners, engaging wholesale accounts, overseeing marketing, and fundraising (including grant writing).
The ideal candidate should be highly motivated, possess passion for local/agricultural products and local food network, be organized, and outgoing with excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills. Experience with farming, food or community development work and working knowledge of basic computer software skills, such as Google Docs, square, and online food marketing (Local Food Marketplace or a similar software) is a must, experience marketing on a variety of social media platforms is a plus.
The General Manager is a full-time salaried position that will work very closely with a group of dynamic agricultural / local food entrepreneurs and is accountable to the Board of Directors. The General Manager must have an ability to exercise independent judgment to develop and execute strategies to achieve the organization’s goals.
Core Competencies
- Attention to Communication: The ability to ensure that information is passed on to others who should be kept informed.
- Thoroughness: Ensuring that one’s own and others’ work and information are complete and accurate; carefully preparing for meetings and presentations; following up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled.
- Task Management: Can prioritize tasks and work toward their completion through tracking details and progress and, when needed, toggling between different projects or assignments.
- Initiative: Identifying what needs to be done and doing it before being asked or before the situation requires it.
- Analytical Thinking: The ability to tackle a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.
- Interpersonal Skills: High levels of social competence is needed for this position to work with a variety of members of the organization, including very closely with the Board of Directors and additional staff.
Specific Responsibilities
- Work closely with our core group of member producers and Board of Directors.
- Coordinate weekly sales through a variety of mediums: on-line, in-house retail, wholesale and seasonal in-person markets.
- Manage inventory, ordering and coordination of delivery of products.
- Maintain positive relationships with producers, customers, community and markets.
- Actively work to secure the financial viability of the organization through sales, procurement of grants and working with private donors.
- Create, manage and implement a Marketing Plan, as well as Wholesale Program in the future.
- The General Manager (GM) must have a passion for food and agriculture, and a belief in the importance of a local food system.
- The GM must be committed to the cooperative business model.
- Individual must be personable, a “people person.”
- General technical skills with common workplace tools, such as Google Docs, Spreadsheets, bookkeeping software, familiarity with social media management, and other online marketing platforms. And/or ability to learn and incorporate new tools and technology into work plan.
- Financial skills, business management experience or education are desired.
- Strong organizational skills and natural proclivity for keeping detailed records.
- Enthusiastic ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, interest in and ability to adapt to changes in evolving business, and ability to jump in where needed to optimize operations.
- Valid U.S. driver's license, subject to driving record check.
Preferred Qualifications
- Existing relationship with/knowledge of food systems in central Montana and surrounding areas.
- Experience with online food hub software, Local Food Marketplace.
- Strong knowledge of a variety of agricultural products, such as seasonal produce, beef/pork/lamb products, and other value added items available in the region.
- Sales experience, especially to restaurants and other institutional accounts.
- Experience working with a Food Hub, or other food purchasing or distribution background, or otherwise have a professional background in food or agriculture.
- Food safety training and certification.
Work Conditions
- This is a full-time salaried position with benefits and considered professional administratively exempt.
- This position is based in Yellowstone Valley Food Hub facility in Billings, MT.
- This role will require in-office work at least 2~3 days a week and flexibility for remote work otherwise. General availability is required on weekdays and some weekends (Saturdays) on a seasonal basis.
- Extensive use of computers, as well as some physically demanding work will be required for this position. Ability to lift up to ~40 lbs.
- This position will supervise producer members, volunteers and additional staff.
Compensation
- This is a full-time, 40 hour/week position with paid vacations and federal holidays (Holidays falling on weekdays may require part-time work and may be compensated at a different time)
- Salary: up to ~$49,000 *Depending on Experience*
Benefits
- Paid Holidays and PTO
- Health Insurance program or reimbursement potential
- Weekly food stipend to enhance knowledge of products
HOW TO APPLY
Please send your resume, cover letter, and 2-3 references to yellowstonevalleyfoodhub@gmail.com with the subject line “General Manager Application, [DATE]”
Email response will be provided within a week and successful candidates will be approached for an interview. This position advertisement is posted until the position is filled, starting July 1st, 2022.
