How to Apply: Please email cover letter and resume with three references to jobs@kokuahawaiifoundation.org. Applications are due on February 1, 2025.
Title: ʻĀINA Farm Stand Manager
Location: Haleʻiwa, Hawaiʻi
Reports to: Social Enterprise Director
Supervises: Sales Associate(s)
Works Closely with: CEO, COO
About the Organization: Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation (KHF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2003 that supports environmental education in the schools and communities of Hawaiʻi. KHF’s mission is to provide students with experiences that will enhance their appreciation for and understanding of the environment so they will be lifelong stewards of the earth. In 2019 KHF acquired 8 acres of land in Haleʻiwa with a vision to establish agricultural, educational, and retail activities that benefit the community and promote local food, waste reduction, and environmental stewardship.
Position: The ʻĀINA Farm Stand Manager leads and manages the ʻĀINA Farm Stand. The ideal candidate is passionate about promoting local agriculture and food. They are a leader capable of multi-tasking with attention to detail and connecting with many diverse employees, partners, farmers, chefs, vendors, customers and volunteers. They will run daily operations efficiently and support the business in alignment with KHF’s brand and mission. This includes customer service and sales, inventory and merchandising, staff scheduling and supervision, event coordination, community engagement, and marketing. They must lead and collaborate respectfully at all times and consistently build a positive work environment.
About the ʻĀINA Farm Stand: The ʻĀINA Farm Stand shares the bounty of local food and agriculture producers, provides farm-fresh produce from the Kōkua Learning Farm and other local farmers and producers, as well as value-added products, locally grown flowers, and lei.
Roles and Responsibilities:
People, Community & Mission
- Build a joyful, inclusive, and engaging culture for a staff, volunteers, partners, and vendors
- Train and supervise a small team of staff, interns, and volunteers
- Model mission-driven brand promises related to environmental stewardship, local food production and a low-waste lifestyle
- Connect and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with local and sustainable farmers, chefs, food producers, artisans, makers, business owners, and other mission-aligned vendors
Customer Experience & Sales
- Build life-long brand relationships with customers through daily interactions, events, word of mouth, and social media
- Welcome customers and create a meaningful, comfortable shopping and learning experience
- Set/meet sales and impact targets and motivate staff to do so
- Prepare and serve pre-made cafe items, and made-to-order beverages
- Learn customer preferences and upsell to customers through education about local food, farmers, and chefs.
- Experience managing and serving a selection of prepared fresh foods and, beverages high-quality coffee, tea, and/or soft serve made to ordering the ‘ĀINA Farm Stand while speaking to all the different agricultural, educational, and retail work happening under the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation umbrella
- Collaborate to plan and execute specials and promotions
- Encourage customers to become paid Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation members
- Elevate complaints to management as needed
Business Operations & Management
- Develop systems for reducing waste, including through reusable foodware and drinkware, upcycling food for use in KHF social enterprises or programs, and composting
- Maintain optimal staffing and scheduling that meets operational requirements, being responsive to traffic, business, and seasonal changes
- Use POS systems to process payments, conduct inventory, and generate reports with speed and accuracy, with an eye toward efficient user experience
- Develop analytical skill and precision to understand and report weekly and monthly sales, profit, and trends
- Follow and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for policies, technology, training, operations, employee compensation, and cash handling
- Process membership sales, benefits, and other promotions accurately and according to KHF and store policy and procedures
Inventory & Merchandising
- Delight customers and benefit food producers by selecting and managing fresh, local, high-quality inventory levels and product flow
- Maintain high standards of visual merchandising and brand presentation - ensure shelves are fully stocked and attractive, priced correctly, and displayed in a safe manner, with effective educational touchpoints that connect customers to where their food comes from
- Manage vendors, including communicating growing practices and quality standards, invoicing, receiving, and ordering produce, valued-added products, and prepared foods.
- Manage inventory by monitoring shelve stocks, updating POS inventory when products arrive, and perform bi-annual Inventory audits. Perform routine inventory counts and submit reports to the Social Enterprise Director.
Event Coordination
- Assist with scheduling, planning, organizing and hosting events in the Backyard Garden, adjacent to the ‘ĀINA Farm Stand.
- Oversee event details such as set up, clean up, supplies, staging, facilities, refreshments, event schedule, protocol, attendee registration, and the flow of people
- Integrate existing KHF branding, programs, and resources
- Communicate clearly and in advance with staff, volunteers, partners and vendors
- Schedule and promote events within KHF calendars, KHF website and event platform, KHF social media and other media outlets as needed
Branding, Social Media & Marketing
- Communicate compelling stories that connect consumer choices to the broader work of KHF in schools, on the farm, and in the community.
- Under the direction of the Leadership Team and Communications & Outreach Manager, connect with KHF constituents through various channels, including events, social media, emails, and newsletters
- Generate high quality, relevant and engaging media content to generate excitement for products and events
- Assist with developing the social enterprise social media calendar to highlight key activities, products, and events within the timeframe and brand guidelines outlined by the Communications & Outreach Manager
- Communicate and connect with partners about social media posts to foster collaboration and share partner stories
Desired Traits, Skills, and Experience:
The ideal candidate will meet most of the following, with the willingness and ability to learn the rest:
- 2+ years of food experience, ideally in a small retail food service or grocery setting, including customer service, inventory management, preparing and serving food, vendor relationships, opening and closing, sales reporting, and loss prevention. The ideal manager will have a mix of some of the following skills and experiences:
- Experience managing perishable inventory in 2+ of the following areas, with willingness and ability to learn to the oversee the others very quickly: produce, flowers, prepared foods, bakery, juices, value-added products, dairy, meat, seafood
- Experience managing and serving a selection of prepared fresh foods and beverages made to order
- Relationships with small-to-medium scale chefs, farmers, and food aggregators in Hawaiʻi and an understanding of their capabilities and needs
- Experience growing or cooking food for sale or in community settings
- 1+ years of training, leading, and supervising direct reports, ideally in a customer-focused setting, to meet sales and impact goals, including taking constructive corrective action with employees
- Experience with food safety and quality assurance systems
- Demonstrated ability to both conduct and coordinate a team in operational tasks, including receiving deliveries and maintaining store cleanliness
- Desire to build, lead, inspire, and grow an outstanding team
- 1+ years experience retail buying and data management, or willingness to learn
- 1+ years of gardening and composting
- 3+ years of Hawaiʻi-based job experience and 3 Hawaiʻi-based references preferred
- Experience and passion in sustainability - especially garden/farm practices and waste reduction
- Demonstrated commitment to education, intersectional environmentalism, sustainability, justice and growing a healthier future for Hawaiʻi
- Outstanding verbal and written communication and interpersonal abilities
- Beginning level proficiency in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi or interest and commitment to learning
- Excellent organizing and leadership skills
- Analytical mind and familiarity with data analysis principles
- Flexibility in work schedule reflecting the needs and patterns of store hours
- Knowledge of retail management software, ideally Shopify POS
- Solid computer skills, including in Apple and Google Workspace
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
- Ability to carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds
Compensation & Benefits:
- Pay range is $24/hr - $27/hr (based on qualifications and experience)
- Employees working an average of 20+ hours per week are eligible to receive 100% paid medical and dental insurance and enroll in a 401(k) program with a 3% employer match.
Hours & Location: Full-time position based in Haleʻiwa, HI, in person, typically working Tuesday - Saturday.
How to Apply: Please email cover letter and resume with three references to jobs@kokuahawaiifoundation.org. Applications are due on February 1, 2025.
