Farmers Market Sales Lead

Position Summary

Central Illinois Bakehouse is seeking a dependable, energetic, and customer-focused

Farmers Market Sales Lead to oversee our seasonal presence at the Urbana and

Monticello farmers markets.

This position is much more than selling bread and pastries. The Farmers Market Sales

Lead serves as the face of Central Illinois Bakehouse at the markets—creating an

inviting customer experience, telling the story behind our products, building relationships

with customers and fellow vendors, and owning the day-to-day operation of both

markets.

The ideal person is organized, personable, comfortable working independently, and

willing to take responsibility for everything from product planning and staffing to setup,

sales, inventory, and teardown.

Market Schedule

Urbana Farmers Market – Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana

Saturdays Outdoor Market May-October | Approximately 4:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Saturdays Indoor Market November-April | Approximately 6:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Monticello Farmers Market – Downtown Monticello

Thursdays | Approximately 1:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Outdoor market season for the Urbana and Monticello markets runs approximately May

through October, with an indoor market season for the Urbana market running

November through April. Additional preparation, ordering, scheduling, and

administrative hours will be required outside of market hours.

Primary Responsibilities

Market Administration & Scheduling

 Take primary responsibility for successful Central Illinois Bakehouse operations

at both farmers markets.

 Develop and maintain the market staffing schedule, ensuring appropriate staffing

levels for seasonal history and anticipated weather.

 Serve as the primary on-site lead and point of contact during market operations.

 Communicate proactively with Bakehouse leadership regarding staffing, product,

equipment, or operational needs.

 Update weekly product orders to the Bakehouse.

 Interview and hire staff with support from the SFFW HR team.

 Manage sales reports, cash register reconciliations, and token management.

Market Operations

 Drive a company commercial cargo van to transport equipment and product to

and from the markets.

 Create an attractive, organized, well-stocked Central Illinois Bakehouse display.

 Manage teardown, packing, cleanup, and return of unsold products and

equipment following each market.

 Create a warm, welcoming, and energetic customer experience by greeting

customers and actively engaging to encourage loyalty.

 Develop strong knowledge of Central Illinois Bakehouse products, ingredients,

and preparation.

 Represent Central Illinois Bakehouse professionally with customers, fellow

vendors, market organizers, and community partners.

 Actively train the team on product knowledge, customer service, and operational

tasks and foster a collaborative environment.

What Success Looks Like

The Farmers Market Sales Lead should increasingly be able to answer:

What should we bring?

How much should we bring?

What are customers asking for?

What is selling—and what isn’t?

How can we make the market experience better next week?

Success means both markets operate smoothly, customers feel welcomed, staff know

what is expected, products are presented beautifully, waste is controlled, sales

opportunities aren’t missed, and Central Illinois Bakehouse is represented exceptionally

well in the community.

Qualifications

The strongest candidate will demonstrate:

 Excellent reliability and punctuality

 Strong interpersonal and customer-service skills

 Ability to lead and coordinate other employees

 Good organizational and planning skills

 Comfort making decisions independently

 Attention to detail

 Basic inventory and sales-analysis skills

 Comfort using POS and basic digital tools

 Ability to communicate clearly with production and leadership teams

 Willingness to work early mornings, evenings, outdoors, and in changing weather

conditions

 Ability to safely lift, carry, load, unload, and move market products and

equipment as required (lifting up to 50 pounds)

Previous retail, farmers market, food service, hospitality, merchandising, sales,

supervisory, or small-business experience is preferred but not required for the right

candidate.

The Person We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who sees the market as more than a shift.

We want someone who notices when the croissants are disappearing faster than

expected, remembers the customer who comes every Saturday for their favorite bread,

sees when the display needs attention, helps another employee without being asked,

and comes back the following week with an idea for making things better.

Central Illinois Bakehouse makes exceptional food. This person’s job is to make sure

the experience of buying it at the farmers market is just as exceptional.

Pay: $18.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15.0 – 18.0 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Paid time off

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Champaign, IL 61820

Salary : $18 - $25