Retail Market Coordinator

Title: Retail Market Coordinator

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Windy City Harvest

Reports to: Sales Manager

Year-Round, Full-time 

Year-Round Full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:

• 2025 Chicago Botanic Garden Benefit Guide - Year-Round Full-time

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate’s qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate’s salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual’s contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a market coordinator at the Farm on Odgen. The Farm on Odgen is the hub for our urban agriculture team in Chicago. This role focuses on the day-to-day operations of our fresh produce, grocery, and grab-and-go products in the market. The person in this position will also support our farm stand at PCC Austin Farm and any pop-up markets by coordinating produce. The ideal candidate must have experience in merchandising, farmers’ markets, purchasing, and managing inventory, with a commitment to creating an environment to build community.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:  

• Under the direction of the sales manager, manage, purchase, stock, and keep an accurate account of inventory of merchandise, products, and produce in point-of-sale system. 
• Ensure that all signage, displays, and marketing materials are informational, accurate, and consistent with Chicago Botanic Garden branding standards. 
• Supervise data tracking for weekly sales and food assistance programs for monthly reporting. 
• Inform customers about food assistance programs that are accepted. 
• Complete daily operating logs, cleaning, restocking, and opening and closing tasks. 
• Ensure that the market is food-safe and health-code compliant with Chicago’s Department of Health. 
• Train program participants in handling the cash register, stocking and grading produce, and customer service.
• Provide excellent, friendly customer service.
• Lead tours of the Farm on Odgen.
• Coordinate, staff, and/or be the point of contact for off-site pop-up markets. 

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Retail or farmers’ market buying, merchandising, and managing inventory; minimum one year of experience
• Point-of-sale systems, cash handling, deposits, and federal benefits payments experience
• Valid driver's license with good driving record, comfort driving large vehicles
• Availability for work schedule Monday through Friday with mornings or evenings and some Saturdays required
• Knowledge or familiarity with local food systems and sustainable agriculture preferred 
• Ability to educate customers about locally grown or made products

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to speak with all levels of employees, guests, and team members and the ability to communicate effectively via email, phone, virtual video meetings, in person, etc.
• Able to efficiently use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and Outlook email system

• Fluency in conversional Spanish preferred

Physical Demands: 

This role requires the ability to lift, push, or pull items weighing up to 50 pounds. Candidates must be able to work in a variety of weather conditions, including exposure to cold environments such as walk-in coolers. The position involves frequent activities such as sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and typing. Regular use of standard office equipment is required, including computers, telephones, copiers, and scanners. 

Why Apply? 
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.