Job Description

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the Massachusetts' premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, .

Posting Information: 

Hourly Rate: $20.00 - $22.50 

Hours per week: 30 

Schedule: Daily schedule varies depending on the season. One weekend day is required. 

Job Classification: Nonexempt, Part-Time (benefits eligible) 

Job Type: On-site 

Duration: Year round 

Location: Powisset Farm, Dover, MA 

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

Do you love welcoming guests, working as a collaborative manager, have a great visual aesthetic and get excited by farm-fresh foods and shopping local? As the Retail Manager of the Powisset Farm Store, you’ll have the opportunity to positively impact visitor engagement, provide a carefully curated retail experience, and drive sales to grow and expand our retail presence. This position manages a dedicated team of seasonal retail associates and collaborates with Trustees statewide enterprise colleagues, and the Powisset Farm engagement, culinary, stewardship and agriculture on- site staff. 

The Role:

The Retail Manager role is a leadership position at the Powisset Farm Store in Dover, MA. In this role, you will oversee day-to-day store operations. The Retail Manager will create a welcoming and inviting environment in our Farm Store while promoting Trustees Grown goods (vegetables, meat & and value-added products) and a carefully curated collection of other regional, sustainable, and/or BIPOC/Women made products. 

The ideal candidate will have a passion for locally grown food, sustainable agriculture, and fostering positive community relationships. You have the desire to model excellence in customer service, a knack for visual merchandising, have experience contributing to engaging marketing and social media efforts, and the ability to learn new computer systems. This position is highly independent and requires someone who is a self-starter and loves to exceed goals. This is a 30-hour per week position, with a minimum of 25 hours spent working shifts in the store. 

Specifically, you’ll: 

 As the Retail Store Manager, you will be responsible for: 

Store Management

• Managing the POS system, including online and in-person sales. Responsible for cash handling, reconciling the cash drawer at open/close of day, conducting credit card transactions and handling returns and refunds.

• Placing orders, processing invoices and maintaining budget (revenue and expenses benchmarked to annual goals). Manage accounts receivable and payables in accordance with the finance team’s policies and procedures. 

• Manage reordering of existing lines, recommend discontinuance of low performing lines, and recommend new product offerings in line with the retail vision and guidelines.

• Receive deliveries and add products to online inventory. Monitor products for quality control, refuse if necessary, and document for follow up on invoices.

• Upkeep visual merchandising, including monthly refreshes and seasonal re-sets to keep displays and product rotation fresh and inviting and updating in store signage. 

• Assist with inventory controls including rotating inventory to ensure beautiful and well-tended displays, managing expiration dates, restocking shelves, bagging and labeling fresh produce) and pricing new items 
• Maintain high standards of sanitation and safety. Adhere to all Board of Health requirements for food safety, proper storage, and store cleanliness.
• Ongoing collaboration with the Trustees statewide retail/enterprise team, regional engagement manager and Powisset property teams, including culinary, engagement, agriculture and stewardship. 

• Participate in weekly retail meetings, weekly staff meetings, and monthly KPI meetings. 

• Implement best practices and lessons learned from collaboration with other regional and central team retail staff managers.

•  In partnership with management, develop and manage against established KPIs, which may include revenue, profitability, and more. 

 Personnel Management 

• Hire, train and schedule retail associates. Approve timecards.

• Ensure retail associates are aware of product information and brand stories, as well as farm background and special events/programs. 

Customer Service 

• Demonstrate and exude high standards of customer service. Greet every customer, educate them about Powisset Farm and The Trustees, and help in a friendly manner. Must demonstrate familiarity with store products, upcoming property events, and programs.

• Using knowledge of Trustees membership levels, convert customers to Trustees members to reach membership sales goals. 

• Manage multiple tasks and deadlines with ease and a calm demeanor. Answer phone calls, follow up on voicemails, and resolve customer complaints in person or over phone/e-mail, elevating to management as needed. Problem-solve with the visitor experience at the center of any solution.

• Personalize relationships with customers. Recommend products to customers and elevate product complaints and/or special requests to Farm Retail Strategy Manager. Identify current and future customer requirements by establishing rapport with customers to understand needs.

Marketing  

• Partner with engagement, central retail team, and marketing team to market the store through social channels, CSA newsletters, e-commerce, and local opportunities.  

• Identify promotional opportunities to drive retail traffic and increase audience reach, in alignment with statewide retail calendar, marketing and DBIE themes, engagement programming and vendor partnerships.  

This is a part-time, hourly position working 30 hours per week, reporting directly to Regional Vice President, MetroWest.

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience: 

• 1-3 years management experience in a food, home goods or lifestyle retail establishment 
• Proven experience managing staff 
• Exceptional customer service and collaborative skills 
• Strong writing skills and visual aesthetic 
• Demonstrated interest in farm- fresh, farm-forward and local culinary scene 
• Commitment to The Trustees mission 

Required: 

• Produce results while alone in a fast-paced environment by adapting and implementing new strategies. 

• Able to function and act independently and as a team member. Communicate, make decisions & multi-task under pressure.

• Attention to detail, both visually in-store and in completing daily tasks.

• Possess an engaging, outgoing, and respectful personality and a good sense of humor.

• Math skills for handling and counting cash.

• Experience with computers, smartphones/apps, and POS system knowledge.

• Able to lift 40lbs consistently & stand for long periods of time (at least 6 hours).

• Prior customer service and/or food service experience

• ServSafe and Allergen certification is a plus and will be required once hired. The Trustees will facilitate the ServSafe and Allergen certification process. 

• Knowledge of agriculture, meat, and dairy products is preferred. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment. 
• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Questions? Contact our People team at people@thetrustees.org

Benefits

Your Benefits: 

• Sick time: 15 days per year 

• Vacation time: 20 days per year (prorated) 

• 12 observed holidays, 3 floating 

• Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offers additional benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits.  

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance 

• Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave 

• Life Insurance  

• 401k with 5% match after 1 year of employment 

• Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service that helps employees and their communities with personal and work-related issues, such as mental health support, counseling, and financial advice.  

• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.  

• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.  

• Day of Wonder: Spend one workday per year to exploring a Trustees property 

• Day of Service: Spend one workday per year to helping with a project at a Trustees property  

Equal Opportunity and Diversity: 

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.    

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here:  Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity . 

 It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.  

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at people@thetrustees.org . 

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