Program Manager

Union Square Main Streets

Job Description

Working closely with the Executive Director and Managing Director, the Program Manager will coordinate the operations, administration, and outreach for USMS events, including the Union Square Farmers Market, Holiday Stroll, and Good Food For All, among others. The Program Manager will also support communication and administrative projects that enable USMS to achieve its mission. 

This is an exciting time to work in the vibrant, diverse, and collaborative community of Union Square. The Program Manager position is a rewarding role that offers the chance to gain skills and experience in nonprofit management, communications and outreach, placemaking, and economic empowerment. This role requires a high degree of personal and professional integrity, passion for being responsible for details that keep systems and teams effective, and a strong desire to excel while working in a small, mission-driven team with a big agenda. 



Job Responsibilities

Communications + Outreach
  • Produce tri-weekly newsletter, with opportunity to implement updates to content and structure  
  • Manage social media through regular curation and maintenance of Facebook and Instagram to promote member businesses, happenings in the Square, and USMS activities
  • Maintain and update the USMS website, as needed 
  • Support updates to USMS collateral including, but not limited to, member materials, sponsorships, and other resources
  • Contribute to press releases for USMS event initiatives
  • Contribute to monthly Business Meeting presentations and coordination of guest speakers
  • Lead staff support for USMS’ Promotion Committee activities  

Farmers Market
The Market runs from mid-May through the end of October, every Saturday from 9am-1pm, rain or shine. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Act as the onsite staff member managing market operations including market setup and breakdown, handling all vendor relationships, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/EBT) transactions, and interactions with volunteers and market customers 
  • Review, oversight, and enforce market rules and policies to ensure public safety, such as vendor punctuality, proper parking, cleanliness of site, and vacation of market premises by a specific time, among others
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, volunteers, performers, local businesses, the community, key partners such as the Somerville Farmers Market Coalition and Mass Farmers Market, and various departments in the City 
  • Work with the Executive Director and Small Business Liaison to build and maintain relationships with local businesses with a focus on mitigating negative Market-related impacts and maximizing Market-related opportunities
  • Oversight of all planning efforts, including COVID-19 protocols as needed, city permitting, parking, volunteers, and performers
  • Maintain and grow vendor and volunteer recruitment; management of related processes and tools 
  • Oversee all Market-related administrative tasks, including bookkeeping, maintaining all records, billing and payment processing, map layout, and weekly schedules 
  • Ensure accurate financial management and reporting for Market-related activity including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which involves coordination with Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), MA Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), Health Incentive Program (HIP); managing USMS’ SNAP tokens; and related grant/fundraising activities  
  • Oversee Market promotion including, but not limited to social media and e-newsletter 
  • Oversee the Bilingual SNAP Facilitator, including scheduling, training, and assuming responsibilities when the Interpreter is not available 

Other Events
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Manage logistics, including set-up and seeing through to completion
  • Recruit and oversee participating Union Square businesses, vendors, and volunteers in coordination with the Small Business Liaison
  • Outreach and promotion, including but not limited to developing promotional materials, social media campaigns, and event listings/calendars 
  • Coordinate sponsor benefit fulfillment and sponsor reports
  • Coordinate related promotional merchandise items    
  • Coordinate participation in event and programming evaluation activities
  • Leverage resources to develop relationships with broader community and mission-aligned organizations to expand the reach and depth of USMS efforts 

Administrative
  • Maintain the Union Square business directory in coordination with the Team Support Lead
  • Support the Team Support Lead with processing member dues and maintaining member roster 
  • Support the Team Support Lead with meeting notes and logistics such as booking space and coordinating refreshments at Board Meetings, Business Meetings, and committee meetings 
  • Support staff, volunteer, and intern recruitment and onboarding 
  • Other duties as assigned 

Position Requirements 
  • Tuesday-Saturday work schedule, including in-person onsite management of the Union Square Farmers Market every Saturday during the market season, mid-May through end of October, rain or shine. Monday-Friday work schedule from November-April
  • Strong desire to work in a small team with a big agenda 
  • Passion for being responsible for details that keep systems and teams effective 
  • A high degree of personal and professional integrity, this is essential 
  • A minimum of 1-3 years of project management and/or event planning experience
  • Communications and outreach experience, particularly social media, grounded in strong written and interpersonal communications skills 
  • Excellent organizational skills and aptitude for creative problem solving in an environment that must regularly respond to emerging priorities within the neighborhood served
  • Ability to multitask, prioritize, and complete projects on time 
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team 
  • Demonstrated ability and desire to meet new people, foster connections, build community relationships, and ability to talk with a wide range of individuals, including de-escalation and resolution with those disgruntled 
  • A keen interest in connecting with people on a human level across cultural backgrounds
  • Google Drive, InDesign, Quickbooks, Squarespace, Trello, constituent relationship management programs like MailChimp and Network For Good, and other web-based applications experience and/or appetite to quickly gain experience 
  • Available to work some evenings and Saturdays throughout the year for special events 
  • Physical demands include: moving about the district frequently, lifting up to 50lbs, working the Union Square Farmers Market in rain or shine, pushing, pulling, and carrying as needed to prep for meetings and events
  • A love of Union Square and mission-driven work 
  • CPR/First Aid certification a plus
  • Ability to speak Spanish, Portuguese, or Mandarin a plus
Compensation: This nonexempt position will be compensated with a salary of $60,000 and a generous benefits package. The majority of work will be preferred in person at the Union Square Main Streets office and throughout the Union Square district, including in-person management of Union Square Farmers Market on Saturdays. 

COVID-19: All USMS employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the first day of work. Requests for accommodations due to medical or religious reasons will be evaluated. Masks are currently required in the office, the Farmers Market, and inside Somerville businesses. 

How to Apply: Cover letters or “cover letter videos of interest” and resumes sent to  usms@unionsquaremain.org will be accepted through 11:59pm on October 23, 2022. Interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates as received. We are eager to begin working with our new team member! 

USMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer: USMS recruits, hires, trains, promotes and retains individuals in all job titles without regard to age, rage, color, religion, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship, national origin, military status, or any other similarly protected status. Employees will be selected, retained, and promoted on the basis of their qualifications and job performance.