Director of Markets (Full-Time)

📍 Location: New Orleans, LA
🕒 Type: Full-Time, Salaried (Exempt)
💲 Salary: Starting at $60,000 (commensurate with experience)
🏢 Organization: Market Umbrella (Home of the Crescent City Farmers Market)

About Market Umbrella

Market Umbrella is a mission-driven New Orleans nonprofit cultivating a stronger, more equitable local food system. Through the Crescent City Farmers Markets, food access programs, and nutrition education initiatives, we support local farmers and food producers while expanding access to fresh, local food across our region.

We operate three weekly farmers markets, host more than 130 local vendors, and welcome more than 250,000 shopper visits annually. Our work sits at the intersection of community health, economic opportunity, food culture, and equity.

Our Mission

To cultivate the power of farmers markets to drive economic and community health in the region.

About the Role

Market Umbrella is seeking a strategic, organized, and community-centered Director of Markets to lead the operations and growth of the Crescent City Farmers Market (CCFM) network.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for:

• Overseeing market operations and market-based initiatives
• Supervising market staff (including the Market Manager and Market Coordinators)
• Supporting vendor recruitment, onboarding, and success
• Leading technical assistance and training related to public markets and small food businesses
• Supporting grant implementation, reporting, and market impact evaluation
• Contributing to Market Umbrella’s strategic planning and organizational leadership

This role includes regular outdoor market work and requires some evenings and weekends.

What You’ll Do

Market Operations & Leadership

• Lead the successful operation of Crescent City Farmers Market sites
• Supervise and support the Market Manager and market team
• Improve systems, workflows, and market operations procedures
• Oversee market startup planning, relocations, and site transitions as needed

Vendor Support & Market Systems

• Oversee vendor recruitment, application processing, and onboarding
• Maintain and improve vendor rules, procedures, and participation systems
• Support vendor success through communication, coaching, and technical assistance

Technical Assistance & Capacity Building

• Serve as MU’s lead for technical assistance related to public markets, local agriculture, and food-based small businesses
• Develop and deliver trainings, workshops, and one-on-one support
• Build and maintain strong relationships across local, state, and national food systems networks

Grants, Data & Evaluation

• Support grant development and oversee implementation of market-related grant projects
• Manage required reporting, deliverables, and market-related budget coordination
• Oversee customer counts, surveys, and impact data collection for funders and organizational learning

Cross-Team Collaboration & Strategic Leadership

• Partner with communications and program teams on outreach and promotions
• Participate in senior team leadership and strategic plan implementation
• Prepare market updates and reports for leadership and the Board of Directors

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in public markets, food systems, food access, or related fields
• 2+ years of management experience (staff supervision + project oversight)
• Experience supporting small business operations/startup and/or technical assistance
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Ability to work a flexible schedule (including some evenings/weekends)
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions
• A collaborative, solutions-oriented approach in a mission-driven environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience managing farmers markets or public market operations
• Familiarity with Louisiana food systems and local producer networks
• Grant implementation/reporting experience
• Experience developing and facilitating trainings/workshops
• Working knowledge of food production and food-related business regulations

Work Environment

This role includes a mix of office and field-based work, with regular on-site presence at outdoor markets. Candidates should be comfortable working in a dynamic, public-facing environment and moving between market locations as needed.

Commitment to Inclusion

Market Umbrella is committed to building a staff that reflects the community we serve. We strongly encourage candidates who can help us build a truly inclusive culture to apply.

Market Umbrella is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, veteran status, or other protected status.

Benefits

✅ 12 paid holidays + 18 PTO days
✅ Health & dental insurance (MU covers 75% for staff + qualifying dependents)
✅ Vision insurance
✅ Life, AD&D, and short-term disability insurance (MU covers 100%)
✅ 401(k) with up to 4% annual employer match (subject to plan terms)
✅ FSA (Section 125) and HSA options