HVCWC Taste NY Marketing & Operations Coordinator - Central Valley, NY

• The Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Hudson Valley Catskills Welcome Center (HVCWC) & Taste NY Marketing & Operations Coordinator provides marketing, clerical and administrative support for the Hudson Valley Catskills Welcome Center and Taste NY market at the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley, New York, shoptasteny.com, and related pop-up markets, using moderate initiative and discretion in performing moderately complex tasks to support the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets funded project, its program staff, visitors, and the Market Manager.
• The position encompasses a variety of responsibilities, ranging from administrative tasks to technical support and operational management including: providing technical, clerical, facilities, and administrative support to supervisor and program staff, completing market sales and facilities maintenance, processing vendor information including inventory management and purchasing, operating/managing IT and Point of Sale systems and maintaining safe and POS cash controls, implementing strategic social media marketing, writing and editing copy, preparing various educational materials, coordinating events, both catered and non-catered, managing routine tasks transporting inventory from the warehouse to market sites, delivering excellent customer service, arranging, organizing, and supporting facilities access for landlords, vendors, staff, and visitors.
• Providing general customer service and reception to the Welcome Center, and a general understanding of Taste NY products and regional agritourism resources are central to the role. They are responsible for assisting with the guidance of public informal education, product merchandising, business processes, and results for the Taste NY project. The Marketing & Operations Coordinator plays a key role in providing informal education about NYS farmers and producers, excellent customer service, generating sales, minimizing losses, and maintaining the store's visual appeal and cleanliness.

This is a part-time, 30 hours per week, benefits eligible position.

Required Qualifications:

• •Associate’s Degree or Equivalent Education. GED/High School Diploma plus 1-year transferrable program/functional experience may substitute.
• •Experience relevant to the role of the position
• •Must be able to drive personal or Association vehicle for pick-up and delivery of product from the warehouse to the Woodbury Commons Market (hand-cart or dolly may be used for transportation purposes – no heavy equipment use required).
• •Proficiency in Windows-based software, including Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Excel).
• •Experience using social media platforms, particularly Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
• •Ability to prioritize and organize work responsibilities in collaboration with the immediate Supervisor.
• •Demonstrated integrity, sound professional judgment, and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• •Ability to follow oral and written instructions and take responsibility with general guidelines and direction.
• •Effective participation in professional team efforts.
• •Ability and willingness to work with diverse audiences while maintaining cultural sensitivity.
• •Ability to effectively manage an informal, education-based retail environment, ensuring positive public educational and customer service experiences.
• •Strong communication skills, including clear and tactful verbal, written, and electronic communication in English.
• •Regular travel requirements associated with the position. A valid NYS driver's license and acceptable driving record for agency insurance coverage are required.
• •Acceptable background check results.
• •Flexibility to work varied hours based on the Market schedule, including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• •Ability to work in a retail setting, including maneuvering around the sales floor, stockroom, off-site storage, and office, operating point of sale register, office computer, and other equipment.
• •Ability to frequently lift, move, and transport 20-50 pounds of Market products, supplies, and equipment with or without reasonable accommodation.
• •Ability to organize, manage, and prioritize multiple tasks, deadlines, requirements, and priorities to complete work in a timely manner and meet established deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• •Experience working effectively in collective team efforts.
• •Ability to identify and utilize local community resources.
• •Proficiency or basic experience using Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva.
• •Experience in marketing local agricultural products, retail food sales, and promoting agri-tourism.
• •Knowledge of basic marketing strategies, advertising, and product distribution.
• •Experience in purchasing, storing (inventory), and marketing local agriculture and/or retail food products.
• •Experience in local food display, merchandising, sales, and promoting agri-tourism.
• •Experience working directly with farmers and artisanal manufacturers.
• •Familiarity with basic financial records of sales and marketing trends.
• •Demonstrated problem-solving abilities.
• •Ability to manage inventory, collect recommendations, and identify top-selling products.
• •Proficiency in utilizing market and communication apps, QR codes, and other retail-related technologies.

undefined

Administrative Responsibilities:

Direction – 10%

• •Participate actively in administrative and program team discussions, providing administrative knowledge-based input into the development of policies and procedures including but not limited to the use of technology, data and POS systems and evaluation systems.
• •Contribute actively to administrative portions of planning, evaluation protocols for the project, organizing systems for newly emerging program strategies and revisions of existing program, specifically relative to the use of the administrative systems to collect, track and report data.
• •Anticipate and plan for delegated and assigned administrative functions in marketing, mass and social media marketing efforts.
• •In collaboration with supervisor and program staff, draft annual and monthly social media marketing plans following the established annual marketing priorities and supplementing content based on an assessment of historical marketing and sales data, current marketing and sales trends, and curate aligned content and disseminate through approved channels.
• •Collaborate with supervisor to plan the administration of the Hudson Valley | Catskills and Taste NY Market at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets and regional pop-up markets.
• •Assist in planning program activations and establishing relationships with new partners to develop effective strategies for program goals and initiatives.
• •Contribute to the development of brand awareness for Taste NY and related projects.
• •Assist in the development processes and procedures for successful project implementation.
• •Recommend staff development training.
• •Plan the delivery of educational programs for producers and consumers through various methods.

Management – 15%

• •Assist with internal cash controls, including counting/balancing safe and register, bank deposits, issuing/reconciling receipts.
• •Review, assess, and verify the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all sales data and payments received.
• •Assist with product selection, procurement, ordering, receiving, inventory management.
• •Identify operational problems, issues, concerns, and possible solutions and collaborate with Supervisor to take appropriate corrective action.
• •With moderate initiative and discretion, guide the delegated and assigned administrative functions in marketing, mass and social media marketing efforts.
• •Ensure the security and confidentiality of enrollment, registration, and payment data.
• •Identify operational problems, issues, concerns, and possible solutions, collaborating with the Supervisor to take appropriate corrective ac