Cultivate is an Oxford-based members cooperative set up in 2011 to provide healthy food and education, and to grow the local food economy. We buy organic produce, mostly from farms within 22 miles of the city, giving them a fair price – 50-70% of selling price goes back to the growers. We sell at the Summertown Farmers’ Market and also offer an online delivery service in Oxford by bicycle courier, thus reducing carbon. Any of our own unsold produce is provided to local ‘food poverty’ projects.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team to support the agro-ecological movement in Oxfordshire and beyond as a Grocer. Leading on the distribution of our local produce this varied role underpins the delivery of Cultivate’s sales strategy – you will work directly with customers at our markets, local producers at their farms, and students at the many university colleges we partner with. You will work with the wider team to bring more local food to the people of Oxfordshire.
Main responsibilities:
Collecting produce from local farms – driving to local farms and suppliers to collect produce, developing relationships to understand the seasonal cycle of farm activity.
Running the farmers market stall – running the stall two Sundays per month and managing grocers to cover it the rest of the time. Handling cash and digital sales, making sure the stall looks great, ensuring healthy stocks while minimising waste.
Being the main contact point for customers – in the universities and businesses (eg hospitals, science parks) as we grow our customer base.
Being a font of knowledge on what is seasonally available, its local provenance and how to cook it.
Building a team of grocers – building and managing a team of grocers to run the farmers market and pack the weekly boxes. Drawing, where applicable, from local community organisations supporting people getting into employment.
Extending our network of suppliers – helping the Buying and Marketing Lead to expand our range of produce from local farms and suppliers.
Contributing to strategic discussions abouthow to grow our customer base, engage with the Cultivate community, and more efficiently manage our logistics and operations.
Reporting to the Management Board – working with the Finance and Planning Lead to feed into monthly financial and sales records for the Board.
Community van – taking bookings for its use, managing logistics and ensuring the vehicle is in good condition.
Skills required:
Good people skills, flexibility, resilience, and a can-do attitude.
You will need to be organised and resourceful, and work at speed with accuracy when packing boxes.
Keen and able to work effectively in a small, dynamic, committed team.
You need to be physically fit and strong enough to move large boxes of vegetables and run a busy market stall.
You will need an interest in sustainability and some understanding of why we need a more localised food system (you can learn what you don’t already know on the job!).
An interest in cooking and ability to advise customers on how to use produce.
A full clean drivers licence, you will need to be over 25 years old (for vehicle insurance purposes)
Working Hours: 18.5 hours week
Core working days are Wednesday, Thursday and every other Sunday, with fortnightly full team meetings (1 hour) and attending monthly board meetings if necessary (1 hour)
Salary: £20-22k pro rata, depending on experience.
Contract: 1 year, with possible extension subject to performance
Entitlements: 20 days (pro rated) holiday per calendar year, plus bank holidays. Time-off-in-lieu may be taken for additional hours.
Responsible to: Planning and Finance Lead
Responsible for: Market grocers, packers and volunteers
Application:
As an employer we are committed to equal opportunities. To register your interest in this role, please submit your CV and covering letter clearly outlining how you fulfill the person specification to info@cultivateoxford.org
Closing Date 27th August 2019. Interviews will be held week commencing 2nd September. If you would like more information about the role then please contact us to arrange a call. For more information about the work of Cultivate click here.
