Seasonal Bilingual Farmstand Site Staff (Mandarin required) at GrowNYC

New York, New York, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

15 Apr, 26

Salary

21.0

Posted On

15 Jan, 26

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Bilingual, Customer Service, Retail Experience, Food Access Education, Conflict De-escalation, Cooking Demonstrations, Social Media Engagement, Community Outreach, Time Management, Organizational Skills, Teamwork, Independent Work, Driving, Communication, Physical Labor

Industry

Environmental Services

Description

Description Organization Information GrowNYC is a 54-year-old environmental nonprofit organization helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential services and taking action to make NYC a livable city, one where every person can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life. GrowNYC Programs include: Our network of Greenmarkets, Farmstands, and the work of GrowNYC Wholesale ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food. We build and support community and school gardens through volunteer days, technical assistance, training, grants, and more. We provide 70,000 children each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment. SEASONAL FARMSTAND SITE STAFF (Part-time): Position Summary GrowNYC Farmstand is part of a network of food access retail sites operated by GrowNYC. Through Farmstand, GrowNYC sells fresh, affordable food in neighborhoods throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. The food sold at Farmstand locations is grown by farmers in the Northeast and transparently sourced through GrowNYC Wholesale. The Farmstand Site Staff will help sell fruits, vegetables, and other products outdoors throughout New York City with leadership and guidance from a Farmstand Site Lead. Please note that some shifts require driving and, therefore, a driver’s license. The Farmstand Staff and Lead positions and roles are seasonal, part-time, or full-time, depending on the availability of applicants and program needs. Each Farmstand site is typically staffed by 2-4 Site Staff and 1 Site Lead. Requirements Responsibilities (include, but are not limited to) Staff Duties/Responsibilities: Operations Set up and break down the Farmstand, carrying equipment and cases/bags of produce weighing up to 65 lbs, folding tables and tents, standing for up to 8 hours per shift, and performing other physical labor. (Aiding techniques/tools will be provided for safe lifting upon request) Daily market operations— product display, merchandising, sales, customer service, inventorying, and site clean up according to schedule Answer customer questions about products, including sourcing, farming practices, and food preparation Attend meetings with supervisors, regular ongoing trainings, and departmental outings De-escalate conflict at the Farmstand between customers and/or the public as it arises Support the driver in maintaining a well-organized van Food Access Educate customers regarding food access and nutrition incentive programs Perform debit/credit, cash, SNAP/EBT, and other nutrition benefit transactions Promotions and Outreach Provide exceptional customer service to Farmstand customers Conduct cooking demonstrations and onsite promotional events (varies by site) Post informative and engaging content to GrowNYC social media channels Perform outreach in the local community to promote Farmstand and the use of SNAP and other nutrition incentive programs Translation/Interpretation Communicate with non-English speaking customers in Mandarin Assist with interpretation between non-English speaking customers and other staff Assist with translating printed materials or on-site written translation for the site as needed Driver Duties/Responsibilities: (only for Site Staff who drive) Safely operate a cargo van on NYC roads and highways, distributing market equipment to Farmstand sites (may include multiple sites) Report vehicle issues to Supervisor and/or Fleet Administrator immediately as they arise Complete the pre trip vehicle inspection forms for every driving shift Complete the weekly dry goods inventory spreadsheet Park the van in a legal street location which often requires parallel parking. Use Google van channels to communicate the van location at the end of the shift. Parking location can vary throughout the season based on a van plan Drop off unsold food donations at designated locations Follow all procedures for incidents and accidents and comply with the Vehicle Collision SOP Required Qualifications Fluent in Mandarin Willing to work every scheduled shift throughout the winter season (January through May), including weekends and holidays An early riser who enjoys working outdoors in all weather conditions Experience working in retail and/or customer service Willing to work weekdays and weekends Enjoy talking and working with people of all backgrounds Comfortable working with the public in a variety of NYC neighborhoods Strong communication skills and the ability to respond to work-related communication in a timely manner Excellent time management and organizational skills Works well both independently and as a member of a team Additional Required Qualifications For Site Staff who drive only: A valid driver’s license with at least one year of experience and willingness to drive a cargo van Have a satisfactory driving record Experience driving on NYC streets and highways Able to use good judgment and make safe decisions while driving Comfortable driving in all weather conditions and able to start driving early if there is inclement weather Ideal Qualifications Fluency in other languages is a big plus (especially Spanish and other Chinese dialects, like Fujinese or Cantonese) Passionate about farming, farmers markets, local agriculture, cooking, and/or food access Experience in community outreach and food justice work For Drivers only: experience driving a cargo van or box truck Physical Requirements Ability to lift up to 65 lbs (aiding techniques/tools will be provided for safe lifting upon request), though employees may request accommodations as needed. For field staff positions, GrowNYC will relay important information to you on an ongoing basis. You will need to access certain platforms (apps) to communicate with your team. We require a phone/smartphone that has access to the internet/email and call/text at the time of hire. Position Details Schedule The site staff at the Sunset Park Farmstand are scheduled to work every Saturday, January 10th through May 16th from 7am to 3:30pm. Overtime work requires the program director’s approval. Compensation The position is a non-exempt, seasonal and variable hourly position. It pays $21/hour and includes only statutory benefits. All positions and roles are union-eligible. Location Farmstand currently has an opening at the Sunset Park Farmstand in Brooklyn this winter, January 2026 through May 2026. Staff should not expect to retain the same schedule or site throughout their employment, and we reserve the right to modify as needed. GrowNYC is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and hires without regard to race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation or physical disability.

Responsibilities

The Farmstand Site Staff will assist in selling fresh produce and other products, manage daily market operations, and provide customer service. They will also educate customers about food access and nutrition programs.