Marketplace Organizer, Inventory

Organizational Overview

Black Yield Institute (BYI) is a Pan-African power building and social movement organization based in Baltimore, Maryland. We are organizing to address food apartheid and build a movement toward Black Land & Food Sovereignty. We work collaboratively with black people and entities, along with other institutions, in pursuit of Black Land and Food Sovereignty. We are building independent power by establishing an action network and serving as an incubator for ideas and projects. We are on a mission to create a self-determined and self-reliant community of Black institutions and people of African Descent in Baltimore’s poor and Black food environments.

For more information, please visit BYI’s website at www.blackyieldinstitute.org and follow our social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Position Description

The Marketplace Organizer, Inventory will lead the coordination of food procurement and inventory management. The Organizer will connect black food producers with black families through the execution of the Black Yield Marketplace, a community-based market that serves fresh produce and other local goods.

The Marketplace Organizer, Inventory will be a member of the Black Yield team and will work closely with the community leaders, partner institutions, vendors, and other stakeholders in order to advance food distribution and overall organizing (as described above). The Organizer will also assist with growing BYI’s supply chain work related to food access in the larger South and Southwest Baltimore regions primarily. The Organizer will be directly supervised by the Director of Operations & Culture.

Responsibilities

Inventory Management

• Coordinate and ensure purchases of procured food to the distribution center
• Maintain existing vendor relationships
• Develop new vendor relationships to expand offerings
• Manage financial assets associated with inventory
• Manage Marketplace online store, including item reviews, troubleshooting, etc.
• Collect and organize weekly inventory and sales data
• Troubleshoot issues related to produce delivery, including conducting pick-ups and regular communications
• Train and supervise Assistants and volunteers in proper appropriate handling of merchandise

Administration & Data Reporting

• Maintain business accounts with vendors
• Report all sales data on a weekly basis
• Survey customers and implement changes based on customer needs
• Conduct monthly data analysis and implement inventory changes based on sales trends
• Review and modify standard operating procedures related to the handling of food and beverage
• Develop a Quality Assurance procedure and conduct compliance evaluations monthly
• Develop and implement a Marketplace merchandise handling checklist
• Maintain budgetary prudence through Marketplace accounting

Overall Marketplace Support

• Conduct regular Marketplace business plan review with team
• Work with Marketplace Organizer, Engagement on developing a delivery service component
• Work with Marketplace Organizer, Engagement on developing incentive initiatives by providing customer and sales data
• Support with coordinating the setup and management of BYI marketplace regularly

Other areas

• Attend BYI-organized meetings, events, and other gatherings as assigned
• Attend regular community partner meetings and community association meetings
• Assist with the overall management of Black Yield Marketplace when needed

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum five years of experience with and proven effectiveness in program management, cooperative development, community organizing, coalition building, movement organizing, and/or community development
• At least one year of experience working in small or corporate grocery, farmer’s market, or food sales
• Strong skills and experience in developing strategy and facilitating strategic planning
• Strong skills in understanding team building, leadership recruitment and development, and task delegation
• Skills and experience in partnership development and maintenance
• Ability to solve problems and manage multiple priorities toward overarching goals
• Strong knowledge of community engagement and capacity building
• Proficient in various project management and data analysis tools (Google Workspace)
• Ability to motivate, encourage, and lead people, while working in teams
• Ability to analyze and accurately summarize complex data and effectively communicate conclusions
• Ability to focus and develop creative solutions, while following directions
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and tendency to be self-motivated
• Ability to work across agencies collaboratively and independently
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to arrive to commitments on time (reliable means of transportation)
• Strong work ethic and integrity, with a willingness to learn

Preferred

• Commitment to Black Liberation, social justice, and racial equity
• Understanding of and commitment to building power and moving toward land and food sovereignty
• Active or past certification in food safety and food handling (ServSafe, GAP, etc.)
• Some knowledge of agribusiness and agriculture
• Knowledge of relevant community resources and how to access resources
• Ability to pick up items weighing 10-25 pounds
• Ability to be flexible and versatile in virtual and in-person engagements

Term & Compensation

The Marketplace Organizer, Inventory, will be required to work a 40+ hour work week including weekend work. You will have some flexibility to tailor your schedule, but weekends are required to run our flagship market. The salary for this position is $60,000 annually with a comprehensive benefits package.