Merced College is seeking an innovative and entrepreneurial Farm Market Manager to lead the development and daily operations of the new AgTEC Innovation Center Farm Market.
This position will oversee retail operations, staffing, inventory, merchandising, budgeting, point-of-sale systems, marketing, customer engagement, and business development. The Manager will work closely with Farm Operations, AgTEC personnel, faculty, students, and industry partners to coordinate products and create a professional, financially accountable, and educational farm-to-market experience.
This is a unique opportunity to help build a new agricultural retail enterprise from the ground up while supporting student learning, strengthening community connections, and showcasing products and programs from across Merced College agriculture.
We are looking for a leader with strong retail or business management experience who is excited to grow sales, develop partnerships, create new opportunities, and help shape the long-term success of the Farm Market.
As you consider this opportunity, know that Merced College is more than a community college — we are a catalyst for transformation, redefining higher education and setting new standards for excellence. Serving nearly 20,000 students each year, we are proud to be a leading center of learning and opportunity in California’s Central Valley. Founded in 1962, Merced College blends a strong tradition of academic excellence with forward-thinking innovation to create an inclusive and engaging environment for students and employees alike. Committed to the well-being, growth, and professional success of our team, we foster collaboration and a supportive culture where every employee is empowered to make a difference. Located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, the City of Merced offers a welcoming community of more than 90,000 residents, with easy access to the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Yosemite National Park. If you are passionate about innovation, equity, and student success, we invite you to join the Merced College team.
Merced College Mission
At Merced College, students are our focus, and we are known by their success. We transform lives through education and workforce development.
Merced College Vision
Enriching our community through educational experiences and support services:
• Degree/Certificate Programs
• Transfer
• Career Technical Education
• Workforce Training
• Lifelong Learning
• Basic Skills
• Community Engagement
Merced College promotes student success through equitable access, continuous quality improvement, and institutional effectiveness, all with a focus on student achievement.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
This is an exempt classified administrator position. Under the general direction of the Dean of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, and Director of Ag Innovation, and in cooperation with the Enterprise and Academic Partnerships Division, the Farm Market Manager provides leadership, strategic direction, and daily operational oversight for the Merced College AgTEC Innovation Center Farm Market.
The Manager is responsible for developing and operating the Farm Market as a professional, customer-focused, financially accountable, and educational retail enterprise. The Farm Market will serve as the primary public outlet for agricultural commodities, food products, value-added products, merchandise, and other items produced through the Merced College Farm, AgTEC Innovation Center, instructional programs, and approved College community partnerships.
The Manager plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates retail operations; develops annual operating and revenue plans; supervises assigned employees; oversees point-of-sale and cash-handling activities; manages inventory and merchandising; coordinates product availability with farm and food-processing operations; implements marketing and business-development strategies; and ensures compliance with applicable food-safety, fiscal, licensing, and regulatory requirements.
The Manager also plans promotions, educational activities, product launches, seasonal events, and community-engagement efforts that support Farm Market sales, expand public awareness, showcase student learning, and strengthen connections between the College, agricultural industry, and community.
The Farm Market Manager is not responsible for managing agricultural production or instructional food-processing operations but works closely with faculty and employees responsible for those activities to coordinate products for retail sale.
REPORTS TO
Educational Administrator
SALARY RANGE
Management Range 12
Salary will be commensurate with education and experience
Additional compensation for doctorate
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
• Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the daily operations of the AgTEC Innovation Center Farm Market.
• Develop and implement annual operating plans, revenue goals, customer-service standards, and performance measures for the Farm Market.
• Establish and recommend Farm Market operating hours based on customer demand, seasonal production, staffing levels, and College schedules.
• Develop, implement, and maintain written procedures for opening and closing, cash handling, inventory control, customer service, sanitation, security, and emergency response.
• Ensure the Farm Market provides a professional, welcoming, accessible, and educational retail experience for customers and visitors.
• Oversee the opening and closing of the Farm Market and ensure appropriate staffing and operational coverage during all hours of operation.
• Oversee point-of-sale systems, cash drawers, payment processing, refunds, daily reconciliations, deposits, and related fiscal controls.
• Ensure compliance with District policies and procedures related to cash handling, purchasing, accounting, deposits, inventory, and audits.
• Develop and administer the Farm Market operating budget in coordination with College leadership and appropriate departments.
• Monitor revenue, expenditures, payroll, inventory costs, gross margins, credit-card fees, shrinkage, and overall financial performance.
• Prepare and present routine financial, sales, inventory, staffing, and operational reports.
• Analyze sales trends, customer traffic, product performance, seasonal demand, and operating costs to recommend operational improvements.
• Develop strategies to increase sales, improve margins, control costs, reduce product losses, and strengthen the long-term financial sustainability of the Farm Market.
• Coordinate with Farm Operations, AgTEC personnel, faculty, instructional technicians, and other employees regarding product availability, harvest schedules, processing schedules, and product launches.
• Oversee the receipt, inspection, storage, pricing, labeling, display, rotation, and sale of agricultural, food, and merchandise products.
• Develop and maintain inventory-control systems for perishable, refrigerated, frozen, packaged, processed, seasonal, and non-food products.
• Conduct or oversee physical inventories and reconcile inventory counts with point-of-sale and financial records.
• Monitor product movement, spoilage, shrinkage, damage, donations, returns, markdowns, and unsold merchandise.
• Ensure products are properly stored, rotated, priced, labeled, displayed, and removed when damaged, expired, recalled, or otherwise unsuitable for sale.
• Recommend new products, value-added foods, College-branded merchandise, gift items, seasonal offerings, and approved third-party products.
• Coordinate the development of product pricing based on production costs, market conditions, customer demand, product quality, and desired operating margins.
• Develop merchandising plans, seasonal displays, educational exhibits, and product signage that showcase Merced College programs, students, agricultural production, and industry partnerships.
• Identify opportunities for online ordering, curbside pickup, special orders, gift baskets, subscriptions, satellite sales, wholesale accounts, and institutional sales.
• Select, train, assign, supervise, evaluate, and provide direction to assigned classified professionals, temporary employees, student employees, interns, and volunteers; may assign student workers to other employees for direct oversight/internship opportunities.
• Develop employee schedules and staffing plans that provide adequate coverage during regular operations, seasonal sales, product launches, and special events.
• Train employees in customer service, product knowledge, point-of-sale procedures, cash handling, inventory control, merchandising, food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety.
• Review employee attendance, time records, work assignments, performance, and compliance with College procedures.
• Coordinate with faculty and program personnel to provide students with applied-learning opportunities in agricultural business, retail management, marketing, food systems, entrepreneurship, and customer service.
• Develop and implement annual marketing, promotional, and customer-engagement plans for the Farm Market.
• Coordinate with Marketing and Public Relations to promote Farm Market hours, products, student achievements, seasonal availability, special sales, and community activities.
• Plan and coordinate product tastings, demonstrations, seasonal markets, plant sales, product launches, farm-to-fork activities, open houses, and other events that support the Farm Market.
• Develop relationships with agricultural producers, processors, schools, nonprofit organizations, community groups, alumni, donors, vendors, and industry partners.
• Ensure compliance with applicable requirements related to food safety, sanitation, product labeling, allergens, traceability, weights and measures, licensing, permits, accessibility, and workplace safety.
• Coordinate inspections, corrective actions, recalls, product holds, customer complaints, food-safety incidents, and emergency closures with appropriate College departments and regulatory agencies.
• Participate in College and AgTEC planning meetings and prepare correspondence, procedures, reports, presentations, schedules, and recommendations related to Farm Market operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
• Principles and practices of retail store, farm market, and agricultural enterprise management.
• Point-of-sale systems, cash handling, deposits, reconciliations, refunds, purchasing, budgeting, and fiscal controls.
• Inventory management, product rotation, spoilage prevention, shrinkage control, pricing, merchandising, and physical inventory procedures.
• Proper handling, storage, labeling, display, and sale of fresh produce, perishable foods, refrigerated and frozen products, processed foods, and retail merchandise.
• Applicable food-safety, sanitation, allergen, product-traceability, weights-and-measures, accessibility, licensing, and workplace-safety requirements.
• Employee recruitment, training, scheduling, supervision, evaluation, performance management, and student workforce development.
• Marketing, promotional campaigns, customer engagement, community outreach, event planning, e-commerce, and alternative retail-sales methods.
• Agricultural production, food-processing systems, Central Valley agriculture, and the movement of products from production through processing and retail sale.
Ability to:
• Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the daily operations of a public-facing agricultural retail enterprise.
• Develop and administer operating plans, budgets, revenue goals, customer-service standards, staffing plans, and performance measures.
• Analyze sales, inventory, customer traffic, product performance, operating costs, margins, and other financial and operational information.
• Oversee point-of-sale activities, cash handling, inventory controls, product pricing, merchandising, storage, labeling, rotation, and retail sales.
• Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, motivate, and evaluate classified professionals, temporary employees, student employees, interns, and volunteers.
• Develop marketing campaigns, product promotions, seasonal sales, community events, partnerships, and new revenue-generating opportunities.
• Interpret and apply District policies, regulatory requirements, food-safety standards, permits, contracts, and operating procedures.
• Communicate effectively, exercise independent judgment, resolve operational concerns, manage multiple priorities, and establish cooperative relationships with diverse students, employees, customers, vendors, industry partners, and community members.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Education/Training/Experience
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in agricultural business, business administration, retail management, marketing, hospitality management, food systems, agricultural economics, food science, entrepreneurship, public administration, communications, or a closely related field;
AND
Professional experience in retail management, agricultural sales, farm-market operations, grocery operations, food retail, merchandising, inventory management, business operations, or a closely related field;
AND
Experience supervising employees, developing or administering budgets, managing retail operations, overseeing sales and inventory, or performing comparable leadership responsibilities.
OR
Any combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered equivalent to the stated qualifications in accordance with District policies and procedures.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience
Experience managing a farm store, farmers market, produce market, specialty food market, campus retail operation, or similar agricultural retail enterprise.
Experience supervising student employees and providing applied-learning opportunities in agricultural business, retail management, marketing, food systems, or entrepreneurship.
Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, product labeling, inventory control, merchandising, and the handling and sale of fresh and processed agricultural products. Experience developing product promotions, seasonal sales, community events, e-commerce, or other revenue-generating retail activities.
License or Certificate
A valid California Class “C” driver’s license. Travel to locations throughout the District may be required.
PHYSICAL DEMAND AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Environment
Work is performed in office, retail, food-handling, storage, refrigerated, agricultural, and outdoor environments with some travel to different sites; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.
Physical Ability to...
• Hear and understand speech at normal levels
• Communicate so others will be able to clearly understand normal conversation
• Read printed matter and computer screens
• Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time
• Frequent standing, walking, reaching, bending, stooping, and moving throughout the Farm Market, AgTEC Innovation Center, and related facilities.
• Bend and twist, stoop, kneel, crawl, push, pull
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull materials and products weighing up to 40 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Reach in all directions
• Ability to stock shelves, arrange displays, receive deliveries, operate standard retail and office equipment, and assist with event setup and breakdown.
• Work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard
• Work may involve exposure to changing temperatures, agricultural commodities, food products, cleaning materials, equipment noise, outdoor weather, and periods of high customer activity.
Vision
See in the normal visual range with or without correction.
Hearing
Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
How to Apply:
• Submit a complete application by the closing date/time on the Merced College career pages at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mccd
Required Documentation:
• Letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position (cover letter)
• Resume
• List of three professional references (no reference letters permitted)
• Legible, unofficial college transcripts (undergraduate and graduate); transcripts must include the degree major and date the institution granted the degree ; official copies are not required unless applicant is hired
• Diversity Statement: The Merced College District has a diverse staff and student population. As such, applicants must demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and the community at large. Please describe your leadership efforts and professional experience promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in a work setting. Please do not include any personally identifying information. Limit your response to one (1) page.
• If applicable, foreign transcripts must include a U.S. evaluation and translation completed by an approved organization.
• If applicable, Equivalency Review Form (Required for applicants who do not possess the stated minimum educational qualifications and are seeking consideration on the basis of equivalency) https://www.mccd.edu/about-merced-college/divisions/human-resources/equivalency/
Only the required documentation as listed above will be accepted for this recruitment. Any additional documentation will be removed from your application profile. Interview Information : Applicants deemed highly qualified for the position will be invited to participate in onsite oral interviews conducted by a screening committee. A limited number of candidates will be selected to move forward to the interview stage.
Interviews are tentatively scheduled for December 1, 2026, with in-person final interviews scheduled for December 2, 2026. Employee Benefits : Employee Benefits: Health benefits for the employee and all their eligible dependents cost employee’s only $12 per month and provide access to PPO medical coverage, PPO dental coverage, VSP Vision coverage, and more! Please visit our Merced College Benefits website for more details about our incredible employee benefits. In addition, sick leave and retirement benefits are also provided. Condition of Employment : The selected candidate must be fingerprinted and tested for tuberculosis at his/her own expense prior to the start of employment. In compliance with the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, all new employees are required to verify their identity and the right to work in the United States. All offers of employment are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The applicant must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. Individuals with disabilities may request any needed accommodation to participate in the application process. Please submit your request with your application to the Human Resources Office.
Merced Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer
