Farmed & Forged Market Assistant Manager
Seasonal Position | March–September 2026

About Farmed & Forged
Farmed & Forged is a producers-only market focused on local food, small businesses, and community access. Our markets operate in Hammond, Michigan City, and La Porte, and prioritize strong vendor relationships, smooth operations, and equitable food access.

Position Summary

The Market Assistant Manager (MAM) plays a critical operational leadership role during the market season. This position supports the Market Manager and Operations team in executing high-quality, well-run markets across multiple cities.

This is a hands-on, outdoor, fast-paced leadership position. The MAM is expected to problem-solve in real time, support vendors and shoppers, and uphold operational standards.

This role requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage logistics under pressure.

Pay starts at $15.00/hr

Schedule & Time Commitment

Season: May 23 – September 28, 2025

Pre-Season Preparation: Pre-season onboarding and training will begin at the end of April 2025. Pre-season hours will be limited and scheduled as needed based on operational requirements.

In-Season Hours: During market season, hours are expected to range between approximately 8–25 hours per week, depending on market schedule, staffing needs, and operational demands.

This is a seasonal, temporary position. Weekly hours may vary and are not guaranteed.

Market Schedule

Hammond (Thursdays) Market hours: 3:30p – 7:00p CSTTeam arrival: 12:30p through teardown (approximately 8:00p)

Michigan City (Saturdays) Market hours: 8:00a – 12:00p CSTTeam arrival: 5:00a through teardown (approximately 1:00p)

La Porte (Sundays) Market hours: 10:00a – 1:00p CSTTeam arrival: 7:00a through teardown (approximately 2:00p)

Meetings

Mandatory weekly FF meetings are typically held Mondays or Wednesdays between 8:00a – 11:00a CST. Additional meetings or training may be required as needed.

Core Responsibilities

Market Operations & Leadership

• Serve as on-site operational leader in partnership with the Market Manager
• Execute market setup and teardown according to established layout and safety standards
• Support onboarding, training, and day-of coordination of market staff
• Address and resolve day-of operational issues in coordination with the Market Manager
• Complete all opening and closing procedures thoroughly and consistently
• Ensure shopper counts are accurately completed and logged
• Provide professional vendor and customer support throughout the market
• Maintain current CPR certification
• Assist with distributing marketing materials throughout Northwest Indiana as needed

SNAP Program Administration

• Administer the SNAP match program during all assigned market hours
• Accurately issue shopper vouchers in accordance with program guidelines
• Issue vendor receipts and reconcile transactions at the end of each market
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation of all required program data
• Track voucher distribution and redemptions in designated spreadsheets and reporting systems
• Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local SNAP program requirements

This area requires exceptional attention to detail, comfort handling money, and the ability to follow structured processes without deviation.

Vendor & Team Support

• Assist with vendor communication under the direction of the Market Manager
• Support outreach efforts to identify potential new vendors as requested
• Maintain accurate and organized vendor tracking spreadsheets and operational documents
• Provide updates during weekly team meetings as requested
• Assist the marketing team with event-related support as needed
• Represent Farmed & Forged professionally during all vendor and community interactions

Required Qualifications

• Fluency in both Spanish and English (spoken and written) is required for our Hammond location. This role regularly communicates with Spanish-speaking vendors and shoppers. The ability to clearly and accurately communicate in both languages is essential to fulfilling job responsibilities.
• Ability to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends as scheduled
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to remain calm and solution-oriented in high-pressure environments
• Reliable transportation
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions

Physical Requirements

This is a physically active, outdoor position.

Applicants must be able to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods
• Lift and carry at least 50 pounds
• Work in hot, humid, or unpredictable weather conditions

Leadership Expectations

The Market Assistant Manager represents Farmed & Forged on-site. This role requires professionalism, integrity, and the ability to make sound decisions in real time while supporting the team and community.

Pay: From $15.00 per hour

Application Question(s):

• Are you fluent in both Spanish and English?
• Are you able to reliably travel to Hammond, Michigan City, and La Porte for scheduled shifts?
• Are you available to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends as outlined in the job description?
• Are you able to lift at least 50 pounds and work outdoors in varying weather conditions?
• Are you able to reliably participate in weekly virtual team meetings using stable internet and a device capable of video conferencing?

Work Location: In person