THE OPPORTUNITY
San Francisco Housing Development Corporation (SFHDC) – a 33-year-old housing and community development corporation– seeks an experienced retail and operations professional to help launch and run “In The Black,” a Black-led marketplace in the Fillmore/Western Addition. In The Black is a creative and entrepreneurial marketplace providing affordable retail and shelf-space to over 20 Black-owned businesses. The marketplace is currently under construction with a target grand opening date of November 25, 2022 (Black Friday). Black entrepreneurs can engage with In The Black through pop-ups, event activations, selling products on the marketplace’s e-commerce website, or by subleasing space on a permanent basis. In The Black will provide affordable retail space to hundreds of Black-owned businesses over the next decade. The anticipated start date for this position is November 1, 2022.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Program Director, the Marketplace Manager will be responsible for managing the day to day operations at In The Black to ensure the marketplace runs smoothly. This position is ideal for a high-performing individual who enjoys a challenge and can balance a number of different demands while keeping a positive attitude. This position requires excellent multitasking skills, organization, and self-directed work. We’re looking for a self-starter to make sure downtime between helping customers is used well. The ideal candidate is a natural salesperson, can come up with creative solutions in a pinch, and is handy enough to build displays and make minor repairs around the shop.
The Marketplace Manager will ultimately be responsible for all operations, staffing management, inventory, and sales. The Marketplace Manager must have a good eye for design and can build creative window and product displays. The Marketplace Manager will make sure the shop looks its best and that its operations run smoothly.
The successful candidate excels at written and verbal communication, as this position will work directly with entrepreneurs including merchandising, scheduling pop up activations, hosting all-hands monthly meetings, and general vendor management. The Marketplace Manager will be responsible for identifying gaps in business acumen, and referring entrepreneurs to other economic development program staff and consultants to ensure businesses have the resources they need to be successful in the marketplace.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Operations
● Overseeing day to day operations of marketplace
● Maintaining operations budget, including sales and expenses, and finding cost savings where possible
● Assisting with quarterly budgets and planning
● Management of the marketplace’s Shopify ecommerce website (updating product listings, generating sales reports, order fulfillment)
● Receiving, tagging, and merchandising inventory arrivals and tracking inventory levels to prevent shrinkage
● Shop repairs/maintenance and cleaning (delegating as needed)
● In-store event planning
Staffing and People Management
● Supervising staff including training sales staff on operations and products
● Creating staff schedules, handling sick/vacation requests, and reviewing timesheets
● Leading team meetings (and motivating staff and entrepreneurs)
● Responsible for regular communication with vendors to ensure shared understanding of inventory and other operational needs
Visual Design
● Merchandising product and creating displays
● Designing and building window displays
● Proposing ideas for marketplace improvements
● Creating promotional signage
● Other duties as assigned
DESIRED SKILLS
● Knowledge of best practices for retail businesses, and past experience delivering technical assistance to small businesses;
● Superior interpersonal skills (over the phone via email, and in-person);
● Strong written communication skills;
● Shopify and e-commerce experience;
● Superior project management skills;
● Attention to detail;
● Outstanding organizational work methodology.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
● Lived experience or prior professional experience working within communities of color is highly valued;
● Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and unwavering commitment to SFHDC’s mission and supporting low- and moderate-income communities of color.
WORK SCHEDULE: Project-based position requiring a commitment of 35 hours per week. Depending on the project’s needs, you may be required to work after regular hours, including evenings and weekends. Minimum one-year commitment.
SALARY: The anticipated salary range for this role is $75,000 – $80,000, dependent on experience and qualifications.
BENEFITS: Salary commensurate with experience; excellent benefits, including 100% health care coverage, life insurance, Flexible Spending Account, retirement plans, vacation time, sick leave and generous holiday schedules.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
NOTICE: This description is to be used as a guide only. It does not constitute a contract, commitment or promise of any kind. SFHDC reserves the right to change, add, delete, upgrade or downgrade the position as dictated by business necessity at any time with or without notice.
HOW TO APPLY:
Email: hr@sfhdc.org
Please submit a current résumé, Employment Application, and cover letter that responds to the following questions:
● Describe one unique skill or quality that you possess that sets you apart from other candidates for this position. ● What type of experience do you have working in low-income communities of color, and performing administrative duties?
● Why are you interested in this position?
Note: The Employment Application may be found at https://sfhdc.org/careers/
Applicants will be screened on a rolling basis.
SFHDC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender (including actual or perceived gender, and gender identity), sexual orientation, age, marital status, medical condition, religious affiliation, veteran status, national origin, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state, federal or local law. SFHDC will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in the manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. If you need a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for a job, please let us know. If the reason you need an accommodation is not obvious, we may ask for documentation confirming your functional limitations.
The San Francisco Housing Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug Free Workplace and is committed to the belief that each individual is entitled to equal employment opportunity.
