General Manager Needed at the Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative
The Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative is an agricultural cooperative on St Helena Island, South Carolina, with
twenty-six farmer members/ non-members and a Board of Directors. The cooperative aggregates,
processes, and markets vegetables from Black farmers in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Charleston,
Jasper and other lowcountry counties of South Carolina.
The Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative on St Helena Island needs a General Manager. The manager will
supervise the production and marketing of all Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative produce.
Responsibilities:
1. Preparing a weekly and monthly production schedule to meet orders. This includes working with
cooperative farmer-members and cooperative customers to implement a produce growing plan.
2. Identify and recruit new customers for Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative products. This includes
institutional, retail, wholesale, and food service customers. Serve as a main point of contact for
these customers.
3. Managing employees efficiently and achieving production schedule targets. This includes hiring,
other personnel-related activities, and maintaining a safe work environment for all employees.
4. Completing food safety reports (HACCP) and other necessary documents. This includes meeting
customer quality and packaging requirements.
5. Work with the cooperative Board of Directors to recruit new farmer members, enforce
cooperative membership guidelines, and develop a means to pay cooperative members
equitably for the quality and quantity produced.
6. Collaborate with cooperative farmer members to ensure post-harvest quality guidelines are
met, particularly with respect to what is required from the preferred retail outlet.
7. Other responsibilities as required.
Qualifications and requirements
At least 5-10 years prior management experience in food production, food processing, and related
fields. A knowledge of local food systems and food processing experience is preferred. Additional
training or education in food production and safety will be considered in lieu of experience.
Other requirements include strong written and oral communication skills, organizational skills, the
ability to work with Microsoft Office and other basic computer functions and working well with others
from diverse backgrounds.
Compensation
The position is expected to be a full-time, salaried position starting at $65,000 per year in addition to
paid time off (PTO) and health benefits. Additional consideration given to those with more experience
and education.
To Apply
Please email your resume and cover letter to Gullahcoop@gmail.com.