Market Lead in London

Contract Type: 3-month Fixed Term Contract

Location: East London (New Spitalfields Market and our Poplar Depot)

Hours/Days per week: 37.5 hours per week, 5am – 1.30pm, 5 out of 6 days Monday – Saturday

Requirements: Felix can only employ applicants who currently have the right to work in the UK. This role requires a clean UK Driving License. Forklift License highly desirable. As part of our safer recruitment policy, we do ask questions regarding unspent criminal records.

We bring people together to rescue, repurpose, and share surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, turning an environmental problem into a social opportunity. Together with 16 other independent charities, 18,000 volunteers, and thousands of partners, we are the UK’s food rescue network, supporting 1.5 million people across the country. We are about fuller plates, fuller communities, and fuller lives.

Purpose of the Job: We are looking for the Market Lead to play a key role in the development and growth of our market rescue operations. The main purpose of the role is to work onsite at New Spitalfields Market (Leyton), developing and maintaining supply relationships, identifying and quality-controlling new surplus food supplies, and establishing long-term partnerships with market traders. You will play a big part in ensuring that the charity is successful in achieving its objective to rescue and secure a growing supply of surplus food that will take us to our ambitious future meal targets to feed those in need.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify, secure and quality control surplus produce to be taken to our East London depot and distributed to the local community.
• Liaise with the depot teams over any day-to-day issues.
• Manage the supplier base so deliveries of stock are consistent and maximised.
• Manage and maintain market relations, ensuring Felix fulfils its partnership commitments with the City of London.
• Coordinate daily logistics between New Spitalfields Market and all areas of Felix, including liaising between our East London Depot, Food Supply, Volunteering and Transport/Logistics Teams.
• Account manages all market traders.
• Manage the Felix office on site.
• Work closely with traders to ensure the relationship with The Felix Project is mutually beneficial.
• Manage volunteers onsite, including induction tours and delegating quality control.

Your normal duties and responsibilities will be set out in your job description. However, the charity may require you to perform other duties from time to time.

Person Specification: You will have experience building and maintaining external stakeholder relationships across all levels of an organisation, and be equally comfortable communicating with senior leaders, operational teams, and frontline staff. You will understand the food industry, particularly fresh produce markets and the unique way in which they operate. You will be passionate about reducing food waste and/or tackling food poverty. You will also have experience developing and managing effective third-party partnerships to support organisational growth, alongside a desire to work within a rapidly expanding charity.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience managing relationships, with excellent communication skills.
• Experience or comfortability with shifts and the required working hours.
• Confident and professional.
• Capability to excel in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
• Ability to work within a team of varied individuals with a positive attitude.
• Meticulous organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Good PC skills, particularly Microsoft Office.
• Full UK Driving Licence (with no more than 6 points) held for at least 1 year – over 21 for insurance purposes.
• Forklift License highly desirable.
• Happy to be based primarily at New Spitalfields Market, this is not a hybrid or WFH role.
• This job can be physically demanding, and the successful candidate should be comfortable working outdoors.
• Ability to travel occasionally, visiting suppliers, our other market at Western International and all four Felix sites across London.
• Completed, or willing to undertake, Dynamic Risk Assessment and First Aid training.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging: At Felix, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do. We value the unique contributions of every individual and strive to create a respectful, inclusive environment free from discrimination or prejudice. Our commitment extends to all employees and volunteers, ensuring equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of background or characteristics.