diff --git a/cron/cron.fbs b/cron/cron.fbs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f1313e107
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/cron.fbs
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// IDL file for cron
+
+namespace cron_fbs;
+
+table Job {
+  name:string;
+	type:string;
+	lastRun:string;
+	lastError:string;
+	periodicity:string;
+	secrets:[Secret];
+}
+
+table Secret {
+  key:string;
+  val:string;
+}
+
+// flatbuffers don't (currently) support using a vector as a root type
+// in an ideal world we'd just `root_type [Job]`, wrapping in this table
+// skips the problem and gives us the option to store "store global" state
+// issue: https://github.com/google/flatbuffers/issues/4854
+table Jobs {
+	list:[Job];
+}
+
+root_type Jobs;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cron/cron.go b/cron/cron.go
index 060fa4b7a..18dc3ecb2 100644
--- a/cron/cron.go
+++ b/cron/cron.go
@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	flatbuffers "github.com/google/flatbuffers/go"
 	golog "github.com/ipfs/go-log"
 	"github.com/qri-io/dataset"
 	"github.com/qri-io/ioes"
 	"github.com/qri-io/iso8601"
 	"github.com/qri-io/qfs"
+	cron "github.com/qri-io/qri/cron/cron_fbs"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -29,23 +31,6 @@ var (
 	DefaultCheckInterval = time.Minute * 15
 )
 
-// Job represents a "cron job" that can be scheduled for repeated execution at
-// a specified Periodicity (time interval)
-type Job struct {
-	Name        string
-	Type        JobType
-	LastRun     time.Time
-	LastError   string
-	Periodicity iso8601.RepeatingInterval
-	Secrets     map[string]string
-}
-
-// NextExec returns the next time execution horizion. If job periodicity is
-// improperly configured, the returned time will be zero
-func (job *Job) NextExec() time.Time {
-	return job.Periodicity.After(job.LastRun)
-}
-
 // ReadJobs are functions for fetching a set of jobs. ReadJobs defines canoncial
 // behavior for listing & fetching jobs
 type ReadJobs interface {
@@ -107,6 +92,9 @@ const (
 type JobStore interface {
 	// JobStores must implement the ReadJobs interface for fetching stored jobs
 	ReadJobs
+	// PutJob places one or more jobs in the store. Putting a job who's name
+	// already exists must overwrite the previous job, making all job names unique
+	PutJobs(...*Job) error
 	// PutJob places a job in the store. Putting a job who's name already exists
 	// must overwrite the previous job, making all job names unique
 	PutJob(*Job) error
@@ -298,6 +286,32 @@ func (s *MemJobStore) Job(name string) (*Job, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("not found")
 }
 
+// PutJobs places one or more jobs in the store. Putting a job who's name
+// already exists must overwrite the previous job, making all job names unique
+func (s *MemJobStore) PutJobs(js ...*Job) error {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer func() {
+		sort.Sort(s.jobs)
+		s.lock.Unlock()
+	}()
+
+	for _, job := range js {
+		if err := ValidateJob(job); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		for i, j := range s.jobs {
+			if job.Name == j.Name {
+				s.jobs[i] = job
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
+		s.jobs = append(s.jobs, job)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // PutJob places a job in the store. If the job name matches the name of a job
 // that already exists, it will be overwritten with the new job
 func (s *MemJobStore) PutJob(job *Job) error {
@@ -354,3 +368,40 @@ func (js jobs) Less(i, j int) bool {
 	return js[i].LastRun.After(js[j].LastRun)
 }
 func (js jobs) Swap(i, j int) { js[i], js[j] = js[j], js[i] }
+
+func (js jobs) MarshalFb() []byte {
+	builder := flatbuffers.NewBuilder(0)
+	count := len(js)
+	offsets := make([]flatbuffers.UOffsetT, count)
+	for i, j := range js {
+		offsets[i] = j.MarshalFb(builder)
+	}
+
+	cron.JobsStartListVector(builder, count)
+	for i := count - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		builder.PrependUOffsetT(offsets[i])
+	}
+	jsvo := builder.EndVector(count)
+
+	cron.JobsStart(builder)
+	cron.JobsAddList(builder, jsvo)
+	off := cron.JobsEnd(builder)
+
+	builder.Finish(off)
+	return builder.FinishedBytes()
+}
+
+func unmarshalJobsFb(data []byte) (js jobs, err error) {
+	jsFb := cron.GetRootAsJobs(data, 0)
+	dec := &cron.Job{}
+	js = make(jobs, jsFb.ListLength())
+	for i := 0; i < jsFb.ListLength(); i++ {
+		jsFb.List(dec, i)
+		js[i] = &Job{}
+		if err := js[i].UnmarshalFb(dec); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return js, nil
+}
diff --git a/cron/cron_fbs/Job.go b/cron/cron_fbs/Job.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f21fa0586
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/cron_fbs/Job.go
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+// Code generated by the FlatBuffers compiler. DO NOT EDIT.
+
+package cron_fbs
+
+import (
+	flatbuffers "github.com/google/flatbuffers/go"
+)
+
+type Job struct {
+	_tab flatbuffers.Table
+}
+
+func GetRootAsJob(buf []byte, offset flatbuffers.UOffsetT) *Job {
+	n := flatbuffers.GetUOffsetT(buf[offset:])
+	x := &Job{}
+	x.Init(buf, n+offset)
+	return x
+}
+
+func (rcv *Job) Init(buf []byte, i flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	rcv._tab.Bytes = buf
+	rcv._tab.Pos = i
+}
+
+func (rcv *Job) Table() flatbuffers.Table {
+	return rcv._tab
+}
+
+func (rcv *Job) Name() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(4))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rcv *Job) Type() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(6))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rcv *Job) LastRun() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(8))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rcv *Job) LastError() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(10))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rcv *Job) Periodicity() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(12))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rcv *Job) Secrets(obj *Secret, j int) bool {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(14))
+	if o != 0 {
+		x := rcv._tab.Vector(o)
+		x += flatbuffers.UOffsetT(j) * 4
+		x = rcv._tab.Indirect(x)
+		obj.Init(rcv._tab.Bytes, x)
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (rcv *Job) SecretsLength() int {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(14))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.VectorLen(o)
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+func JobStart(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) {
+	builder.StartObject(6)
+}
+func JobAddName(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, name flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(0, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(name), 0)
+}
+func JobAddType(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, type_ flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(1, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(type_), 0)
+}
+func JobAddLastRun(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, lastRun flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(2, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(lastRun), 0)
+}
+func JobAddLastError(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, lastError flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(3, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(lastError), 0)
+}
+func JobAddPeriodicity(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, periodicity flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(4, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(periodicity), 0)
+}
+func JobAddSecrets(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, secrets flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(5, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(secrets), 0)
+}
+func JobStartSecretsVector(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, numElems int) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
+	return builder.StartVector(4, numElems, 4)
+}
+func JobEnd(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
+	return builder.EndObject()
+}
diff --git a/cron/cron_fbs/Jobs.go b/cron/cron_fbs/Jobs.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0747490af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/cron_fbs/Jobs.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+// Code generated by the FlatBuffers compiler. DO NOT EDIT.
+
+package cron_fbs
+
+import (
+	flatbuffers "github.com/google/flatbuffers/go"
+)
+
+type Jobs struct {
+	_tab flatbuffers.Table
+}
+
+func GetRootAsJobs(buf []byte, offset flatbuffers.UOffsetT) *Jobs {
+	n := flatbuffers.GetUOffsetT(buf[offset:])
+	x := &Jobs{}
+	x.Init(buf, n+offset)
+	return x
+}
+
+func (rcv *Jobs) Init(buf []byte, i flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	rcv._tab.Bytes = buf
+	rcv._tab.Pos = i
+}
+
+func (rcv *Jobs) Table() flatbuffers.Table {
+	return rcv._tab
+}
+
+func (rcv *Jobs) List(obj *Job, j int) bool {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(4))
+	if o != 0 {
+		x := rcv._tab.Vector(o)
+		x += flatbuffers.UOffsetT(j) * 4
+		x = rcv._tab.Indirect(x)
+		obj.Init(rcv._tab.Bytes, x)
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (rcv *Jobs) ListLength() int {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(4))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.VectorLen(o)
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+func JobsStart(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) {
+	builder.StartObject(1)
+}
+func JobsAddList(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, list flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(0, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(list), 0)
+}
+func JobsStartListVector(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, numElems int) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
+	return builder.StartVector(4, numElems, 4)
+}
+func JobsEnd(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
+	return builder.EndObject()
+}
diff --git a/cron/cron_fbs/Secret.go b/cron/cron_fbs/Secret.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c7fab9d7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/cron_fbs/Secret.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+// Code generated by the FlatBuffers compiler. DO NOT EDIT.
+
+package cron_fbs
+
+import (
+	flatbuffers "github.com/google/flatbuffers/go"
+)
+
+type Secret struct {
+	_tab flatbuffers.Table
+}
+
+func GetRootAsSecret(buf []byte, offset flatbuffers.UOffsetT) *Secret {
+	n := flatbuffers.GetUOffsetT(buf[offset:])
+	x := &Secret{}
+	x.Init(buf, n+offset)
+	return x
+}
+
+func (rcv *Secret) Init(buf []byte, i flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	rcv._tab.Bytes = buf
+	rcv._tab.Pos = i
+}
+
+func (rcv *Secret) Table() flatbuffers.Table {
+	return rcv._tab
+}
+
+func (rcv *Secret) Key() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(4))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rcv *Secret) Val() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(6))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func SecretStart(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) {
+	builder.StartObject(2)
+}
+func SecretAddKey(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, key flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(0, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(key), 0)
+}
+func SecretAddVal(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, val flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(1, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(val), 0)
+}
+func SecretEnd(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
+	return builder.EndObject()
+}
diff --git a/cron/cron_fbs/StrMapVal.go b/cron/cron_fbs/StrMapVal.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..97785cd41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/cron_fbs/StrMapVal.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+// Code generated by the FlatBuffers compiler. DO NOT EDIT.
+
+package cron_fbs
+
+import (
+	flatbuffers "github.com/google/flatbuffers/go"
+)
+
+type StrMapVal struct {
+	_tab flatbuffers.Table
+}
+
+func GetRootAsStrMapVal(buf []byte, offset flatbuffers.UOffsetT) *StrMapVal {
+	n := flatbuffers.GetUOffsetT(buf[offset:])
+	x := &StrMapVal{}
+	x.Init(buf, n+offset)
+	return x
+}
+
+func (rcv *StrMapVal) Init(buf []byte, i flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	rcv._tab.Bytes = buf
+	rcv._tab.Pos = i
+}
+
+func (rcv *StrMapVal) Table() flatbuffers.Table {
+	return rcv._tab
+}
+
+func (rcv *StrMapVal) Key() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(4))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rcv *StrMapVal) Val() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(6))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func StrMapValStart(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) {
+	builder.StartObject(2)
+}
+func StrMapValAddKey(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, key flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(0, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(key), 0)
+}
+func StrMapValAddVal(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, val flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(1, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(val), 0)
+}
+func StrMapValEnd(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
+	return builder.EndObject()
+}
diff --git a/cron/cron_fbs/StringMapVal.go b/cron/cron_fbs/StringMapVal.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..02bcad0c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/cron_fbs/StringMapVal.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+// Code generated by the FlatBuffers compiler. DO NOT EDIT.
+
+package cron_fbs
+
+import (
+	flatbuffers "github.com/google/flatbuffers/go"
+)
+
+type StringMapVal struct {
+	_tab flatbuffers.Table
+}
+
+func GetRootAsStringMapVal(buf []byte, offset flatbuffers.UOffsetT) *StringMapVal {
+	n := flatbuffers.GetUOffsetT(buf[offset:])
+	x := &StringMapVal{}
+	x.Init(buf, n+offset)
+	return x
+}
+
+func (rcv *StringMapVal) Init(buf []byte, i flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	rcv._tab.Bytes = buf
+	rcv._tab.Pos = i
+}
+
+func (rcv *StringMapVal) Table() flatbuffers.Table {
+	return rcv._tab
+}
+
+func (rcv *StringMapVal) Key() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(4))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rcv *StringMapVal) Val() []byte {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(6))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func StringMapValStart(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) {
+	builder.StartObject(2)
+}
+func StringMapValAddKey(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, key flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(0, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(key), 0)
+}
+func StringMapValAddVal(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, val flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(1, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(val), 0)
+}
+func StringMapValEnd(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
+	return builder.EndObject()
+}
diff --git a/cron/fb_file.go b/cron/fb_file.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d1c5ccdbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/fb_file.go
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+package cron
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"sort"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// NewFbFileJobStore creates a job store that persists to a CBOR file
+// specified at path
+func NewFbFileJobStore(path string) JobStore {
+	return &FbFileJobStore{
+		path: path,
+	}
+}
+
+// FbFileJobStore is a jobstore implementation that saves to a CBOR file
+// Jobs stored in FbFileJobStore can be persisted for the duration of a process
+// at the longest.
+// FbFileJobStore is safe for concurrent use
+type FbFileJobStore struct {
+	lock sync.Mutex
+	path string
+}
+
+// Jobs lists jobs currently in the store
+func (s *FbFileJobStore) Jobs(offset, limit int) ([]*Job, error) {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
+
+	js, err := s.loadJobs()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if limit <= 0 {
+		limit = len(js)
+	}
+
+	ss := make([]*Job, limit)
+	added := 0
+	for i, job := range js {
+		if i < offset {
+			continue
+		} else if added == limit {
+			break
+		}
+
+		ss[added] = job
+		added++
+	}
+	return ss[:added], nil
+}
+
+func (s *FbFileJobStore) loadJobs() (js jobs, err error) {
+	data, err := ioutil.ReadFile(s.path)
+	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return jobs{}, nil
+	}
+
+	return unmarshalJobsFb(data)
+}
+
+func (s *FbFileJobStore) saveJobs(js jobs) error {
+	return ioutil.WriteFile(s.path, js.MarshalFb(), os.ModePerm)
+}
+
+// Job gets job details from the store by name
+func (s *FbFileJobStore) Job(name string) (*Job, error) {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
+
+	js, err := s.loadJobs()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	for _, job := range js {
+		if job.Name == name {
+			return job, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("not found")
+}
+
+// PutJobs places one or more jobs in the store. Putting a job who's name
+// already exists must overwrite the previous job, making all job names unique
+func (s *FbFileJobStore) PutJobs(add ...*Job) error {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
+
+	js, err := s.loadJobs()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for _, job := range add {
+		if err := ValidateJob(job); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		for i, j := range js {
+			if job.Name == j.Name {
+				js[i] = job
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
+		js = append(js, job)
+	}
+
+	sort.Sort(js)
+	return s.saveJobs(js)
+}
+
+// PutJob places a job in the store. If the job name matches the name of a job
+// that already exists, it will be overwritten with the new job
+func (s *FbFileJobStore) PutJob(job *Job) error {
+	if err := ValidateJob(job); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
+
+	js, err := s.loadJobs()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for i, j := range js {
+		if job.Name == j.Name {
+			js[i] = job
+
+			sort.Sort(js)
+			return s.saveJobs(js)
+		}
+	}
+
+	js = append(js, job)
+	sort.Sort(js)
+	return s.saveJobs(js)
+}
+
+// DeleteJob removes a job from the store by name. deleting a non-existent job
+// won't return an error
+func (s *FbFileJobStore) DeleteJob(name string) error {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
+
+	js, err := s.loadJobs()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for i, j := range js {
+		if j.Name == name {
+			if i+1 == len(js) {
+				js = js[:i]
+				break
+			}
+
+			js = append(js[:i], js[i+1:]...)
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	return s.saveJobs(js)
+}
+
+// Destroy removes the path entirely
+func (s *FbFileJobStore) Destroy() error {
+	return os.Remove(s.path)
+}
diff --git a/cron/fb_file_test.go b/cron/fb_file_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6d51f5fb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/fb_file_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+package cron
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestFbJobStore(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp, err := ioutil.TempDir(os.TempDir(), "TestFsJobStore")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
+	newStore := func() JobStore {
+		return NewFbFileJobStore(filepath.Join(tmp, "jobs.dat"))
+	}
+	RunJobStoreTests(t, newStore)
+}
+
+func BenchmarkFbJobStore(b *testing.B) {
+	js := make(jobs, 1000)
+	for i := range js {
+		js[i] = &Job{
+			Name:        fmt.Sprintf("job_%d", i),
+			Type:        JTDataset,
+			Periodicity: mustRepeatingInterval("R/P1H"),
+		}
+	}
+
+	tmp, err := ioutil.TempDir(os.TempDir(), "TestFsJobStore")
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
+	store := NewFbFileJobStore(filepath.Join(tmp, "jobs.dat"))
+
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		if err := store.PutJobs(js...); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if _, err := store.Jobs(0, 0); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cron/file.go b/cron/file.go
index 097bc2f27..88f68300f 100644
--- a/cron/file.go
+++ b/cron/file.go
@@ -101,6 +101,36 @@ func (s *FileJobStore) Job(name string) (*Job, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("not found")
 }
 
+// PutJobs places one or more jobs in the store. Putting a job who's name
+// already exists must overwrite the previous job, making all job names unique
+func (s *FileJobStore) PutJobs(add ...*Job) error {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
+
+	js, err := s.loadJobs()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	for _, job := range add {
+		if err := ValidateJob(job); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		for i, j := range js {
+			if job.Name == j.Name {
+				js[i] = job
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
+		js = append(js, job)
+	}
+
+	sort.Sort(js)
+	return s.saveJobs(js)
+}
+
 // PutJob places a job in the store. If the job name matches the name of a job
 // that already exists, it will be overwritten with the new job
 func (s *FileJobStore) PutJob(job *Job) error {
diff --git a/cron/file_test.go b/cron/file_test.go
index cf28a86af..89bd8ce65 100644
--- a/cron/file_test.go
+++ b/cron/file_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package cron
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -18,3 +19,31 @@ func TestFsJobStore(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	RunJobStoreTests(t, newStore)
 }
+
+func BenchmarkFileJobStore(b *testing.B) {
+	js := make(jobs, 1000)
+	for i := range js {
+		js[i] = &Job{
+			Name:        fmt.Sprintf("job_%d", i),
+			Type:        JTDataset,
+			Periodicity: mustRepeatingInterval("R/P1H"),
+		}
+	}
+
+	tmp, err := ioutil.TempDir(os.TempDir(), "BenchmarkFbJobStore")
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
+	store := NewFileJobStore(filepath.Join(tmp, "jobs.cbor"))
+
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		if err := store.PutJobs(js...); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if _, err := store.Jobs(0, 0); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cron/job.go b/cron/job.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8a1a4bc71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/job.go
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+package cron
+
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	flatbuffers "github.com/google/flatbuffers/go"
+	"github.com/qri-io/iso8601"
+	cron "github.com/qri-io/qri/cron/cron_fbs"
+)
+
+// Job represents a "cron job" that can be scheduled for repeated execution at
+// a specified Periodicity (time interval)
+type Job struct {
+	Name        string
+	Type        JobType
+	LastRun     time.Time
+	LastError   string
+	Periodicity iso8601.RepeatingInterval
+	Secrets     map[string]string
+}
+
+// NextExec returns the next time execution horizion. If job periodicity is
+// improperly configured, the returned time will be zero
+func (job *Job) NextExec() time.Time {
+	return job.Periodicity.After(job.LastRun)
+}
+
+// MarshalFb writes a job to a builder
+func (job *Job) MarshalFb(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
+	name := builder.CreateString(job.Name)
+	typ := builder.CreateString(string(job.Type))
+	lastRun := builder.CreateString(job.LastRun.Format(time.RFC3339))
+	lastError := builder.CreateString(job.LastError)
+	p := builder.CreateString(job.Periodicity.String())
+
+	cron.JobStart(builder)
+	cron.JobAddName(builder, name)
+	cron.JobAddType(builder, typ)
+	cron.JobAddLastRun(builder, lastRun)
+	cron.JobAddLastError(builder, lastError)
+	cron.JobAddPeriodicity(builder, p)
+	return cron.JobEnd(builder)
+}
+
+// UnmarshalFb decodes a job from a flatbuffer
+func (job *Job) UnmarshalFb(j *cron.Job) error {
+	lastRun, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, string(j.LastRun()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	p, err := iso8601.ParseRepeatingInterval(string(j.Periodicity()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	*job = Job{
+		Name:        string(j.Name()),
+		LastRun:     lastRun,
+		Type:        JobType(j.Type()),
+		LastError:   string(j.LastError()),
+		Periodicity: p,
+		// TODO (b5) - secrets storages
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/cron/job_test.go b/cron/job_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ec64b7ad9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cron/job_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package cron
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	flatbuffers "github.com/google/flatbuffers/go"
+	cron "github.com/qri-io/qri/cron/cron_fbs"
+)
+
+func TestJobFb(t *testing.T) {
+	jorbs := jobs{
+		&Job{
+			Name:        "job_one",
+			Periodicity: mustRepeatingInterval("R/PT1H"),
+			Type:        JTDataset,
+		},
+		&Job{
+			Name:        "job_two",
+			Periodicity: mustRepeatingInterval("R/PT1D"),
+			Type:        JTShellScript,
+		},
+	}
+
+	builder := flatbuffers.NewBuilder(0)
+	offsets := make([]flatbuffers.UOffsetT, len(jorbs))
+	for i, j := range jorbs {
+		offsets[i] = j.MarshalFb(builder)
+	}
+
+	cron.JobsStartListVector(builder, len(jorbs))
+	for i := len(jorbs) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		builder.PrependUOffsetT(offsets[i])
+	}
+	jsvo := builder.EndVector(len(jorbs))
+
+	cron.JobsStart(builder)
+	cron.JobsAddList(builder, jsvo)
+	off := cron.JobsEnd(builder)
+
+	builder.Finish(off)
+	data := builder.FinishedBytes()
+
+	js := cron.GetRootAsJobs(data, 0)
+	dec := &cron.Job{}
+	t.Log(js.ListLength())
+	for i := 0; i < js.ListLength(); i++ {
+		js.List(dec, i)
+		decJob := &Job{}
+		if err := decJob.UnmarshalFb(dec); err != nil {
+			t.Error(err)
+		}
+		if err := CompareJobs(jorbs[i], decJob); err != nil {
+			t.Error(err)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/lib/cron.go b/lib/cron.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ba421991e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/cron.go
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package lib
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/qri-io/qri/cron"
+)
+
+// NewCronMethods creates a cron handle from an instance
+func NewCronMethods(inst *Instance) *CronMethods {
+	return &CronMethods{inst: inst}
+}
+
+// CronMethods encapsulates business logic for the qri cron service
+type CronMethods struct {
+	inst *Instance
+	cron *cron.Cron
+}
+
+func (m *CronMethods) Add() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("not finished")
+}
+
+func (m *CronMethods) Remove() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("not finished")
+}
+
+func (m *CronMethods) List(p *ListParams, jobs *[]*cron.Job) error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("not finished")
+}
+
+func (m *CronMethods) Log() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("not finished")
+}
+
+func (m *CronMethods) Start() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("not finished")
+}
+
+func (m *CronMethods) Stop() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("not finished")
+}