Job Description
Job Description
- We are seeking a highly motivated and responsible individual with significant farming experience who will work closely with the Site Director and the farm’s facility manager on the wide-ranging tasks typical of a diversified organic farm.
- The Production Manager will take a lead role in greenhouse work, direct field work, transplanting, cultivation and harvest of vegetables for the farm.
Role and Responsibilities
The Production Manager is responsible for a working knowledge and supervisory/lead role of:
- Analyzing existing operations, crops, livestock, staff, and financial documents and recommending improvements.
- Preparing plans and schedules for planting and harvesting and ensuring staff understands expectations.
- Visiting the different divisions to inspect crops, livestock, and also perform tests on soil and water.
- Ensuring seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other supplies are regularly restocked.
- Scheduling repairs, maintenance, and replacement of equipment and machinery.
- Handling the marketing and sale of products produced on the farm like fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, and grain.
- Ensuring all staff adheres to health and safety regulations.
- Assisting with the recruitment and training of new staff members.
- Collaborating with senior staff to prepare budgets and financial reports.
- Building professional networks and keeping abreast of developments in agricultural science.
- Greenhouse care; making soil blocks, seeding, potting up, watering, implementing fertility plan, pest scouting, organization, hardening off, record keeping
- Co-creating cropping plan and timeline; assisted and informed by director of operations and management team
- Field seeding & transplanting; prepping beds (rototilling, spreading fertilizer, laying drip tape), use of 6- row Jang, or Earthway hand seeder, hand transplanting
- Cultivation; variety of hand tools
- Tractor work; equipment hookup, adjustment and use (mowers, multi-purpose tool bar, rototiller, bucket loader, etc)
- Fertility analysis and implementation of nutrient management plan; assisted and informed by director of operations
- Pest management; scouting and identifying damage to crops, use of floating row cover, fencing & other physical barriers
- Harvest, wash and pack; proper handling of harvested crops in field, maintain standards of cleanliness for produce safety, attention to detail, and quality control
- Training, overseeing and motivating field crew.
Interpersonal skill:
- Networking and effective communication skills
- Data gathering & analysis
- Proven ability to negotiate
Requirements
The Production Manager:
- Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, or equivalent.
- Minimum of 4 years work experience
- Additional courses in business management or administration are recommended.
- Extensive experience in a farming-related field.
- Management experience would be a plus.
- A passion for agriculture.
- Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
- The ability to make decisions in stressful environments.
- Superb communication and interpersonal skills.
- Willingness to work overtime as required.