Position Objective: The Farm Operations Manager (FOM) is responsible for providing leadership and direction to the farm staff and driving implementation of operational decisions for food production, agri-tourism and facility management. The FOM actualizes the organization’s mission to supply local markets and restaurants with naturally grown produce and train adults and children in natural and sustainable production methods that deliver higher quality food, enhance the environment and improve human health.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the operations of the farm department to meet expected revenue goals
• Create and implement farm plans
• Seed ordering, material, supplies and equipment acquisition
• Greenhouse management and plant propagation
• Planning and implementation of weekly planting schedule for seeding, transplanting.
• Insect and weed control, fertility monitoring, and general field observation
• Cultivation activities
• Harvest and storage
• Infrastructure planning, creation, maintenance and repair
• Irrigation planning and implementation
• Soil-building program including composting
• Supervision and guidance farm staff, volunteers and interns
• Work in cooperation with Program Services Manager to implement agri-tourism, volunteer and education program goals and objectives
• Oversee facility use plan to support agri-tourism, volunteerism and other revenue generating activities
• Provide continuous accurate and timely communication about food and harvesting to facilitate effective planning, promotion and selling of food to CSA members, restaurants and other revenue generating opportunities
• Manage markets and market staff
• Survey and advise on potential farm sites for expansion
• Provide professional representation of the organization to build partnerships and opportunities for expansion, growth and development. This includes public speaking, workshops, farm tours and other activities.

Special Requirements:

• Work in field, greenhouse, outdoor classroom and office
• Hard and repetitive physical work; and evening and weekend hours required
• Current driver’s license and clean driving record. Ability to drive trucks and operate farm equipment

Qualifications:

• Demonstrate strong business acumen
• Creative leader with strong commitment to the organization’s mission and vision; desire for long term relationship to help organization grow
• Experience in organic farming
• A minimum of 5 years of full-season agricultural farm management
• Experience in management of year-long farm planning, as well as weekly schedules
• Excellent knowledge of farm infrastructure
• Basic carpentry skills, irrigation, and farm machinery/ small engine maintenance and repair is preferred
• Supervisory skills and experience with managing staff and volunteers
• An ecological sense, knowledge of dynamic interplay between food system, farming, natural world, society and individuals
• Strong communication skills; ability to work well with team and community members
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds repeatedly, wake up early, and do physical labor 40+ hrs/wk
• Experience and interest in working with diverse populations – different ages and various economic, social and political backgrounds
• Qualities of self-motivation, time management, flexibility, integrity and cooperation expected
• Entrepreneurial spirit and drive along with a record of working in successful partnerships