Little Wild Things Farm is an innovative urban farm located in Washington, D.C. growing Certified Naturally Grown microgreens, shoots, and edible flowers for wholesale and retail distribution in DC, MD, and VA. We currently serve over 50 wholesale customers including the area’s premier restaurants, caterers, bars and hotels. We also distribute to several local and online grocers; operate a weekly online farm share; work with one local distributor, and sell direct to the public through our ecommerce platform and a farmers market. We have two growing locations: one outdoor farm where we grow our edible flowers, and one indoor farm where we grow our microgreens and shoots. Both farms are located in Northeast, Washington, D.C.

Our team is on a mission to prove that sustainable agriculture is commercially viable in urban landscapes, and that farming is the best job available for smart, talented, hard-working, innovative thinkers. As a first generation, woman-owned farm, we aim to be pioneers in the next generation of American agriculture, which we believe will be characterized by more sustainable, regenerative practices, greater diversity, and more localized production. We are a small, fast-growing team and we put heart, soul, and grit into working on the farm every day. We are searching for a leader in our field who will further energize our team to reach our highest vision for Little Wild Things. 

We're seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Operations Manager (OM) to help us realize our highest shared vision for Little Wild Things. The OM is a leadership role, responsible for overseeing and improving production at both our indoor and outdoor farm locations. This position oversees team member management, training, and development, the planning and organization of daily production and packing schedules, inventory management, quality control, food safety, product traceability, and customer relationships. The OM reports directly to the Founder/CEO, and is reported to by the production team. 

The OM leads the team to achieve shared goals, performance expectations, and clear codes of conduct. In this capacity, the PM serves as a coach who is developing her/his staff to work at their full potential as contributing members of the team. Working closely with the CEO, the OM leads the planning and testing of, and the training and executing of production processes and procedures that ensure maximum efficiency and a consistent, food-safe, environmentally sustainable product. The OM functions as the expert in and lead strategist for our production team. This individual’s chief role is to create a sustainable and scalable production operation to support the business’s fast growth.

The OM’s time will be spent roughly 50% on hands-on production management (microgreens and edible flowers) and staff training and development, and 50% on planning and executing production operations. Specifically, 5% on organizing the production schedule, 10% on quality control and product traceability, 10% on inventory management, 10% on process and ag technology development and implementation, and 15% on order management and customer communication.

Responsibilities Include:

• Team Management and Training: Develop production staff into a cohesive, high-performing team that can scale as our operation grows. Develop and execute training procedures and conduct staff check-ins and performance reviews to ensure feedback and continued growth for team members; manage staff scheduling and daily tasking using task management software (Wunderlist or similar); serve as the first line of defense in troubleshooting production issues and resolve staff conflicts.
• Organize Production Schedule: Organize and distribute daily (and longer term) production and packing schedules to ensure all client orders are fulfilled, using task and order management software and ecommerce software as necessary to fulfill orders.
• Utilize Quickbooks accounting software to create and send invoices. Process refunds and ensure total customer satisfaction.
• Oversee Quality Control & Product Traceability: Conduct in-process and final product quality tests to verify that SKUs are being built to specification and record data for recordkeeping. Update formulas in traceability software and conduct runs to ensure product traceability for all SKUs.
• Manage Inventory: Manage and maintain all produce and dry goods inventory using inventory management software.
• Develop, Improve and Implement Processes and Technologies: Evaluate and build processes (SOPs) and test new technologies for the production team that maximize efficiency, product quality, and simple/effective training. Verify that all procedures and policies are being complied with by team members.
• Represent the business in a professional manner, using outstanding written and oral communication skills for staff, client, and community interactions. As second-in-command, act in a leadership capacity to run the farming operation when necessary.
• Collect and analyze data on harvest yield, labor, climate control, plant health, and other relevant metrics for improving efficiency and productivity.
• Ensure the environmental sustainability of farming practices (and striving to move beyond environmental sustainability to regenerative practices) and maintain certification records.

Desired qualifications:

• Above all, you must be passionate about agriculture, food, and business. You must also be energized by significant entrepreneurial opportunity
• 2+ years of farming experience (sustainable/organic preferred; flower farming, and/or market gardening/microgreen farming preferred)
• 2+ years of production management experience (in food, farming)
• Experience with Good Agricultural Practices and/or Food Safety and/or Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Strong customer service orientation and skills
• Demonstrated background in leadership and people development
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Comfortable leading a team, and leading in conflict resolution
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Quickbooks, and the ability and desire to learn to use new software and technologies
• University education is expected, but not required. Associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree in agriculture, horticulture, plant sciences, or related field. Proven on-the-job experience supersedes formal education.

A personal vehicle is required for this position (mileage reimbursed at federal rates). 

The position is located in Washington, D.C.

Compensation: This position is salaried, commensurate with experience and comes with 10 days of PTO, accrued bi-weekly.