At Smallhold, we’re building the resilient farming infrastructure of the future. From advanced distribution and farming hubs to modular, high-output technology-enabled Minifarms, we’re bringing the farm to the people, supplying the freshest organic produce to entire cities on a block-by-block basis. 

Since 2017, Smallhold has established itself as the leader in US specialty mushroom production with our products found in top retailers like Whole Foods and Central Market and some of the nation’s most exciting restaurant kitchens, such as Maison Yaki, the Standard Hotels, and Bunker Vietnamese. 

Our mushrooms, farms, and team (including an amazing cohort of farmers and our backers at high profile VC investors like AlleyCorp, Almanac and Exor) have been featured in publications like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Gizmodo, Bon Appetit, Martha Stewart -- to name a few. 

What’s next for Smallhold? Our network is growing and with it we’re rapidly expanding our infrastructure, building farms in new markets and bringing specialty mushrooms to more people than ever before. We have big plans for this year and need people like you to help us spread our roots across the country!

As the Cultivation Manager, you will work directly with the General Manager and other facility Managers to ensure the successful launch, ramp up and ongoing operation of our first California facility. In this role, you will be primarily responsible for ensuring that cultivation activities are completed efficiently and up to Smallhold’s standards. You will create and oversee cultivation schedules and ensure that products are ready to fulfill shipments out the door, in full and on time. Training and leading a growing team of staff will be an essential aspect of these purviews.

This is a high-pressure and fast-paced position that requires strong leadership capabilities in addition to a hands-on, execution-oriented approach.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Lead mushroom cultivation process from raw material receipt through compost
• Coordinate Cultivation Team to ensure efficient workflows and well-balanced schedules
• Ensure cultivation data is tracked and logs and reports are kept up to date
• Work with the Facilities & Production Manager to plan and prepare cultivation schedules
• Coordinate with Fulfillment to align growth cycles with packing and delivery needs
• Set, monitor and fine-tune grow environments in accordance with species-specific needs
• Ensure adherence to Smallhold’s food safety and organic programs
• Train, support and oversee Cultivation Team and ensure adherence to protocols
• Ensure safe and responsible operation of vehicles and equipment
• Maintain quality and cleanliness of grow environments, common workspaces and tools
• Ensure proper handling and removal of compost and materials
• Support broader team with ongoing fulfillment and facility management as needed
• Champion all Smallhold policies and address any workplace issues fairly and decisively
• Work with HR and company leadership to meet quality of life metrics for your production team
• Develop protocols to ensure worker safety, food safety and quality assurance
• Manage staffing, scheduling and payroll processing for hourly team members
• Propose and execute on strategies for process improvement, growth and capacity expansion with support from the General Manager and HQ
• Foster a positive and collaborative environment. Be ready and willing to jump in on the line and troubleshoot alongside employees when needed
• Represent Smallhold’s values and reputation with all stakeholders

• 2-5 years of experience in agriculture, food production or a related field
• Scientific mindset and lab-like approach to cleanliness and cultivation
• Capable of lifting 50 pounds and working in occasionally tight spaces
• Experience maintaining records, spreadsheets or other enterprise resource planning software
• Experience with food safety programs. Experience with GAP, HACCP plans and SQF a plus
• Familiarity and comfort with electronics, plumbing, HVAC and refrigeration equipment
• Experience and aptitude for training and educating new employees
• Experience following, writing and updating SOPs
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Self starter with ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Exceptional short- and long-term planning skills
• Active driver’s license and willingness to drive
• Comfort with hands-on, physical work and repetitive tasks
• Comfort with standing for long periods of time
• Comfort with the sometimes erratic schedule of farming (this is not your typical 9-5)
• Ability to work in a climate controlled environment (~40 degrees)

• Location: Vernon, CA
• 401(k) plan
• Mushroom always!