2023 Job Description

High Road Farm is looking for an assistant grower who is interested in one day running their own farm business. For the right person, this could become a true unicorn of a career starter.

High Road Farm in Newbury, Massachusetts, is looking for its right-hand person, call it a sous-farmer (to borrow a fine dining term), or a farm manager, to work alongside owner and founder Mac Scanlon. This position will be integral for our farm’s everyday functioning and long-term growth. Entering our eighth season, our farm operates on rented land and consists of 2 intensively farmed acres, 2 high tunnels in year-round production, and a propagation house where we start all of our own seedlings. Our CSA is 70 families strong with a waiting list, one farmer’s market on Sundays May-November, weekly wholesale deliveries and, we’re hoping, more frequent food donations to food banks in 2023.

Everyday responsibilities include field walks, collaborating on work plans for the day, and weeks and months ahead, and harvest scheduling for wholesale outlets, farmers markets and our weekly CSA shares. The assistant farmer will also collaborate on field prep strategies, weed management, crop placements, seeding and crop selections for each season, and seeding, transplanting and cultivation of our crops.

Ideally, whoever takes this job will be willing to commit for at least two years. Over this period, Mac would like for the person in this position to see just about every aspect of this farm’s operations, and take on increased responsibility as you are willing and able.

High Road Farm is a community space. Mac grew up right down the road, and we have a phenomenal track record with local teens and young adults coming back year after year for summer work, along with a strong and diverse volunteer base. Strong people skills are also a must when interacting with our farm’s community.

This position is salaried. Salary is negotiable depending on experience and qualifications. We strive to pay a living wage for all of our employees.

Full Time hours May-November (30 weeks), part time hours December- April (22 weeks).

The job:
• Assistant farmer in Newbury, MA
• Responsibilities include all aspects of field and greenhouse production • Year-round employment opportunity

Expectations:
• You eat vegetables
• A minimum of 3 years of vegetable production experience
• Valid divers license and reliable transportation
• Basic knowledge of growing a wide variety of vegetables, including scouting for pests and disease • Basic food safety knowledge
• Experience with greenhouse management and direct field seeding

• You must be able to lift 50 pounds
• Tolerance for working outside in all weather conditions
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised
• Ability to operate small machinery independently (weed wacker, mower, rototiller, etc.)

Qualifications:

• A positive, hardworking attitude.

• Must be self-motivated, well organized, and a good communicator

• Must be able to endure a full growing season, long summer days, and fast paced farmers market without

  burning out.

• Experience driving box trucks, pick-up trucks and tractors are all a bonus

• Experience with cultivation equipment would be ideal, but we can get better at this together

• Opportunity to learn machinery repairs, weekly cashflow analysis, grant applications, business

  communication, and any other aspect of running a small farm business not already listed above.

  With a 2-year commitment, vacation time, paid sick days, and farm funded continuing education opportunities as well as a gear stipend are available. Unlimited vegetables and workers comp are provided to all employees.