Company description

We are a 60 acre, MOFGA Certified Organic vegetable farm that grows about 25 acres of vegetables for our CSA and wholesale customers. We are in our tenth year of production and are growing each year to meet the demand for local, organic produce.

As a mixed vegetable operation, all staff on the farm get to be part of seasonal produce production in the short-season climate that is Mid-Coast Maine. The work is variable, challenging, and rewarding. We work in all weather; we work as a team to meet the tight deadlines of harvest and delivery. We pride ourselves on creating a great work environment and providing upward growth for committed staff.

In terms of greenhouse specifics, we have 2 30x72 heated propagation houses for starting transplant seedlings, as well as a 16x50 hardening off tunnel. We follow a tight weekly schedule that is set in advance quarterly. We do not soil block, we use locally made potting soil in various sizes of 1020 cell trays. We also seed a significant number of items in paperpot trays for paper-pot planting. For some items we have a vacuum seeder, as well as a drop seeder for the paperpot items. Currently everything is hand watered to ensure even and accurate watering. It is not a fancy set-up, but it works well for our farm.

Job description

Greenhouse Manager Duties & Description

The Greenhouse Manager Position is a full-time position that entails management and oversight of the seedling greenhouse for the farm’s transplanting as well as other propagation (sprouts and micros). Manager will be responsible for overseeing and executing all seeding, watering, potting up, and hardening off of seedlings prior to transplant according to greenhouse schedule and weekly priorities. The GH manager is responsible for ensuring healthy, on-time, correctly seeded transplants for the farm’s transplant and sprout schedule. This position entails management of one person regularly (greenhouse assistant, which is a float position available to greenhouse work as needed) and several people from the farm crew on special larger work days, very occasionally. The greenhouse manager will be responsible for sanitation and organization (including seed and supply inventory) in the greenhouse and propagation activities. Job to include record keeping, greenhouse maintenance, and close observation of plant health and thus requires close attention to detail and previous experience working in commercial greenhouses either on farm or in a garden center. Applicants can expect to have weekly meetings with farm owners/supervisor to set priorities and schedule, and will be expected to complete activities on time with minimal direct supervision. This job requires a self-starter with good communication, time management, and organizational skills.

Schedule:

The anticipated start date is late January to early February. The whole farm staff is on “Winter hours” (M-Th 8-3:30) from January through Mid-March, when the position switches to full time (at least M-F 7/7:30-3:30/4). This position requires 1-2 Saturdays per month in the summer season (starting in May-September), as Saturdays are split between farm owners, and all GH staff (manager, assistant). Schedule will be set in advance for the summer so you can plan. As an employer, we work really hard to keep staff hours at 40 hours per week, but on occasion in the busier season, if the work demands it, hours can occasionally exceed 40 hrs to keep on the planting schedule. Note winter hours schedule may occasionally include other more general duties on the farm to fill schedule. Lunch is ½ hour unpaid, and each employee has a paid 15 minute break in place in the AM.

Job Requirements:

• Employees must be on time, responsible and reliable.
• Demonstrated experience managing and training people
• Consistent attention to detail and a high standard of work.
• Must be capable of heavy physical work in all weather conditions, cold/heat/rain etc. Greenhouse work requires the ability to stand for hours on end, move trays repeatedly, lift and move up to 50 pounds, and work in warm or hot conditions.
• 1-2 years required experience on farms and in greenhouses specifically. Ideally on a for-profit farm.
• Knowledge of germination, watering, and basic plant growth
• Knowledge and understanding of farm scale production activities
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently while working alone. Demonstrated ability to self-start and manage/triage a schedule and priorities.
• Employees are expected to be team players, comfortable taking direction and following direction from both Beth and Eric and each other, and comfortable taking constructive criticism that improves the job being done. Employees are expected to be respectful and kind to one another.

Weekly Duties:

• Manager will have a quarterly printed list of weekly GH planting tasks and complete seeding (with other staff if needed) for each week as described on list
• Check and manage inventory of seeds, soil, trays etc for coming weeks to enough is in house as needed (Manager can place orders once trained)
• Walkthrough and check on germination status, pest pressure, fertilization needs, and make a plan to address any issues encountered.
• Manager will check in with the GH assistant on weekly tasks and delegate work accordingly
• Check-in with Bethany, Eric and other managers on what is ready to plant into the field
• Coordinate transplant priorities with field leads.
• Check stock of items (trays, soil, tags, Paper pot chains & bottoms), and contact Bethany or Eric if low on any items, or place an order themselves.
• Monitor venting needs and requirements, and ensure GH assistant is aware of protocol for opening and closing of the tunnels during different weather periods.
• Maintain organization in running of the greenhouse, keep work areas tidy, sanitized if needed, and all stocked items organized

Pay: Starting pay $18.50/hr. More with demonstrated farm experience, greenhouse management experience, and tractor operator experience.

Benefits:

• Earned time off - Accrual of 1 hour per 40 hrs worked.
• A CSA share free of charge all seasons employed (value ~$30/week). Plus additional seconds and bulk veggies if desired.
• 35% discount on purchased-in items such as eggs, cheese, flowers, etc.
• Matching Retirement contributions (via our SIMPLE IRA) of 3% of income after 3 months of employment
• Gear Stipend seasonally ($100 June/$100 January)

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

January 15, 2024