Company description

Hampshire College, an independent, innovative liberal arts institution and member of the Five College consortium, is located on a beautiful rural campus in Amherst, Massachusetts. We provide residential undergraduate education to nearly 600 students. Each department at Hampshire College contributes to the collaborative culture of the organization and plays an important role in the success of the College. The Hampshire College Farm Center produces ethical and sustainable food for our community; offers our students a connection to place through authentic and practical work; and provides opportunities for research, individual creativity, reflection, and recreation. As part of the farm team, you will be instrumental in the department achieving its mission and goals!

Job description

The Hampshire College Farm, in Amherst MA, is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic person to join our farm team as the Vegetable Production Manager. This position is a year-round, salaried and benefited role on our farm staff team. Additionally, the position is heavily student facing with regular vegetable production demands. This requires the person in this role to have the desire and ability to balance education and production on the farm on a daily basis.

The vegetable production manager operates under the supervision of the director of farm programs and in close collaboration with other members of the farm staff. The manager assists the director of farm programs in all management duties related to operation of the vegetable farm, including supervision and mentoring of student and summer employees; the production, distribution, and sales of vegetable products; and general farm, equipment and field maintenance. In conjunction with the director of farm programs, the manager will aid in the creation and tracking of vegetable enterprise production plans, budgets and long-range plans. The manager will also assist in providing farm-based educational opportunities and programming to students, faculty, and others.

As a member of both the farm center and the division of academic affairs, this position is essential to student and community service and experience. The incumbent must feel comfortable working in an often fast-paced organizational framework with shifting and evolving responsibilities. This position collaborates with other farm staff, and a variety of other College offices to meet the department goals, and further the mission of the department and the College. This position participates as a committed member and leader of the farm center team in college and division committee work, projects, meetings, events, and overall community development. Availability to work occasional nights and weekends is required.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• The ability to operate and maintain farm equipment with an emphasis on vegetable production.
• Knowledge of plant and soil science especially in relation to organic systems.
• The ability to organize, supervise and motivate student work-study crews and summer employees.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and exceptional interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently and the willingness to work as part of a management team.
• The ability to maintain records as well as good organizational and time management skills.
• A passion for working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity,
  inclusion and anti-racism.
• An ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students,
  faculty, staff and community members.
• The ability to support and enhance a sense of belonging and the success of students from traditionally marginalized populations.
• A valid driver’s license and successful completion of the College’s defensive driving training course.
• Employment is contingent on successfully passing a DOT physical with lift test.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• The skills to help create and maintain vegetable production plans and enterprise budgets.
• Familiarity with relevant produce safety regulations.
• The ability to translate and teach complicated work skills to all levels of competencies.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

• A high school degree, GED, or equivalent.
• At least one year of experience in enterprise operation management.
• At least one year of experience in employee or crew management and leadership.
• At least two full seasons of vegetable production experience.
• At least one season of frequent and diversified tractor operation in a tractor-based system.

Specific Essential Duties of the Position:

Vegetable Production Management

• Supervises summer employees and student work-study employees in the production, harvest, sale and distribution of vegetable crops
• Applies system-based thinking to management of the 5-acre vegetable, fruit and flower production using safe and efficient tractor-based production systems
• Oversees use of all farm equipment and tractors needed for vegetable production and harvest.
• Maintains, and repairs within reason, all farm equipment and machinery needed for vegetable production and harvest
• Must be able to operate our small fleet of tractors and equipment safely and skillfully.
• Organizes and manages on-campus, vegetable distribution:
  • Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA) of up to 120 member shares
  • pick-your-own garden
  • up to 100 lbs produce each week for dining commons and catering use
• Collaborates in full farmland care and stewardship

Outreach and Education

• Supports academic and co-curricular linkages to the Farm.
  Assists faculty, students, and other farm staff with on-farm projects and research
• Supports a positive, safe and aesthetically pleasing working environment at the farm.
• Supports and enhances a sense of belonging and success of students from traditionally marginalized populations.
• Promotes diversity, equity and inclusion activities on the farm.

Farm Planning and Support

• Keeps accurate records of vegetable sales and crop production, budgetary items and other aspects of vegetable operations
• Works professionally in a team-oriented environment assisting and guiding other Farm Center staff as appropriate and as needed.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000

Application instructions

Deadline

February 10, 2025