Company description

Jordan's Farm is a fifth generation farm located in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. We are a conventional grower cultivating approximately 60 acres of mixed vegetables each season. Our primary market is retail. In addition, we sell wholesale and continually seek ways to expand our markets. This season, we are expanding our pick-your-own strawberry operation. We strive to reduce food loss on our farm by working with organizations to end hunger in Maine.

Job description

Jordan’s Farm is seeking an individual to join our team as the Wash/Pack Lead.

Our wash/pack operation occurs in multiple locations around the farm based on the crop. We process harvests through large dunk tubs, a soft skin vegetable washer, and a root washer. We are always working to expand and update our infrastructure and wash/pack equipment. This season we are hoping to expand and update existing infrastructure in our barn to become the hub for our post-harvest processing.

The Wash/Pack Lead position is full-time from early April through Thanksgiving. The majority of our wash/pack happens Monday through Friday. This position must be flexible due to the nature of farm work and to account for weather. Hours and days scheduled may vary depending on the season and to accommodate large harvests.

The ideal candidate for this position is someone who takes direction well, asks for help and is comfortable giving and accepting constructive feedback. This employee should have a willingness to learn and work within our existing system’s infrastructure. The Wash/Pack Lead will work closely with the Operations Manager to carry out the day-to-day wash, pack, and storage of vegetables. This position will communicate with a small team of farm managers daily about harvests, retail needs and wholesale orders and then oversee a small team of employees to carry out the day’s work in a timely and efficient manner. They will facilitate the workflow as needed to ensure that produce is top-quality, packed according to industry standards, in compliance with food safety guidelines, and organized and stored according to Jordan’s Farm SOPs. The Wash/Pack lead will work with the Operations Manager to complete daily recordkeeping relating to daily harvests and wholesale orders as well as to keep the multiple produce coolers inventoried and organized.

Responsibilities:

• Work with the Farm Stand Lead and Floor Ambassador to ensure a consistent supply of vegetables to the farmstand and well-stocked retail coolers
• Oversee the wash/pack team and the day’s post-harvest wash/pack operation
• Train other wash/pack employees on produce standard operating procedures
• Set the pace for wash/pack team and give immediate feedback on workflow efficiency to team members
• Ensure Operations Manager is up to date on produce quality
• Complete all FSMA/ GAP recordkeeping as it relates to employee hygiene, health, harvest, order packing and distribution
• Maintain neat, tidy and clean workspaces and storage areas
• Accountable for daily cleaning SOPs; ensure all cleaning logs are filled out by team
• Move product between storage areas as needed, ensuring vegetables are kept cool and moved into intended storage areas as soon and efficiently as possible
• Keep wholesale coolers organized by crop, according to the FIFO system, and for efficiency of order pick-ups
• Be cognizant of supply inventories and inform Operations Manager when supplies need to be reordered
• Operate an off-road forklift to load or offload pallets of produce from delivery trucks and to move pallets between wash/pack locations
• Communicate closely with other managers to solve problems and stay up to date on what’s happening on the farm

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience working on a vegetable farm
• Experience in a leadership role
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to multi-task and good recordkeeping skills
• Ability to problem-solve in a fast-moving, ever-changing environment
• Strong attention to detail and ability to balance multiple priorities
• Experience with inventory management; familiarity with the “FIFO” system
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability and willingness to coach others
• Willingness and ability to learn to operate forklifts and/or tractors
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (specifically Word and Excel)
• Team-oriented
• Valid driver’s license - needed to fulfill job duties with machinery
• Ability to regularly lift loads of 50+ lbs. and work under challenging ergonomic conditions, including crouching, bending and kneeling

Additional qualifications (not required, but a plus!):

• Experience operating tractors and other equipment
• Mechanical aptitude
• Management experience

Compensation & Benefits:

• $19-21 depending on experience
• PTO is accrued at 1 hour per 40 hours worked
• Option to join MERIT IRA
• 30% discount in our farm stand (with exception of meat, alcohol and consignment)
• Access to free seconds quality produce
  

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $19.00 - $21.00

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline