Company description

Thimbleberry Collaborative Farm (TCF) is a nonprofit, educational farm located in Boring, Oregon (about 45 min outside of Portland, Oregon). Our mission is to advance individual, community, and environmental health in East Multnomah and Clackamas Counties by providing access to healthy, local produce; access to land; educational programs; and community-led events. In 2025, we grew 12,000+ lbs of produce for people experiencing food insecurity. We distribute our produce through a farm-to-clinic partnership with Wallace Medical and Milk Crate Kitchen, as well as through local food pantries. In 2025, we served over 1,000 community members through our education programs, which focus on growing and cooking with seasonal produce, as well as ecology, nutrition, food justice, farm animal care, and environmental stewardship. Our education programs include K-12 field trips with local schools and community workshops, all of which are offered on a sliding scale fee system.

Job description

TCF is seeking a Farm Operations Manager to lead the organization’s efforts to grow mixed fruits and vegetables using organic and, whenever possible, regenerative practices. This position also leads TCF’s produce harvesting, packing, and distribution efforts, including donating produce to local food pantries and distributing it to our community partners for use in the farm-to-clinic program mentioned above. The Farm Operations Manager hires, trains, and manages a Farm Apprentice each season. As a small, young organization, everyone helps each other whenever possible. Therefore, the Farm Operations Manager often assists the Education Programs Manager with workshops and field trips and/or others on staff with their respective projects, too.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the decision-making process on what to plant and when, as well as when to harvest produce and how to distribute it
• Take the lead on acquiring seeds and starts, tools, soil amendments, and other supplies (through donations and purchases)
• Plant, tend, and harvest mixed fruits and vegetables in row crop areas
• Manage propagation house for production of vegetable and fruit starts throughout season
• Wash and pack produce for farm-to-clinic program and food pantries
• Manage drip irrigation, pest and weed management, fertilization and compost systems, in coordination with Education Program Manager
• Use cover crop rotation and compost application to improve soil fertility
• Maintain accurate records of garden activities (crop plans, planting/ weeding/ fertilization/ harvest dates and details, pest management activities, notable weather incidences. etc.)
• Recruit, hire, train/ educate, and manage farm interns/apprentices
  • We typically participate in the Oregon Farm Corps apprenticeship program, which requires employers to attend trainings, provide ongoing education/ mentorship for apprentices, host semi-regular check-ins and evaluations with apprentices, etc.
• Lead in general property maintenance on our 5-acre property (mowing, weeding, mulching, and/or hiring out work as appropriate, especially during the growing season)
• Add accessibility features and points of interest on the farm like paths, shade structures, etc., especially during the off season
• Share responsibility for caring for fruit trees and farm animals with Education Programs Manager
• Collaborate with the Education Programs Manager to plan when and how the learning garden will be used for educational programs
• Assist Education Programs Manager with:
  • Crop planning, planting, maintaining, and harvesting from learning garden
• Work with the other managers to coordinate volunteers on volunteer days
• Create a farm operations budget each October for the following year; track expenses throughout the year
• Work closely with the Executive Director to make farm plans, manage expenses, and manage liabilities (this will involve acquiring necessary permits, etc.)
• Collaborate with the Grant Writer to provide information relevant for grant applications and with the Executive Director to provide pictures/ quotes/ videos/ etc. for marketing and communications
• Collaborate with other farms and related organizations to borrow equipment and share information/ resources as needed
• Participate in weekly managers meetings
• Prioritize accessibility and equity when planning farm operations (e.g. keeping the fields accessible to youth groups, planting culturally relevant crops requested by farm-to-clinic participants, etc.)
• Perform other tasks for TCF as needed

Ideal Skills or Qualifications Needed:

• 5+ years of experience with organic farming methods is a must
• Experience with regenerative farming methods would be ideal
• Basic construction skills
• Experience with small engine maintenance
• Strong work ethic
• Friendly, enjoys working with people of all ages and abilities
• Talent for and experience in teaching people of all ages, ideally about farming/ gardening
• Management experience, ideally managing farm interns/ apprentices
• Attention to detail and good organizational skills
• Proficiency in, or ability to learn, organizational software such as Google Sheets, Docs, etc. for record keeping and communication purposes
• Good teamwork skills
• Able to take initiative and self-direct
• Interested in and committed to:
  • Advancing all forms of social justice, especially food justice (improving our food system so that everyone has access to healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate food regardless of economic status, race, religion, etc.)
  • Responsible environmental stewardship
  • Working with a diverse team to serve a multicultural community
• Capable of lifting and carrying at least 50 lbs
• Able to use basic tools such as a shovel and wheelbarrow
• Prepared to work in a variety of weather conditions
• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States
• CPR, First Aid, and or food handler’s certifications would be ideal
  • These can be completed once hired, if needed

Time Requirements: 40 hrs per week, year round. Average of one weekend day per month to assist in volunteer days, workshops and events both on and off farm.

Pay Details: $50k/ yr. TCF covers 90% of health, dental, and vision insurance costs; and covers 100% of basic life and AD&D insurance costs. Generous PTO policy, including a 4-week paid winter break plus 15 days of PTO to use throughout the rest of the year.

Compensation

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

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline