The Farm Manager is responsible for all aspects of the Food Shuttle Farm to ensure the timely execution of all Food Shuttle Farm activities in collaboration with the Director of Agriculture. The scope of the position includes crop and field management planning and executional aspects of planting, irrigation, crop and field maintenance, and harvest. This position is the Farm Team lead and collaborates closely with the Farm Team, Agriculture Department, Operations Department, Culinary Department, and volunteers to ensure program goals are met. The Farm Manager is based at the Farm, but occasional travel to the Malone Center Headquarters and other locations in our service area is required as needed.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FARM PLANNING AND DESIGN
Create crop production goals and projections in collaboration with the Director of Agriculture, the Culinary Department, and the Operations Department.
Develop leadership skills in Farm Team staff, apprentices, interns, and volunteers.
Create operational resource plans for annual and seasonal field and high-tunnel crops in collaboration with the Director of Agriculture.
Design crop plans with focus on operational requirements to maximize efficient use of volunteers in collaboration with the Farm Team and Volunteer Services Team.
Responsible for strategic assignment of tasks to ensure efficient use of staff and volunteers to meet departmental and organizational goals.
Support Agriculture Education initiatives and projects, occasionally by leading and/or assisting with educational workshops, tours, and field trips.
Create and communicate farm crop production policies and procedures in collaboration with the Director of Agriculture.
Create and communicate food safety and food handling procedures at all points of the production process.
Create seasonal and annual crop plans for field and high-tunnel production.
Create seasonal and annual field and high-tunnel preparation and cultivation plans.
Develop annual operational budgets with guidance from the Director of Agriculture.
Create and maintain record-keeping mechanisms for field amendments and crop plans including field preparation, planting and harvest dates, cultivation, crop rotations, harvest yields, irrigation, and integrated pest management.
Record, complete, and communicate all necessary documentation to appropriate stakeholders.
Plan and lead the execution of all aspects of Farm crop production; mechanized aspects of field preparation, planting, cultivation; and integrated pest management in field, greenhouse and high-tunnels.
Manage transplant and greenhouse operations including ordering, scheduling, seeding, fertilizing, watering, pest management, and distribution.
Ensure harvested crops meet established standards of quality and quantity.
Manage soils including field and high-tunnel amendments, cover cropping, and crop rotations.
Assist in tasks necessary to achieve specified production, revenue, and volunteer goals for the farm. Ability to create and maintain interdepartmental collaboration to assist in reaching goals is required.
Adhere to and maintain USDA GAP certification.
FARM COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH
Communicate schedule of monthly/weekly farm production tasks to the Food Shuttle Farm Team (staff, interns, and volunteers) including seeding/transplanting/harvesting dates, soil amendments, and field duties.
Communicate regularly with the Director of Agriculture and staff about progress, difficulties, and needs related to the Farm.
In the absence of the Director of Agriculture, make decisions related to Farm and Agriculture operations and communicate those decisions to the Farm Team and Agriculture Team.
Communicate safe, efficient methods of all aspects of farm production and protocol with Farm staff, interns, and volunteers.
Attend and participate in all departmental, staff, and development meetings, reporting progress and collaborating across departments for more effective programming.
Represent and promote the Food Shuttle and Food Shuttle Agriculture programs at local events, workshops, meetings, conferences, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and/or experience in agriculture, soil science, agroecology, or related field required.
Minimum five (5) years of on-farm experience, preferably on a diversified produce farm, required.
Experience with production planning, field preparation and cultivation, and organic integrated pest management and weed control principles required.
Experience in small and large engine operation required.
Strong skills in project management, organizational, interpersonal, and communication required.
Ability to solve problems or overcome issues quickly and creatively required.
Demonstrated ability to work steadily and independently with minimum supervision required.
Ability to work positively with a team required.
Passion for ending hunger required.
Ability to pass a criminal background check required.
Valid North Carolina Driver’s License and insurable driving record required.
Experience in small engine maintenance preferred.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint) preferred.
Familiarity with Farm Management Software (e.g., Tend) preferred.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Fostering Teamwork: The ability to demonstrate interest, skill, and success in getting groups to learn to work together.
Managing Performance: The ability to take responsibility for one’s own or one’s employees’ performance, by setting clear goals and expectations, tracking progress against the goals, ensuring feedback, and addressing performance problems and issues promptly.
Technical Expertise: The ability to demonstrate depth of knowledge and skill in a technical area.
Forward Thinking: The ability to anticipate the implications and consequences of situations and take appropriate action to be prepared for possible contingencies.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work Environment: Work is value-, goal- and deadline-oriented with frequent interaction with volunteers. Computer work is expected, with extended hours evenings and/or weekends as needed. Frequent, potentially heavy physical work outdoors, in all weather conditions and temperatures can be anticipated. This position is based on the Food Shuttle Farm under the supervision of the Director of Agriculture.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Must be able to lift 40 pounds.
DIRECT REPORTS
Farm Coordinators, Farm Apprentices, and Seasonal Farm Assistant
