Job Description
Job Description
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head Grower to lead our 100% certified organic cultivation operations and drive excellence in plant production. This pivotal role involves overseeing all aspects of organic crop cultivation, ensuring optimal growing conditions, and managing horticultural teams to deliver high-quality yields in accordance with USDA Organic standards. The ideal candidate will possess a passion for sustainable, chemical-free farming practices, extensive experience in hoops and outdoor organic cultivation, and a strong understanding of agricultural environmental control systems. As a key leader, you will implement organic standard operating procedures (SOPs), manage irrigation systems, and uphold the highest standards in organic pest management and crop health. Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is a strong asset for this position, and Spanish fluency is highly preferred for facilitating effective communication and team management across all daily field and farm operations. Join us to cultivate innovation and excellence in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment!
Duties
- Administrative & Organic Compliance Management: Lead and oversee all administrative tasks related to field operations, including detailed, rigorous record-keeping of organic crop production, certified input applications, pest management activities, irrigation schedules, labor data, and environmental logs to guarantee full compliance with corporate, USDA Organic, and food safety standards.
- Team Leadership: Directly manage, train, and supervise the planting and harvesting teams, providing clear guidance, coordinating daily field schedules, and evaluating performance to foster a highly productive and motivated workforce.
- Cultivation Execution: Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of strictly organic crop cultivation activities across hoop houses, high tunnels, and outdoor environments.
- Resource Management: Oversee irrigation management to ensure efficient water use through proper system operation and maintenance.
- Process Standardization: Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all organic horticultural processes to maintain consistency and quality.
- Pest Management: Manage pest control strategies, including integrated pest management (IPM) compliant with organic certification regulations, to protect crops from pests and diseases without prohibited synthetic chemicals.
- Crop Health Monitoring: Monitor plant health through plant identification skills, regular inspections, and environmental adjustments using agricultural environmental control systems.
Skills & Qualifications
- Language Skills: Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a strong plus. Fluency in Spanish is a significant asset to effectively communicate operational goals, daily metrics, and safety protocols to diverse field crews on the floor.
- Agricultural Administration: Proven experience in certified organic agriculture administration, team management, and field operations oversight.
- Cultivation Expertise: Extensive growing experience in organic hoop house cultivation, high tunnels, and outdoor farming environments.
- Compliance Knowledge: Deep understanding of National Organic Program (NOP) standards and USDA Organic compliance requirements.
- Irrigation Systems: Strong knowledge of organic irrigation systems, irrigation management, and water conservation techniques.
- Climate Systems: Familiarity with agricultural environmental control systems for climate regulation and crop optimization.
- SOP Development: Proven ability to develop and follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for organic horticultural practices.
- Organic Techniques: Expertise in organic crop production techniques, natural plant pest control, and compliant integrated pest management strategies.
- Team Management: Ability to manage horticultural teams effectively while fostering teamwork and continuous improvement.
- Mechanical Knowledge: Mechanical knowledge related to irrigation equipment, hand tools, and gardening machinery.
- Physical & Math Skills: Skilled in plant identification, basic math for measurements and calculations, and heavy lifting required for outdoor work or high tunnel setup.
- Land Stewardship: Experience with land management, organic agricultural principles, and farming practices.
Join us as our Head Grower to lead innovative cultivation efforts that prioritize sustainability, quality, and efficiency. Your expertise will help shape the future of our growing operations while supporting a passionate team dedicated to excellence in horticulture!