Grower Manager

Summary

Plan, direct, and coordinate the management and operation of the La Valle Sabbia, Inc. (LVS) Farm and Green Touch Fertilizer (GTF). Involved through subordinate supervisory personnel, of the agriculture workers day- to-day activities to ensure optimal operation performance. Provides leadership to achieve growing objectives in all aspects.

Reporting to: LVS Farm Manager and President

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Production Management

• Manage all field activities such as irrigation, chemical application, harvesting, grading to ensure adherence to safety regulations and or standards
• Prepare crop schedules
• Prepare Annual Crop budgets and set goals
• Coordinate and direct crop production operations, such as planning, ground preparation, planting, irrigation, fertilizing, spraying and harvesting
• Manage laser work
• Monitors all LVS Farm and GTF work techniques and safety regulations
• Visit fields regularly to inspect the crop condition, maturity and monitor yield and quality
• Manage and monitor bees
• Coordinate and direct spray activities
• Manage all fertilizer operations by coordinating fertilizer mixing, sales of fertilizer products, purchasing of fertilizer products
• Monitors the fields for pest problems to detect insect infestation
• Provides recommendations to address pest issues
• Directs and monitors delivery of fertilizer to fields
• Monitors cement crew activities and weeding/thinning crews
• Oversee and track all irrigation
• Plans crop activities based on factors such as crop maturity or weather conditions
• Leads in troubleshooting and works towards reasonable, cost-effective resolutions
• Ensures crop production plans are taken into account for budgets customer requirements (sufficient inventory on-hand)
• Review financial, operational and production records for the LVS Farm and GTF
• Works with management to increase production and increase fields

*

• Follow Company policies and practices while representing LVS and GTF in an ethical and business-like manner in all interactions with employees, governmental agencies, growers, customer, etc.
• Ensures the security of LVS Farm and GTF confidential and propriety information and materials
• Enforce compliance of all safety and environmental requirements, all working rules and any other labor law
• Prepare SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats) analysis annually for LVS Farm and GTF in your charge
• Present LVS Farm and GTF annual goals at annual meeting
• Attend daily staff meetings with prepared agenda including safety for both LVS Farm and GTF
• Attend weekly production meeting and reports LVS Farm and GTF progress

Supervision

• Supervise, train and evaluate Foremen, Lead Men and personnel
• Develop and maintain job descriptions, job matrix and cross training matrix for LVS Farm and GTF personnel
• Promote safety through daily safety training, enforcement of the use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Make staff accountable for safety, productivity, and quality
• Promote and utilize personnel feedback to improve productivity, quality, order fulfillment, meeting customers’ expectations
• Monitor personnel schedules – recommend changes to work schedules
• Offer recommendations with regards to personnel

Security Management

• Schedule night watchmen
• Direct their evening duties
• Make certain a shop employee stays until 6PM when the night watchmen arrive
• Assess their performance daily making certain they completed their tasks
• Make certain they participate in monthly safety tailgate meetings

Equipment Management

• Ensure LVS Farm and GTF personnel maintain all equipment in good repair and maintain a preventative maintenance schedule
• Arrange and oversees maintenance and repair of LVS Farm and GTF equipment and machinery

Other duties as assigned by Manager

Requirements

• Valid California or Arizona Driver’s license
• Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy, AG Business or related field
• Eight (8) years of field experience
• Five (5) years of AG equipment experience
• Five (5) years of irrigation system experience
• Five (5) years management experience
• Pest Control Adviser (PCA) license required (or ability to acquire within the first month or employment)
• Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) certificate required
• Must be Bilingual – speaking and understand Spanish
• Ability to communicate with all levels of management and work as a team player
• Ability to be ready and willing to work in a fast-paced always-changing environment
• Utilize mathematical and analytical skills
• Advance level of computer skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Effective communication skills and interpersonal communicator
• Clear and concise writing skills
• Strong analytical and critical thinker
• Ability to communicate and interface with employees to resolve problems
• Demonstrate work performance in an environment requiring high level of attention to detail and timeliness
• Participate in continues improvement projects
• Must be able to work outside of work schedule when required, including weekends and holidays
• Must be able to work independently with minimum supervision
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle including the ability sit in an auto/truck for extended periods of time
• Ability to work in various weather conditions including high heat days with minimal accommodations
• Physical requirements: some of which may include but is not limited to standing, stooping, walking, climbing, twisting, bending and lifting. Ability to lift up to 75 lbs.

Tools

• Calculators or accessories — 10-key calculators*
• Copy machine**
• Scanning machine**
• Facsimile machine**
• Desktop computers**
• Phone**
• Hand Tools*

Technology

• Crop Costing Software: In-house ERP Software
• Fertilizer Sales and Inventory Software: In-house ERP Software
• Fleet Management Software: RTA Fleet Management
• Time and Attendance Software: Empower Software
• Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook
• Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
• Word processing software: Microsoft Word

EOE M/F/D/V

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $50,000.00 to $70,000.00 /year

Experience:

• management: 5 years
• irrigation system: 5 years
• AG field: 8 years

Education:

• Bachelor's

Language:

• Spanish