DoBlenheim Hill Farm is seeking a Farm Manager to take charge of the overall planning, implementation, organization, and management of its farming activities. The individual must be “hands-on” and proficient in critical tasks involved with setting up a new farm — clearing land, building infrastructure such as greenhouses, sheds and fences, as well as livestock and produce production. In addition to being hands-on, the individual needs to be skilled in strategic planning (both short-term and long-term), staffing, and financial management as described below.
Specific Roles and Responsibilities
Farm Planning / Development
- Participate in the overall short-term and long-term planning and development of Blenheim Hill Farm operations.
- Implement seasonal strategies for a highly diversified farm operation including: crop rotation, integrated pest management, soil amendment, cover cropping, tillage, propagation, transplanting, cultivation, harvesting, livestock management, etc.
- Set goals and milestones, both short term and long-term, and develop systems to monitor progress.
- Ensure that all farm practices comply with federal, state, and local government regulations (including the management of employees, activities, etc)
- Ensure that all practices protect the agricultural environment along with the farm’s natural resources and biodiversity.
- Establish, monitor, meet and exceed product quality control standards established for the farm (e.g. Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Organic Handling Plan, and/or other standards).
Budgeting / Financial Management
- Develop an annual farming budget linked to the Blenheim Hill Farm management plan and in consultation with the Project Director.
- Maintain spending within the approved budget.
- Monitor farm progress against annual budget and provide monthly progress reports of revenues and expenses.
Farm Facilities / Equipment Management
- Provide day-to-day management of all farm facilities and equipment, including maintenance, repair, and replacement schedules (equipment needs to be maintained at the level required to accomplish our goals).
- Procure necessary equipment, tools, and supplies for on-farm operations within approved budget.
Staffing / Supervision
- Recruit, hire, orient, train, motivate, supervise, and evaluate paid and volunteer workers.
- Oversee independent contractors in the repair and maintenance of overall farm infrastructure and in the construction of new grounds and facilities.
- Work with Project Director and accountant to assure that all labor regulations and payroll requirements are met.
- Apply and maintain all health and safety standards required by law and the farm safety plan.
Recordkeeping / Reporting / Communications
- Monitor and document all land use, irrigation, and produce yield/loses and report to Project Director.
- Maintain production records, and create and maintain records for crops, soil amendments, and field history as required for organic certification and for quality standards.
- Work with CSA manager to ensure all delivery scheduling is kept current, consistent, and in compliance with Blenheim Hill Farm’s goals.
- Serve as principle farm representative; interact with general public, subscribers, media, and project director and investors.
- Constantly communicate with Project Director, CSA Manager, and staff.
Qualifications
- Post-secondary degree (Associate’s; Bachelor’s preferred) in an appropriate discipline (e.g. agricultural science, plant science, animal science, horticulture, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, organic farming, greenhouse mgmt, etc.), AND a minimum of five years demonstrated experience managing a profitable, sustainable, diversified farm operation; OR ten years experience managing a profitable, sustainable, diversified farm with a wide variety of agricultural operations reflecting a longstanding commitment to ecological sustainability, experience in expanding farm operations, planning and executing multiple projects on diversified farms, and managing the varied seasonal demands of farming.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience of staff, volunteers, and interns and successful experience in recruiting, hiring, and motivating workers.
- Demonstrated experience in budgeting and financial management.
- Demonstrated experience in operating and maintaining and variety of farm equipment appropriate for vegetable and livestock production.
- Effective written, verbal, and electronic communication skills
- Competence in using computer technology as a management tool (e.g. Excel, Word, Power Point, Access Internet, etc.).
- Strong leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills with proven ability to work with diverse audiences and collaborators.
- Valid NYS State driver’s license or equivalent.
- Creativity, energy, motivation, and positive enthusiasm.
- Current New York State Private Pesticide Applicators License or ability to obtain.
To apply, please contact Mona: mona@smorgas.com
