Harvest Manager/Field Crew Assistant

Transcription

1 Harvest Manager/Field Crew Assistant Willowood Farm 2016 Willowood Farm is a 20- acre historic family farm with expected 12 acres in vegetable production in We grow following organic standards but are not certified. We located centrally on Whidbey Island north of Seattle. Our farm is often considered the heart of the Ebey Landing National Historic Reserve, an unique unit of the National Park Service that was established in 1978 with the purposes of maintaining our beautiful historic farming small town community. Within just hours of our farm you can easily access both the Olympic Peninsula and the Cascade Mountain Range, as well as surrounded by the amazing waters of the Pacific Ocean. We produce crops year- round and sell primarily to the growing farm to plate restaurant scene in Seattle and the greater Pacific Northwest. Willowood Farm is run and managed by Farmer Georgie who grew up on the property. Her father Bill is an essential employee, working on tractor and equipment maintenance and additional special projects. In addition we have Adam Kendrick, an experienced farmer who has served as our farm manager for two years, who will be shifting into a role of Tractor and Field Work Specialist for Kelsi Franzen, a 2015 season farm hand and Whidbey native, will be returning as a part- time harvest crew helper. Our farm crew consists of Farmer Georgie, six, two full- time management positions (Production Manager and Harvest Mgr/Field Crew Assistant), three quarter time Tractor and Field Work Specialist, four full- season, full time field hand/interns, one seasonal, ¾ time irrigation helper, one (and possibly two) part- time harvest crew helpers, and several short- season specialty help crews for special projects like garlic harvest and dry bean weeding. Willowood Farm is a production farm with a strong focus on efficiency, crop diversity, and a superb quality product. We pride ourselves on being one of the leading suppliers of vegetables to the best restaurants in the Pacific Northwest and we do so with consistency and quality. Our time devoted to tasks, follows to an extent, the demands of the season. Our time is mostly divided between production, seeding, transplanting and weeding what our tractors cannot get to. And lots and lots of time spent in harvest and packing as our season progresses and the bounty comes in. This position is split into two primary roles. With, seasonally dependent, approximately half of time spent on Harvest and Pack Shed management and the rest of the time working as a Crew Field Leader assisting the Production Manager to implement daily field crew tasks. We seek an energetic and motivated individual who is not only a smart, tough, resourceful, detail- oriented team player with excellent organizational skills but also has the interest and skills to lead a crew of similar folks in harvest related tasks, and work as assistant field task manager. The ideal applicant will have excellent communication skills, enjoy being in a leadership role, and have strong skills in harvest to set a timely pace for crew and oversee quality control. The ideal person must be highly flexible and adaptive to continually changing harvest needs and demands and be able to quickly make decisions and instruct

2 crew. The Harvest Manager/Field Crew Assistant will work closely with the Production Manager, Farmer Georgie and our Field and Tractor Manager. Application Deadline: January 15, 2016 (or until position is filled) Position Begins: Feb 15, 2016 Compensation: Monthly salary of $1200. In addition free farm housing including all utilities (see below). Also vegetables from farm, and meat and fresh eggs provided from farm when available. Housing and farm food is estimated at an $800 value ($600 for housing and utilities, $200 in food). Farm Housing: The Willowood Farm Production Manager and the Harvest Mgr/Field Crew Assistant will be each given a private room in historic farmhouse on the property. Each room is generously large, with private bathroom including shower/bath. They will share a generous sized kitchen and living room space. The housing is a 2 nd floor apartment over the top of other residents, so a certain respect for quiet and privacy is required. But it is your space, with a (mostly) separate entrance from the main home. Laundry, electricity, garbage, water is included. Internet access is also included (but it is slow, sorry! Rural living.). Position Purpose The primary responsibility of this position is to act in two roles. Harvest Manager position will be a 1x a week and then 2x a week (seasonally dependent) role with occasional additional time toward Packing shed management (i.e. inventory of supplies, walk- in organization). The Harvest Manager will, on harvest days, work closely with Farmer Georgie to direct the crew in the daily harvest needs based on the pick list for the day. (The pick list is generated by Farmer Georgie based upon orders). The Harvest Manager will be expected to oversee and direct the harvest crew of up to 6 people, setting pace and quality control. The Harvest Manager will also be expected to oversee pack shed duties (working closely with Georgie who generally is in Pack Shed during harvest days) and will be expect to cross train to learn order imputing in case needed to fill in on the occasion that Farmer Georgie is absent. The Field Crew Assistant position will be on non- harvest days. Those days your role will be to work closely with the Production Manager as their support person to implement weekly and daily field crew tasks including seeding, transplanting, greenhouse, weeding and pest management. The main field crew consists of up to 7 people in the height of the season. This position reports to the Farmer Georgie when in Harvest Management role, and to the Production Manager when in Crew Field Assistant role. Time Commitment This position is year- round with a preferred two- year minimum commitment. Salary compensation after initial year will be considered anew. This position requires generally 45 to up 50 hours per week, with field days generally running from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an hour break, and harvest days starting at either 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. (season depending), with an hour break, and going til finished! (sometimes a long day).. Work days are Monday through Friday. Winter break is generally four weeks off end of December through January or mid February with an option for an extended winter break.

3 After a 1 month successful performance review, we offer a ¾ day per month worked of paid vacation/sick time. (pay based on salary rate). Essential Job Functions Oversee all harvest tasks on harvest days. Oversee organization and management of Pack Shed. Report weekly to Farmer Georgie regarding status of crops (for purposes of going into fresh sheet) and any harvest and packing shed related field needs. Work with and oversee field crew duty providing training and setting pace with crew as needed. Communicate to George any crew concerns, issues and needs that cannot be dealt with directly by oneself. Communicate with farm managers and Georgie on a daily basis, as well as communicate by cell phone Be willing to cross train in most farm tasks so as to fill in and/or train others as necessary and act as stand- in in case of absences. Have basic knowledge and understanding of small farm tractors and equipment, or willingness to learn, to occasionally fill in with needed tractor field work. Provide education to field crew via your experience in form of daily and weekly explanation and implementation of tasks. Also work with Farmer Georgie on occasional subject specific education experiences and farm tours, as the season allows. Qualifications Minimum: At least 2 year farm experience on market vegetable farm. 1 additional year in any sort of farm work. Desire to lead the work of others. Demonstrated leadership experience in some prior job experience. Current driver s license and good driving record. Preferred: 2 years (full calendar years) experience on market vegetable farm plus1 year assistant management experience on market vegetable farm. Familiarity with organic production systems. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Minimum: Knowledge and skill in all aspects of vegetable harvest, post- harvest handling, and packing. Ability to motivate others to work well under difficult external conditions. Desire to work well and professionally with all kinds of people. Aptitude for good judgment and spur- of- the- moment decision making. Ability to make work fun and a great sense of humor!

4 Excellent verbal communication skills. Ability to multi- task in an organized manner. Ability to balance connecting with the farm crew and the management crew. Ability to organize and maintain a clean and productive work space and work tells as needed for harvest and packing shed. Excellent teaching skills. Attention to detail with the capacity to maintain awareness of the big picture and larger farm goals. Ability to be flexible. Ability and desire to learn Willowood Farm systems and standards and translate those to others. Ability to give and receive positive and negative feedback in a professional manner. Preferred: Knowledge of many other aspects of diversified vegetable farming, including but not limited to nursery work, transplanting, weeding, hoeing, irrigation systems, carpentry, plumbing, tractor operation and mechanics. Application Process To apply, fill out the Harvest Manager /Field Crew Assistant Job Application below and submit along with your current resume and cover letter. Materials may be submitted via to: willowoodfarm@gmail.com Application for Employment 2016 WILLOWOOD FARM PO Box 1258 Coupeville, WA willowoodfarm@gmail.com Please send this application fully completed along with resume to the above ; Today s Date: Full Name: Address: Phone Number(s): Are you 18 years of age or older? Are you eligible to work in the United States? 1. Which position(s) are you applying for? 2. Where did you hear about possible employment opportunities at our farm?

5 3. Why do you want to work at Willowood Farm? 4. What would be your ideal start date? End date? 5. What do you consider to be your biggest achievements so far? 6. Do you have any health conditions (reoccurring injuries, recent accidents, etc.) that would prevent you from doing strenuous physical labor? a) Are you able to work kneeling for up to four hours at a time? b) Are you able to bend over repeatedly throughout the day? c) Are you able to lift up to 50lbs? 7. Do you have experience working in the Northwest? If not, are you prepared to work in windy, cold, wet weather? Please explain. 8. Why do you want to be a manager? 9. What do you foresee being your biggest challenge while managing a large crew? 10. Do you have reliable transportation and a current driver s license? 11. Please list contact info for three professional references: Business Name: Supervisor s Name City, ST: Phone: Begin & End Dates: Job Title: Why Left: Business Name: Supervisor s Name City, ST: Phone: Begin & End Dates: Job Title: Why Left: Business Name: Supervisor s Name City, ST: Phone: Begin & End Dates: Job Title: Why Left: 12. Put a + by your top 2 favorite jobs and a - next to your two least favorite jobs. Harvest Production (transplanting, hoeing, hand- weeding, etc.)

6 Irrigation Greenhouse/ Plant Starts Washing/Packing Other (please specify: ) 13. Please include additional information (skills, aptitudes, interests, hobbies etc.) that would be useful to know as we consider your potential employment. I attest that the information I have provided above is complete and true to the best of my knowledge Applicant s Signature Date