JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:

Vice President of Orchard Operations

Reports to:

VP-Agronomy, IFC

Department:

PNW Tree Fruit

Supervises:

Regional Director of Orchard Operations, Support Manager, and Director of Innovation

Vision: Deliver a sustainable farm-to-family tree fruit experience.

Mission: We passionately grow and partner with growers to serve high quality fresh fruit to consumers. We improve the lives of our growers, employees, and partners.

Job Summary: The VP of Orchard Operations leads our farming/orchard operations. This position directly manages the Orchard Directors and Managers, Ranch Managers, as well as providing work direction to the Agronomists and Horticulturalists.

Values: Demonstrates behaviors which contribute to the growth and achievement of our mission:

• Integrity
• Excellence
• Innovation
• Collaboration
• Teamwork

Leadership Responsibilities:

· Sets the vision for excellence in orchard operations, defines the metrics by which each orchard will be measured, and holds team accountable for performance.

· Anticipates and plans for orchard needs, including staffing, supplies, and operational strategy for the year.

· Coordinates effort with team to develop orchard operations manual (playbook) that includes key orchard tasks and timing, on a block-level/variety basis.

· Champion for adoption of digital performance accountability and tracking software such as CropTrak and Farm Advisor.

· Serves with Leadership Accountability and is a quality hiring advocate.

· Lives our Mission, Vision, Values.

· Leads team by providing coaching, performance management, and ensuring compliance with laws, accounting practices and requests for information.

· Ensures excellent communication is provided to employees, applicants, managers, and other community members.

· Works with management to understand current and future needs and develops process improvement plans.

· Participates in intra-departmental and inter-departmental efforts for continuous safety, quality, and productivity improvement.

· Designs methods for continuous improvement in the delivery of services by soliciting internal and external feedback, using best practices and organizational goals.

· Provides counsel to management team on policies and practices regarding employment issues.

· Performs strategic planning and directs team to achieve goals and objectives.

· Prepares budgets, develops business plans, identify opportunities for improving budgets.

· Completes leadership development programs and required training.

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

• The primary responsibility is to efficiently manage the multi-site farm operations of the region and ensure excellent customer and vendor satisfaction so that the company can meet the financial goals and objectives.
• Managing farm operations budgeting, forecasting and performance to expectations.
• Collaborating closely with the Chief Financial Officer to review financial performance of the farm operations’ programs to maximize revenue and improve gross profit margins.
• Report and share information with management and corporate executives to ensure they are kept fully informed of regional activities.
• Overseeing soil sampling and fertilizer recommendations. Develop a fertility plan focused on yield and quality.
• Development and execution of pest management strategies.
• Field scouting schedules and directing necessary adjustments to crop management plans.
• Monitoring soil moisture and irrigation schedules, irrigation system application and uniformity.
• Chemical application (coverage and timing).
• Quality Assurance including plant tissue and soil sampling during the growing season for fertility management, test digs to estimate yields, size profile and monitor quality, variety record-keeping and monitoring of bruise-free handling during harvest.

Education & Experience:

· A Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Agronomy, Ag Business, or related agricultural or science-based field of study preferred.

· Master’s degree or MBA highly preferred.

· 10+ years’ experience managing agricultural programs over a large geographic region with multiple crop sites as well as ability to travel up to 50% of work time to manage sites

· Self-directed individual who can take the lead on issues to identify and implement solutions with team input

· Demonstrated strategic management of irrigated crops

· Demonstrated financial management experience and budgeting skills

· Proficient in the use of Windows based computer programs (Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and a general aptitude with software systems. Willing to champion adoption of digital solutions.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

· Drug test & background check required.

Certificates & Licenses:

· Driver's License

· Pest Control Advisor (PCA) License

Equipment/Technology Skills:

· Experience with MS Excel or other analytic platforms required.

· Experience in CropTrak and Farm Advisor preferred.

Physical Requirements/Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

· Comprehension

o Ability to understand, remember, and apply oral and/or written instructions or other information in English.

o Ability to communicate in Spanish is desirable.

· Reasoning and Decision Making

o Ability to work under limited supervision while exercising independent judgment and discretion

o Ability to analyze situations, interpret data and make decisions that have moderate impact on immediate work unit.

o Ability to analyze problems and utilize appropriate resources to solve them.

· Organization

o Ability to organize and prioritize job duties in an effective and timely manner, set priorities and meet critical deadlines.

o Ability to complete tasks and work with frequent interruptions

· Communication

o Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with individuals.

o Ability to speak publicly with strong motivational skills.

· Physical requirements for this position include hearing, seeing, speaking, feeling, reaching, pinching, and repetitive motions.

o This position requires sitting and standing for long periods of time. Walking is required routinely.

o This position requires driving for long periods of time.

o This position requires exerting up to 30 pounds of force to lift, carry, pull, or move objects.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $140,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Wapato, WA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 100% (Preferred)

Work Location: One location

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