Production Manager - Reed's Farm : Job Details

A Meaningful Purpose at Reed's Farm - Vegetable Production Manager Job Posting

A Meaningful Purpose at Reed's Farm was founded in 2019 as a non-profit regenerative farm located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. Our location is uniquely suited for our mission, which is to become a hub where connection to nature, educational resources and access to organic, healthy food are available to all. From our market and kitchen to our vegetable and animal fields, we work with underserved community members through job exploration and workforce development with a focus on neurodivergent community members. We are also actively collaborating with other nonprofits to build a healthier local food system focusing on nearby Atlantic City.

We are seeking a Vegetable Production Manager starting in the first quarter of 2025. This person will be an integral part of our full-time farm staff and coordinate all aspects of vegetable production outdoors and indoors. The ideal candidate will bring a passion for efficiently producing the highest quality vegetables in an ecological growing system with standards meeting and exceeding organic certification.

General Description of the Position: The Vegetable Production Manager will oversee all aspects of vegetable farming for a dynamic multi-market production schedule including produce boxes, bulk contract production, farmers' markets, an on-site prepared foods kitchen, as well as restaurants. This position is primarily field-based while leading all aspects of production, directing a vegetable farm crew, and building new production areas as needed. Non-field based work includes detailed record keeping, crop planning, and working with organization staff on marketing. A commitment to generating high quality produce in quantity is required. This position will be required to adhere to pre-existing human scale, bio-intensive, and highly diverse production techniques year round in outdoor market gardens, high tunnels, and heated greenhouses. A desire to grow production to the scale of alley cropping for certain crops is also on the horizon. This position will report to the Farm Director and will also be supported by the vegetable farm crew. This is a full-time, year-round position with a primary focus on field work and a secondary focus on office work for planning, purchasing, and record keeping.

Required Qualifications:

• At least five years of vegetable farming experience, including at least one year in a farm manager or assistant farm manager position
• Experience with no and low-till vegetable production systems including silage tarping, broadforking, cover cropping, and other modern market garden tools
• Experience with season extension, high tunnel and/or greenhouse production systems, and year round growing
• Commitment to organic, regenerative, and innovative agricultural practices
• Crop planning experience and basic computer skills, including Google suite and Excel
• Must be capable of meeting the physical demands of the job, including: occasional lifting of heavy objects; working outside in all seasons; strenuous physical labor
• Valid driver's license required for operation of farm vehicles
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Strong work ethic and positive attitude; able to keep up morale throughout long days of physical, repetitive work in all weather conditions
• Excellent attention to detail; able to maintain high quality standards and follow food safety protocols while working quickly and efficiently
• Comfortable working both individually and on a team
• Flexible; able to adapt to shifting priorities and conditions and help out where needed
• Able to take direction, learn quickly, ask for help and clarity as needed, and accept and act on constructive feedback

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in agroecology, sustainable agriculture, biology, environmental science, or a related field
• Experience operating walk-behind and/or 25+hp tractors
• Experience with wire weeders, stirrup hoes, wheel hoes, Jang-style (or similar) seeders
• Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)
• Ability to drive a manual transmission

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintaining detailed harvest records in a timely manner
• Collaborating with Farm Director and Finance Director to build budgets and maintain financial records; plan for and purchase supplies
• Ensuring all tools are cared for, cleaned and put in the proper place after each use
• Collaborating with Farm Director for all seasonal planning
• Training and management of all vegetable crew positions (approximately 3-5 people)
• Propagation: seeding/direct sow/transplant management
• Collaborate with Farm Director to create and carry out an annual crop plan, including greenhouse production, tillage, field prep, fertilization, transplanting, direct seeding, irrigation, weed control, and pest & disease management
• Collaborate with the Farm Director to order seeds & fulfill seasonal seeding charts to ensure proper planting and harvesting time
• Utilize best practices for soil health improvement: planning cover crops, minimizing tillage, and appropriately amending soils based on soil test results
• Field preparations, cultivation, seasonal prep, cover cropping implementation, ensuring transplants occur on time, pest control, weed control, nutrient management, pruning, and plant health management from transplant to harvest.
• Working with other organizational staff and outside outlets for product marketing and distribution.

Compensation and Benefits:

• $55-70k depending on experience
• Paid vacation and sick time, full healthcare benefits after three months
• Free produce from the farm and discounts on products in the farm market

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected]