Farm Assistant

Description

Position Summary

The Farm Lead oversees daily farming activities in the blueberry and hazelnut farms using best farm practices in a timely manner. This position ensures daily farm activities meet company standards while maintaining employee safety and adhering to food safety regulations. The role is essential to supporting organizational goals and modeling best practices, guided by our values of Excellence, Accountability, Transparency, and Stewardship (EATS).

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists the Farm Supervisor in the execution of work plans in the labor activities and harvesting of blueberries and hazelnuts.
• Coordinates crews in the labor activities of blueberry and hazelnut crops.
• Ensures employees perform work as instructed using proper methods that meet company quality standards.
• Ensures equipment, such as hand tools, gloves, and personal protective equipment, is properly issued, used, and returned.
• Ensures appropriate maintenance of farm assets and equipment.
• Reviews crew sheets and employee timecards for accuracy in a timely manner.
• Attends safety meetings with employees; demonstrates and trains employees to work safely; promotes company safety programs and enforces safety rules and policies.
• Promotes a culture of teamwork within the labor force and compliance with company policies and labor laws.
• Assists Shop Staff to ensure equipment is maintained and kept in working order.
• Assists Farm Supervisor with supervision of frost protection activities on assigned farms.
• Assists Farm Supervisor in recruiting quality crew members who meet or exceed company standards.
• Provides support and promotes safety and food safety policies among the FLC work groups in field and harvest activities.
• Coordinates manual and mechanical harvesting equipment in blueberry and hazelnut crops.
• Assists the Farm Supervisor in daily harvest estimates.
• Assists the Farm Supervisor with daily harvest quality reports in the blueberry and hazelnut fields.
• Communicates and cooperates with other departments (Harvest, Shop, Admin) to achieve maximum efficiency of all operations.
• Assists in other departments as directed by the supervisor.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Lead Responsibilities:

• Delegates and coordinates tasks of team members
• Oversees the daily workflow of the department.
• No direct reports
• Partners with safety to promote a positive safety culture. 

Requirements

  Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and understanding of farming practices related to blueberries and hazelnuts.
• Ability to coordinate various crews on any given day.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations and manage multiple tasks with varying priorities. 
• Ability to fill out and maintain a daily crew worksheet, including equipment tracking. 
• Ability to learn the location of blocks and communicate effectively with growers. 
• Ability to work long hours and weekends during the harvest season. 
• Strong teamwork and communication skills with fellow employees and management. 
• Ability to delegate and coordinate tasks effectively within a team. 
• Ability to focus and complete duties in a timely manner. 
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment. 
• Dependable, trustworthy, and self-driven. 
• Commitment to performing all duties safely and actively promoting the company’s Illness & Injury Prevention Program and farm safety policies. 
• Supports and promotes company and departmental values and goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years of experience working in farming/growing operations.
• 1+ years of supervisory experience.
• Valid driver’s license and driving record acceptable to the Company’s insurance carrier.
• Bilingual verbal and written English/Spanish.