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Farm Operations Senior Lead
Bonton FarmsUnited Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 18 Aug 2026
💰 $50,000/yr($44,000/yr – $50,000/yr)
About the role
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
- Wellness resources
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
Farm Operations Sr. Lead
Overview of Role:
The Senior Farm Lead are working leaders who execute Bonton Farms’ daily production plans and uphold quality, safety, and training standards. The Senior Farm Lead owns a site or major function (e.g., greenhouse/propagation, field production, or post-harvest/wash-pack), mentors Farm Leads, and acts as site lead when the Farm Manager is off-site.
Primary Responsibilities:
The Farm Operations Lead will evaluate, plan, organize, and oversee all aspects of farming, harvesting, and livestock operations. Additionally, they will play a key role in financial management, budgeting, and operational development.
Daily Operations
• Execute work plans: bed prep, seeding/transplanting, irrigation, cultivation, trellising, scouting, harvesting, wash/pack, and cold chain.
• Set up crews, assign tasks, monitor pace/quality, and adjust for weather and priorities; maintain clean, organized work areas.
• Senior level adds: Convert seasonal/weekly plans into daily schedules; rebalance labor across crews/sites; lead complex operations (propagation calendars, irrigation scheduling, IPM thresholds, harvest planning, pack-line flow).
Quality, Safety & Compliance
• Enforce produce safety/GAP SOPs (sanitation, lot tracking, temperature logs, FIFO); ensure PPE use and safe equipment operation.
• Conduct toolbox talks and routine safety observations; document and correct issues promptly.
• Senior level adds: Prepare areas and documentation for audits/inspections; lead corrective actions and coach Leads on compliance.
People Leadership & Coaching
• Provide task direction and on-the-job coaching to crew members, apprentices, and volunteers; model respectful, trauma-informed communication.
• Escalate performance/safety concerns to the Farm Manager with timely documentation.
• Senior level adds: Mentor Farm Leads; run start-of-shift huddles and end-of-day debriefs; provide input to 30–60–90 reviews.
Apprenticeship Program & People Program Partnership
• Deliver structured OJT using competency checklists and approved lesson plans; rotate apprentices to meet learning objectives.
• Record attendance, competency sign-offs, and incident/recognition notes in HRIS/LMS; coordinate with the People Program to address barriers (transportation, accommodations, readiness).
• Senior level adds: Validate competencies, recommend milestone wage progressions, participate in interviews/orientation, and co-facilitate micro-trainings (soft skills, job readiness).
Coordination & Communication
• Communicate status, issues, and supply needs; align harvest specs and delivery timing with Restaurant and Grocery Connect.
• Senior level adds: Manage inventory for seeds, amendments, packaging, sanitation, and PPE; submit timely reorders.
Equipment & Facilities
• Perform basic preventive maintenance; ensure tool accountability and safe storage.
• Senior level adds: Coordinate repairs and service with the Farm Manager/vendors; maintain maintenance logs.
Data & Reporting
• Maintain accurate daily logs (planting, inputs, harvest weights, culls/waste, labor hours, sanitation/temperature).
• Senior level adds: Produce weekly site/function summaries (yield vs. plan, quality holds, downtime, safety observations).
Other
• Support tours, classes, and volunteer events to provide safe, productive experiences.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Perform farming duties as needed, including fieldwork, equipment operation, planting, and animal care.
Qualifications & Requirements
Required Skills & Experience
• Farm Lead (Level I): 2+ years hands-on experience in diversified vegetable/specialty crop or urban farm production; prior crew direction preferred.
• Senior Farm Lead (Level II): 3–5 years hands-on experience; 1+ year in a lead role; proficiency in at least three areas (propagation/greenhouse, irrigation design/scheduling, IPM scouting/response, harvest leadership, post-harvest/wash–pack management).
• Strong knowledge of crop production, livestock management, irrigation systems, and sustainable farming practices.
• Experience with farm budgeting, financial planning, and record-keeping.
• Ability to operate and maintain farm machinery, tools, and equipment.
• Prior leadership experience
Overview of Role:
The Senior Farm Lead are working leaders who execute Bonton Farms’ daily production plans and uphold quality, safety, and training standards. The Senior Farm Lead owns a site or major function (e.g., greenhouse/propagation, field production, or post-harvest/wash-pack), mentors Farm Leads, and acts as site lead when the Farm Manager is off-site.
Primary Responsibilities:
The Farm Operations Lead will evaluate, plan, organize, and oversee all aspects of farming, harvesting, and livestock operations. Additionally, they will play a key role in financial management, budgeting, and operational development.
Daily Operations
• Execute work plans: bed prep, seeding/transplanting, irrigation, cultivation, trellising, scouting, harvesting, wash/pack, and cold chain.
• Set up crews, assign tasks, monitor pace/quality, and adjust for weather and priorities; maintain clean, organized work areas.
• Senior level adds: Convert seasonal/weekly plans into daily schedules; rebalance labor across crews/sites; lead complex operations (propagation calendars, irrigation scheduling, IPM thresholds, harvest planning, pack-line flow).
Quality, Safety & Compliance
• Enforce produce safety/GAP SOPs (sanitation, lot tracking, temperature logs, FIFO); ensure PPE use and safe equipment operation.
• Conduct toolbox talks and routine safety observations; document and correct issues promptly.
• Senior level adds: Prepare areas and documentation for audits/inspections; lead corrective actions and coach Leads on compliance.
People Leadership & Coaching
• Provide task direction and on-the-job coaching to crew members, apprentices, and volunteers; model respectful, trauma-informed communication.
• Escalate performance/safety concerns to the Farm Manager with timely documentation.
• Senior level adds: Mentor Farm Leads; run start-of-shift huddles and end-of-day debriefs; provide input to 30–60–90 reviews.
Apprenticeship Program & People Program Partnership
• Deliver structured OJT using competency checklists and approved lesson plans; rotate apprentices to meet learning objectives.
• Record attendance, competency sign-offs, and incident/recognition notes in HRIS/LMS; coordinate with the People Program to address barriers (transportation, accommodations, readiness).
• Senior level adds: Validate competencies, recommend milestone wage progressions, participate in interviews/orientation, and co-facilitate micro-trainings (soft skills, job readiness).
Coordination & Communication
• Communicate status, issues, and supply needs; align harvest specs and delivery timing with Restaurant and Grocery Connect.
• Senior level adds: Manage inventory for seeds, amendments, packaging, sanitation, and PPE; submit timely reorders.
Equipment & Facilities
• Perform basic preventive maintenance; ensure tool accountability and safe storage.
• Senior level adds: Coordinate repairs and service with the Farm Manager/vendors; maintain maintenance logs.
Data & Reporting
• Maintain accurate daily logs (planting, inputs, harvest weights, culls/waste, labor hours, sanitation/temperature).
• Senior level adds: Produce weekly site/function summaries (yield vs. plan, quality holds, downtime, safety observations).
Other
• Support tours, classes, and volunteer events to provide safe, productive experiences.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Perform farming duties as needed, including fieldwork, equipment operation, planting, and animal care.
Qualifications & Requirements
Required Skills & Experience
• Farm Lead (Level I): 2+ years hands-on experience in diversified vegetable/specialty crop or urban farm production; prior crew direction preferred.
• Senior Farm Lead (Level II): 3–5 years hands-on experience; 1+ year in a lead role; proficiency in at least three areas (propagation/greenhouse, irrigation design/scheduling, IPM scouting/response, harvest leadership, post-harvest/wash–pack management).
• Strong knowledge of crop production, livestock management, irrigation systems, and sustainable farming practices.
• Experience with farm budgeting, financial planning, and record-keeping.
• Ability to operate and maintain farm machinery, tools, and equipment.
• Prior leadership experience
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