Farm Manager

Shelburne, VT

Our farm is looking to fill a long-term, salaried, key full-time position. In a nutshell, business is booming (multiple product lines, customers in 40 states and counting, and teed up to launch both an ancillary business and a new product line and brand within the current business). However, the founders are getting pulled in too many directions, and we need new blood to assume much of the day-to-day farming management currently covered by said owners so they can focus on bringing all these opportunities to fruition.

We are dedicating 8-10 months to finding the right person to work in concert with our existing farm staff, with a start date of early spring 2021. So you don’t need to be ready for a start next week.

Primary skills needed:

• Understanding land management

• Knowledge of how to maximize results for what we grow:

  • Blueberries

  • Blackberries

  • Raspberries

  • Wine grapes

  • Aronia berry

  • Elderberry

  • Gooseberry

  • Peppermint

• Planning the consistently efficient usage of our personnel and equipment on a day to day, week to week, month to month basis.

Basically, we are looking for someone high in executive function and leadership skills, with a thirst for responsibility. Key attributes highly prized and appreciated by the owners are clear communication skills (oral and written), off-the-charts work ethic, and fast moving. The owners do not appreciate whining, complaining, or Monday morning quarterbacking. We’ve had a snoot full of advisors, experts, and state and local officials telling us we don’t know what we are doing, this isn’t the way things are done, etc., so if this is your MO, this position isn’t for you. Constructive, open criticism accompanied by proposed solutions is more our line, both upstream and downstream: we maintain a very horizontal management structure.

Finally, if you are young, full of ambition and energy, excited about ag as a start-up business, willing to work hard and take risks, but lacking in direct pertinent experience, don’t hesitate to apply. Between them, the owners total over 100 years, and it is good for us to have lots of young minds around. One of our key team members is 23 and had no qualifying experience for what she does now; our Boston lead is 22. And if you are great, are offered (and accept) the position, and turn out to be even more valuable than we already think you are, you will also earn an ownership position in the company. What’s not to like?