Hiring: Farm Manager – Waltham Fields Community Farm

Job Opportunity: Farm Manager

Waltham Fields Community Farm

2022 Employment Announcement: Farm Manager

Waltham Fields Community Farm (WFCF) was founded in 1995 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission of hunger relief, education, and farm preservation. WFCF cultivates sustainable and equitable relationships between people, their food supply, and the land from which it grows. We envision communities with equitable access to the beauty, sanctuary, and food of local, sustainable farms. To learn more about the farm, including our programs, history, news, and more, please see here.

WFCF seeks a highly motivated individual with prior farm management experience and leadership skills to join its mission-driven team as Farm Manager. The Farm Manager will lead agricultural operations, supervise field staff, provide a supportive work environment, and ensure agricultural programs achieve financial goals and provide quality services to the community.

This is an opportunity for an experienced farm manager to transition into a leadership role at an established nonprofit agricultural organization, and work within a supportive environment enhanced by passionate co-workers, a committed Board of Directors, and dedicated community of members. WFCF has planned a conscientious transition and will execute the onboarding of a new Farm Manager supported by several months of collaboration and training with the current Farm Manager.

Position Overview

The Farm Manager takes the primary responsibility for coordinating the agricultural operations of WFCF, including leadership in sustainable food production with a commitment to regenerative agriculture, food access, education, community, and our environment with direct supervision of the Assistant Farm Manager, Assistant Grower(s), Community Outreach Farmer, and Field Crew. This position reports to the Executive Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Create yearly crop plan, fertility plans, pest and disease management plans, cultivation and weed control plans and capital budget
• Maintain records regarding pesticide and fertilizer applications
• Manage all aspects of farm safety and place a high priority on worker safety
• Maintain wash station and harvest standards that comply with Food Safety regulations
• Maintain the physical upkeep of WFCF’s equipment and infrastructure
• Manage a sanitary and pest- and disease-free greenhouse for farm and plant sale seedling production
• Create projection for season’s harvest and daily harvest lists, ensuring adequate record-keeping and value-tracking
• Implement irrigation strategies that reduce water consumption and waste
• Create plans for provision of Summer and Extended Season CSA shares that both reflect the values of the organization and create value for shareholders.  Coordinate the purchase of supplemental crops with partner farms for inclusion in share distribution
• Maintain clear communication with the CSA Distribution Manager throughout the growing season in regards to CSA share, PYO crops, PYO Flower Share, and other pertinent shareholder information
• Collaborate with the Community Outreach Farmer on integration of volunteers into farm production and creation of a safe and productive experience
• Create a plan for meeting goals of all food access initiatives, including Produce Prescription CSA shares, Mobile Outreach Market, farm-to-school partnerships, and bulk donations.
• Work with our Community Outreach Farmer to develop volunteer opportunities as well as plan for and execute the Produce Prescription Program and Mobile Outreach Market
• Oversee WFCF’s farmer training at WFCF, ensuring that the Assistant Grower receives high quality on-farm training in the basics of organic crop production and management of an organic farm within the nonprofit context
• Strategic planning for farm operations, with a focus on sustainable land management and soil health
• Communicate with the Board of Directors through monthly written updates and meetings as needed for planning
• Create an annual budget for agricultural programs and work with the Executive Director to refine and present a final agricultural budget to WFCF’s Finance Committee

Qualifications & Competencies

• Commitment to the mission of WFCF, a working understanding of the complex factors surrounding sustainable agriculture, food access, food insecurity, and food justice, and a high value for the dignity of the community we serve
• Awareness of the ways that race and other identities intersect with WFCF’s mission, programs, and operations, and racial inequities within the local food system and present-day implications
• Minimum 3 years of organic farm management on a comparable scale to WFCF and strong background in sustainable crop production, program management, competent staff supervision, team leadership, and working within a nonprofit
• Multiple years of experience of safe equipment operation, including tractors, skid steers, on-road vehicles, and hand tools; experience in teaching equipment safety
• Required certifications for Food Safety (Produce Safety Alliance), Workplace Safety Training (Worker Protection Standards), and Pesticide Applicator Safety Training
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a clean, productive, and disease-free greenhouse
• Experienced distribution stream management
• Experienced budget management and management of financial resources, reporting and data collection
• Efficiency using Quickbooks, MS Office, G-Suite, and ability to learn and navigate WFCF’s CRM
• Ability to engage coworkers and various community members as an emotionally intelligent leader, equipping employees with resources to fulfill their roles effectively, creating development opportunities to help employees grow, enlisting support from others, building quality relationships, valuing listening over talking, extending gratitude, and deepening your own sense of self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness
• Holding self to high level of responsibility and accountability; a self-starter
• Ability to set and adjust to shifting priorities while maintaining clear communication
• Active learner, critical thinker, and strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Outstanding organizational and communication skills, strong writing skills for newsletters and marketing collateral
• Experience and ease with conducting group meetings, tours, workshops, and public speaking
• A passion for local food, farming and the environment…and, a great sense of humor, we rely on it!
• A valid driver’s license
• Must be able to lift at least 50 lb.
• Willingness to work weekends and evenings depending on programming and organizational needs
• Spanish language proficiency is a plus

Work Schedule: This is a full-time, exempt (salaried) annual position, with specific hours per week varying according to farm and organizational needs. Generally, the position will average 40 hours per week over the course of the year, and will respond to seasonal production and staffing needs in a schedule set by these guidelines:

January-February: average of 24-32 hrs/week

March-April: 40 hrs/week

May-October: 50 hrs/week

November: 32 hrs/week, including Extended Season CSA distribution

December: average of 24 hrs/wk

Compensation: The salary for this position ranges from $55,000-$60,000 annually, with exact salary depending on experience. The Farm Manager is an exempt (salaried), full-time, at-will employee of our nonprofit organization, Community Farms Outreach, Inc., officially doing business as Waltham Fields Community Farm.

Benefits: WFCF provides a supportive benefits package that includes 20 days paid vacation, 5 days paid sickness/health leave, 14 paid holidays, and 3 personal days; subsidized medical and dental benefits, retirement benefits, cell phone and professional development stipends, 20% discount at WFCF’s barn store, fresh farm food (the equivalent of the following CSA Shares: 20-week Summer + 10-week Flower + 3 Extended Season).

Note: WFCF requires adherence to COVID-19 precautions and protocols, in accordance with guidance provided by the CDC, and Massachusetts and local health departments. As of 1/1/2022, employees are required to wear properly fitting masks in all indoor spaces, including the administrative building and offices, barn, greenhouses, Learning Garden cottage, and in shared vehicles during the work day. WFCF has instituted precautions to protect our employees and our community and expect the same care in return.

To Apply:  Please send a resume & letter of interest explaining why you are our ideal candidate to WFCF’s Executive Director, Stacey Daley, at Stacey@communityfarms.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Anticipated Start Date: February 2022

Waltham Fields Community Farm is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity, pregnancy or medical or common conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, marital status, disability, age, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information, receipt of free medical care, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. Waltham Fields Community Farm will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.