Description
Fundamental Objective:
The Farm Supervisor's primary function is to maximize efficiency in the overall farming operations of the organization. This fast-paced position is responsible for the intricate strategic planning of all cultural, irrigation, and equipment operations. This position is critical to the overall success of the company as it requires a high degree of planning and analyzing. The Farm Supervisor will play a vital role in ensuring that each operation has skilled and knowledgeable personnel and equipment to meet company standards in order to maintain the quality of operations and to decrease repair & maintenance. This position will work closely with leadership of company-related-entities to coordinate, plan, and direct all farm operations (irrigation, cultural and equipment) in their designated units. The farm supervisor is a key member of the farm leadership team and will participate in the management of farming expenditures. It is important to understand farm budgets, AP, P&L, and working capital budgets. Additionally, this position acts as a technical advisor on all operational issues and assists the management/leadership team with employee development and operational budgets.
Essential Functions:
Farming Operation Responsibilities: Prioritizing and overseeing all day-to-day irrigation and cultural activities on their designated unit, this includes but is not limited to delegating and coordinating daily work activities with farm crew leads and the irrigation employees who work in those units.
- Monitor and ensure timeliness and accuracy of activities such as irrigation, fertilization, and chemical application to ensure adherence to safety regulations or standards; and to report issues when they are found.
- Responsible for the proper calibration and amendment of the irrigation water along with reporting these functions as directed by management (Sulfur/Gypsum).
- Implement water schedules as directed by the Farm Manager. Must have a basic understanding of irrigation, irrigation scheduling, irrigation water districts and orders, irrigation systems and their functions along with the ability to recognize when adjustments need to be made.
- Responsible for the monitoring and collection of irrigation flow meter changes and responsible for the timely and accurate reporting of this data as directed by management.
- Confer with managers to evaluate weather or soil conditions, to develop plans or procedures, or to discuss issues such as changes in fertilizers, herbicides, irrigation, or cultural techniques.
Cultural/Orchard Equipment Operations: Practices traditional agricultural methods to enhance crop productivity through conserving water and soil to improve crop health/ productivity by reducing weeds, pests and diseases.
- Directs, non-spray, shaker, and pick up, equipment operations and general labor work as determined by the time of season including but not limited to mowing, orchard floating, schmeising/plowing, tree removal, soil amendment spreading, winter sanitation operations, mowing, sweeping, almond harvesting and various equipment operation duties in both almond and pistachio orchards.
- Manages the cultural production operations, including, but not limited to pruning, tying, poling, shredding, hedging, replants, and gopher, squirrel, and crow control.
- Assist Farm Management with the coordination of all chemical field sprays with the primary focus on timely applications, tree health, and safety.
- On a routine basis will assist and organize data collection with respect to their farm unit and/or as requested by farm managers.
- Makes inventory farm or ranch equipment and inspect for proper function and ensure quality assurance of equipment operations; and make requisitions as needed.
- Confers with farm crew leads when there are changes in wind, temperature, or environmental changes that could affect tree health or crop; or to develop plans or procedures, such as changes in fertilizers, irrigation, or cultural techniques.
- Collaborates with equipment and labor crews to demonstrates or explains working techniques, practices, or safety regulations.
- Follow and communicate cultural budgets; and approve all timecards and material invoices for designated farm.
- Develop relationships with staff from different departments and outside suppliers to meet customers expectations.
- Work with farm managers and other Company departments to estimate labor requirements for jobs and to plan work schedules accordingly to request or purchase supplies, tools, or equipment; or to report farm conditions, crop yields, machinery breakdown, labor problems, or employee issues.
- Works with Farm Manager and Equipment Supervisor to schedule equipment operations for the assigned unit.
- Makes sure all farm crew leads have and follow the current daily work schedule as needed.
- Verifies and acknowledges that all work reports being submitted by the crew lead are accurate.
- ability to calibrate or learn to calibrate orchard sprayers and/or herbicide sprayers
- ability to setup and operate Farm equipment; including almond harvest equipment
- ability to train others to set up and operate orchard equipment. Including almond harvest equipment.
- Helps with forecasting movements of equipment and crews to aid with scheduling; and works with crew leads to direct and coordinate the safe travel of working crews and movement of equipment as needed.
- Ensures quality assurance of all equipment operations and their performance in ones unit.
- Oversees daily inspection sheets are done on a regular basis to comply with company safety standards and policies.
- Reports all repairs and maintenance for equipment with the shop to ensure equipment is properly functioning when needed. Is in regular communication with shop maintenance personnel regarding equipment daily service locations, repairs and equipment availability.
- Responsible for having all adequate OSHA provisions and are sufficient for working crew, such as water, ice, restrooms, shades and rest areas, eye washing stations (when needed), etc.
- Collaborates with the Fleet/Warehouse Supervisor to ensure that all personal protective equipment (PPE) is available and complies with OSHA standards.
- Identifies and reports unsafe equipment, or environmental conditions when they are found, and stops the job when hazardous conditions are identified.
- Maintain assigned geographic area aesthetically pleasing and in a safe and organized manner.
- Ensure all operations, including those related to other companies and outside vendors, are done correctly to Company standards.
- Carry out assigned duties, including coordinating and assisting with harvest as needed.
- May perform agricultural duties as subordinates when necessary.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Effectively communicate regularly on changes with direct manager and customers about the schedule as it changes.
- Responsible for assigning daily work orders to Foremen via electronic format; and for approving time also electronically, as needed.
- Develop and maintain effective communications between Management, outside resource agencies, and any other individuals that affect equipment operations on the farm.
- Monitors and tracks equipment operations and inventory daily by job site, equipment type and use.
- Keeps records of work activities including, acres done per day, rates being sprayed, and incidents that occur daily under their managed area.
- Ensures that safety standards, company policies, and state and federal regulatory procedures are followed by each crew foremen in the department.
- Works with Farm Manager to determine work schedules, and rest & meal periods for the entire division.
- Assist in the hiring, training, and supervision of Company or contract labor workers assuring the day-to-day activities of the managed operation are carried out successfully.
- Serve as a mentor and coach to Company employees and outside labor crews to improve overall employee job knowledge and work performance.
- Exercise discretion and independent judgment throughout the course of the day in prioritizing the activities of the farm and the employees.
- Enforce company safety rules and policies.
- Observe workers to detect inefficient or unsafe work procedures or to identify problems, initiating corrective action as necessary.
- Responsible for requesting safety training as needed, and to ensure that all current employees (including new hires) have the correct safety training needed for each job.
- Communicate and report employee problems and discipline issues; as well as request crew staffing needs to the Farm Manager or the Company's human resources department.
- Take immediate action in resolving and addressing employee issues or complaints, including time corrections.
- Ensure the successful implementation of the Company's processes as they relate to their managed area, such as agronomic support, billing and cost management, procurement of ranch parts, PPE and time keeping.
- Collaborate as needed with Farming Manger and/or Human Resources on the development, implementation, and maintenance of employee policies as they relate to hiring, performance evaluations, wage adjustments, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
- Report all incidents involving people and equipment quickly to the safety department and to the overseeing manager; including time, date, location, and a brief description of the incident details and take photos as appropriate.
- Plays a key role in yearly harvest operations and will perform special projects and other duties as assigned throughout the year.
Requirements
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Ability to efficiently communicate with business partners, supervisors/managers, peers, or subordinates in verbal or written form.
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, and/or approaches to problems.
- Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction; with the ability to foster accountability, good communication, and excellence in employees.
- Superior organizational and project management skills and experience leading and managing people.
Education:
- High school graduate or equivalent or five years progressively responsible experience in field supervision. An associate or bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred.
Minimum Qualifications & Work Experience:
- Must be Bilingual and fluent (read, write, and speak) in both English and Spanish with the ability to interpret.
- Qualified Applicators Certification (QAL) is highly encouraged.
- Valid California driver's license and motor vehicle record acceptable according to Company auto insurance carrier's guidelines.
- Ability to make presentations to groups using PowerPoint, Excel, and Word software programs.
- Basic understanding and work experience with budgets, farm costing, P&L and working capital.
- Ability to learn and understand job requirements and work under minimal supervision after initial training.
- Ability to develop specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work.
- Ability to maintain up-to-date knowledge of all federal and state laws and regulations as they relate to the job.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of Company information.
- Ability to regularly travel to the various ranch locations, and to safely operate motor vehicles and basic farm equipment.
- Must be able to work around bees without having an allergic reaction if stung.
Physical Demands & Environmental Conditions:
- Position works both in an office environment and outside in field locations. General office environment is generally sedentary but may require standing and walking for up to 10% of the time; the working environment is generally favorable. The outside field locations will require standing and walking for up to 80% of the time. Field work may include exposure to dirty, dusty conditions with exposure to temperature extremes, chemicals and airborne particles or fumes or work near moving machinery with exposure to potentially loud noise.
- Physical demands: while performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms and to use hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials. The employee occasionally is required to stand; walk; and use hands to finger motion to handle, feel, grip or operate objects, tools, or controls; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and to use foot control movement to operate company machinery and vehicles including tractors, farm equipment, or off road vehicles (ATV). Position requires the operation of a vehicle which may require extended periods of sitting.
- Repetitive motions: making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
- Lifting demands: ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or a 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
- Speaking: Express or exchange of ideas by means of the spoken word; including those activities where there should be detailed instructions of importance that must be communicated to workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
- Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and making fine discriminations in sound.
- Vision: The ability to see details at a distance and to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Olfactory sense: The ability to detect odors that affect work related situations, such as fumes, fumigation, and other dangerous odors.