Farm Manager

Job Summary

The Farm Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a large-scale wholesale growing yard.

The candidate will have a strong understanding of ornamental horticultural practices and proven experience managing horticultural production, including propagation, cultivation, pest and soil management, irrigation, fertilization, and production forecasting. The production includes more than 2,000 varieties of trees, shrubs, and plants, ranging from 1-gallon containers to 72-inch specimen trees.

Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain nursery quality standards through systematic plant monitoring, diagnosing, and resolving issues related to fertilizers, irrigation, pests, diseases, and weeds.
• Drive business growth by delivering accurate production forecasts, refining schedules, maximizing plant quality and health, minimizing waste, and ensuring shipment readiness.
• Manage staffing levels, hiring employees as needed, and scheduling work hours to meet operational requirements.
• Ensure that all equipment used in operations, such as forklifts and loaders, is properly maintained and serviced.
• Maintain inventory accuracy, communicate real-time production status to sales and management, achieve revenue, and profit targets, and effectively manage materials, labor, schedules, and costs.
• Verify all sales orders are accurately staged and loaded.
• Provide accurate information on plant availability and production schedules.
• Enforce safety protocols and procedures, including proper equipment use, PPE compliance, and adherence to OSHA guidelines.
• Stay current on pesticide management regulations and ensure all production employees are properly trained and compliant with applicable worker protection standards.

Required Qualifications:

• Ornamental Horticulture experience is required.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a managerial role.
• Strong knowledge of nursery operations, including plant development stages and care requirements.
• Knowledge of different types of plant diseases, fertilizers, chemicals, plant growth regulators (PGRs), herbicides, and plant rotation practices.
• Knowledge of state agricultural regulations, safety standards, and pesticide application compliance
• Ability to operate nursery equipment and machinery.
• Bachelor's degree or A.S. in Horticulture, Agriculture, Plant Science, or related field preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills preferred.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000 – $90,000

Location: Coachella Valley (Mecca, CA)

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Holiday Pay