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There is NO closing date on this position.  This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

QUALIFICATIONS:

- Seasoned Orchard Management Background with Executive Management Experience
- Strong financial background
- Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to manage diverse stakeholders
- Self-motivated, independent, and proactive in taking initiative
- Exceptional communication and problem-solving skills
- Familiarity with federal and state regulations governing permanent cropping operations
- Ability to adapt and remain optimistic in the face of challenges and changes
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills
- Oversee direct reports and coordinates work activities, such as planting, irrigation, chemical application, harvesting, record keeping, etc.
- Oversee soil analysis to determine type and quantity of fertilizer required for maximum production
- Oversee inspection of equipment to ensure proper functioning
- Oversee inspection of fields to determine maturity dates of crops or to estimate potential crop damage
- Oversee the purchases of machinery, equipment, and supplies
- Hiring authority, transfer, and promote workers
- Enforce safety regulations and interpret policies
- Make decisions, solve problems, analyze information, evaluate results
- Organizing, planning, and prioritizing work
- Monitoring and controlling resources and management of material resources

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Hansen Agri-PLACEMENT is searching for a Director of Orchard Operations for this established northeastern US producer. This Director will be responsible for the management and coordination of all phases of all orchard and other permanent crop production operations from planting to harvest, while maximizing premium yield in the most cost effective manner.

OBJECTIVES
- Manage all aspects of Orchard Operations
- Apply advanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices
- Ensure safety regulations and interpret policies
- Coordinate efforts and resources to benefit other LFI divisions
- Maximize revenue of Agritainment venues (PYO, Mazes) by working closely with the Marketing and Sales Team
- Participate in decision making and provide support in corporate matters, including Safety, Community Relations, Corporate Water Supply System and Long Term or Strategic Plans
- Represent the company in industry matters, including participation in outside organizations that directly benefit the company

FUNCTIONS
People:
- Ensure the management of all personnel actions including payroll, hiring, terminating, layoffs, scheduling, training, systematic feedback, annual reviews, promotion, and providing the necessary equipment to fulfill job responsibilities in a timely manner
- Oversee direct reports and coordinate work activities
- Maintain organized staff records
- Fill out H2A job orders

Growing:
- Maximize premium yield in the most cost-effective manner
- Manage critical Orchard jobs such as pruning, planting, tree training, chemical and hand thinning, pest scouting, pest management, spraying, fertilizing, herbicide/weed management, ground maintenance, irrigation, and harvesting
- Manage nutrition and soil health programs: oversee leaf and soil analysis to determine type and quantity of fertilizer required and soil building practices for maximum production and that minimizes erosion
- Implementation of growing and quality standards, achieve Eco-certification each year
- Oversee inspection of fields to determine crop potential prior to season, thinning needs following bloom, crop estimates following crop set, estimate potential crop damage, maturity dates of crops, and harvest specifications that optimize the yield and marketability
- Develop and implement annual storage plans
- Oversee inspection and preventative maintenance/repairs of equipment and buildings to ensure proper functioning
- Oversee the purchases of machinery, equipment, and supplies
- Maintain horticultural and technical knowledge by attending educational and growing tours

Agritainment and Processing/Selling:
- Oversee the Pick Your Own (PYO) operation
- Manage the annual Sunflower and Corn Mazes
- Oversee the Packing and Peeling operations
- Coordinate and maximize the sales of Orchard Fruit and cider and peeled apples
- Maintain wholesale customers and sales programs to move additional fruit and cider
- Oversee inspection and preventative maintenance/repairs of equipment and buildings to ensure proper functioning

Planning:
- Develop Annual Operating and Capital Budgets: monitor progress against these budgets and adjust as needed to stay on plan
- Make decisions, prioritize work, solve problems, analyze information, evaluate results
- Establish goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) with direction from Senior Management that supports overall company objectives
- Identify equipment and process improvements, changes and/or replacements using proper budgetary process to accomplish necessary changes
- Work with consultants to research and implement new agricultural technologies
- Maintain and manage a long-range strategic plan that includes new plantings, block removal schedule, capital investment needs (equipment, buildings, land improvements), marketing and sales projections, forecasted operating costs, and organizational chart with employee assessment and development needs

Record Keeping:
- Daily temperature records: field, storage rooms
- Daily Harvest Records—by fruit, variety, block, and destination
- Pesticide and fertilizer applications
- Food safety records
- Pack-out records
- Sales records
- Complete industry reports and surveys, such as US Apple monthly inventory reports, US Department of Agriculture crop reports, US Department of Labor surveys
- Equipment repairs

Risk Management:
- Manage our Crop Insurance program
- Determine and apply diversification methods: crop mix, sales mix, other sources of revenue

Safety:
- Work Safety—develop a culture that proactively avoids accidents, ensures proper training, and improves the work environment for optimal performance
- Food Safety—ensure a food safety plan and program is current and up to date and that it is being implemented, and that we achieve annual certifications
- Implementation of human and food safety policies and practices with all employees, while meeting all internal company and customers’ quality standards

Coordination between Divisions:
- Trucking
- Event setup support
- Harvest Parking
- Trucking assistance

Corporate:
- Participate in quarterly safety meetings, including but not limited to interfacing with outside safety consultants and employing preventive safety measures
- Responsible for monitoring and providing measures to ensure a safe Company water supply
- Woodland Management

Industry:
- Work closely with: New England Apple Council (Ag Labor), Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, Pomological Society, University Cooperative Extension, and State Agricultural Experiment Station
- Participate in other industry organizations when they benefit our organization

STANDARDS
- Seasoned Orchard Management background with Executive Management Experience
- Strong financial background
- Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, with ability to manage diverse stakeholders
- Self-motivated, independent, and proactive in taking initiative
- Exceptional communication and problem-solving skills
- Familiarity with federal and state regulations governing fruit and vegetable operations
- Ability to adapt and remain optimistic in face of challenges and changes
- Three (3) to five (5) years senior managerial experience
- A. or B.S. degree
- Ability to bend and lift up to fifty (50) pounds
- Hold a valid driver's license

SKILLS
- Leadership
- Communication
- Public speaking
- Organization and planning
- PC literate

BENEFITS:

Health Insurance, Matching 401k

ALL INQUIRIES ARE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. NO FEES TO APPLICANTS.

If you feel that you are not a candidate for this position, but know someone who is, we do offer a Referral Bonus if we place your referral into this position.

To apply please click on APPLY TO THIS POSITION