Assistant Station Manager

Assistant Station Manager

Based in Felda, Florida, USA

Your job at Rijk Zwaan

As Assistant Station Manager, you play an essential role in research and development in our North America operations. Additionally, you will assist the station management to ensure that all team members are productive, performing, and executing their work in an efficient manner, in accordance with company policies. You will create an optimal environment for the execution of breeding and commercial trials.

Where will you be working?

Rijk Zwaan is an international family-owned company with a people-oriented culture. Rijk Zwaan is right at the start of the food chain. We develop vegetable varieties and sell the seeds produced from them globally. We take great pride in contributing to the health and well-being of people all over the world. Rijk Zwaan currently employs over 4,000 people globally in over 30 countries. Our most important focus is the growth of our people: we give you every opportunity to use your own initiative and achieve your full potential. Working with colleagues to produce the best and tastiest vegetables. We continuously strive to work together towards a healthy future.

Rijk Zwaan USA with headquarters in Salinas, California is one of the subsidiaries from where we support commercial-related activities in all of North America. The position of assistant station manager is based on our research farm in Felda, Florida.

Your contribution:

• Perform all activities as directed by Station Manager for quality crop maintenance of specific seed crops assigned to the site. To include proper ground selection, isolation, soil testing, soil preparation, spraying, planting, rouging and harvesting.
• Assist Station Manager with yearly budgeting and 5-year planning for the location, as well as recommend capital investments required.
• Assist Station Manager as directed with all aspects of facility maintenance including building, farm equipment, and farm irrigation ditches, drains, and roads. 
• Ensure that all operational farming activities are performed in a timely adequate manner to include those assigned to seasonal crews.
• Maintain farm operations records of each plot on agreed upon forms/spreadsheets or within systems and provide detailed information to Breeding Departments, Crop Specialists, Product Development Specialists, and Trial Coordinators according to the schedule for crop reporting.
• Provide crop performance updates as required to the Breeding Department and Station Manager.
• Evaluate, develop new farm equipment practices that increase the efficiency of operation.
• Gather initiatives and contribute to drafting proposals for process optimization. Determine priorities in consultation with the Station Manager and co-ordinate implementation
• Be responsible for a clean and organized working environment (shop floor) that complies with internal guidelines as well as laws and regulations, and thus contribute to the safety of both employees and the cultivation process
• Be responsible for the quality standards to be met in the execution of the crop maintenance activities
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Station Manager.

In addition, the ideal candidate would possess the following qualities and credentials:

• College degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture, or related Agriculture field is preferred, and/or a minimum of 5 years’ experience in Agriculture Farming. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to supervise workers
• Pro-activity and self-motivation
• Hands-on
• Team player
• Proficiency in organization, planning, and solving problems
• Integrity
• Basic computer skills (Microsoft products), Excel, Word, Outlook. Data entry of field information and timely reporting of information to the breeding department and commercial teams
• Relevant knowledge about modern horticultural technology and crop protection
• Ability to operate farm machinery, i.e., tractors, ground working equipment, cultivators, sprayers, and other farm equipment as required, during crop maintenance season. 
• Ability to run and maintain irrigation systems and drip tape filter systems.
• Perform building and equipment maintenance during the season to ensure that all facilities/equipment are in working order. 
• Ability to regularly lift /move 50 pounds and work in field conditions, including heat, dust, cold, and wind.
• Ability to work extended hours during the season as required.
• Florida State Commercial Pesticide Applicator License required.
• Florida State Driver’s License required.
• USA Passport required

What can you expect from us?

As an assistant station manager, you will be part of the North America team responsible for contributing to Rijk Zwaan’s research and development. Besides an enjoyable job involving contact with colleagues from various departments and countries, we can offer you:

• Various training courses through our very own Rijk Zwaan Academy
• The freedom to take initiative and work on your own development
• A team-oriented working atmosphere
• Good work and life balance

Excellent full benefits

Health, Dental, Long-Term Disability, Employer Funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), Family Fitness Benefit, and an exceptional 401k Matching Program.

Interested?

Let us work together for the vegetables of tomorrow! You can address your cover letter to Rick Falconer, Manager Breeding and Production Operations.

Our human resources department will consider your application carefully, which may take some time. You will hear from us as soon as possible. An assessment will be part of the procedure.

Rijk Zwaan USA starting base salary ranges are determined by location, role, and level and reflect a minimum and maximum target for new hires for this position across all of our US locations. Within the base salary range, an employee’s pay is determined by work location and other factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter or hiring manager can share more about the specific salary range for the position and required work location(s) during the hiring process.

For position inquiries contact HR-USA@rijkzwaan.com