Job Description:
Mount Adams Fruit, located in White Salmon Washington, in the Mid-Columbia is seeking an Orchard Manager with formal horticultural training and supervisory skills. Company housing is offered as well as 401(k), bonus program and family medical insurance.
Job Function:
The Orchard Superintendent manages all aspects of orchard operations. This position has 3-5 subordinate supervisors who may directly coordinate the job duties of the Superintendent. This position supervises from 70 to 150 people depending on the yearly orchard cycle. The Orchard Superintendent’s main purpose is to cultivate and grow a safe, quality and marketable fruit crop with the highest possible value at the lowest possible cost.
Job Function:
The Orchard Superintendent manages all aspects of orchard operations. This position has 3-5 subordinate supervisors who may directly coordinate the job duties of the Superintendent. This position supervises from 70 to 150 people depending on the yearly orchard cycle. The Orchard Superintendent’s main purpose is to cultivate and grow a safe, quality and marketable fruit crop with the highest possible value at the lowest possible cost.
Compensation/Salary:
DOE
Responsibilities & Duties:
Growing:
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Confer with supervisors to evaluate weather and soil conditions, develop plans and procedures, and to discuss issues such as changes in fertilizers, herbicides, or cultivating, spraying and irrigation techniques.
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Evaluates new and/or replanting activities according to weather patterns, orchard location, tree placement and spacing, rootstock variety, market demand, soil, tree support systems – trellis, and irrigation systems.
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Inspects crops, fields and plant stock to determine conditions and need for cultivating and harvesting and spraying.
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Manages worker training programs for planting, harvesting, weeding and insect identification.
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Assigns duties such as harvesting crops or plants and equipment maintenance to subordinate personnel.
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Investigates new fruit varieties and oversees orchard nursery operations.
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Manages frost abatement program and operations.
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Manages the bee keeping and pollinizing programs.
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Instructs work crews in proper pruning techniques.
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Ensures compliance with Global Gap requirements and supervises the Global Gap coordinator.
Harvesting:
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Works with field representatives to determine the harvest timing of different fruit varieties.
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Delegates harvest crew operations to subordinate supervisors.
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Oversees the equipment management program that directs the adjustment and repair of farm equipment and machinery.
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Supervises employees who drive and operate farm machinery such as trucks, tractors, or self-propelled harvesters in order to transport fruit.
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Analyzes reports regarding farm conditions, crop yields and labor performance.
Spray program:
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Manages the spray supervisor who determines pesticide type to apply, timing of application and analyzes the results. Makes adjustments to the application process when necessary.
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Requisitions and purchase supplies such as insecticides and safety supplies.
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Manages spray supervisor to ensure that EPA requirements and regulations are followed.
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Ensures that the pesticide application program is kept current and accurate.
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Supervises spraying, weeding, or harvesting.
Financial:
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Creates annual farm operation budget reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and company President.
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Monitors orchard financial performance against annual budget and implements plans to correct variances.
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Approves all orchard expenditures for payment.
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Creates contracts for orchard services in coordination with Mt. Adams Orchards Division Manager.
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Analyzes orchard costs and develops corrective action plans.
Human Resources:
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Estimates labor requirements for jobs, and plan work schedules accordingly.
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Oversees the recruiting, hiring and discharging of orchard workers.
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Responsible for orchard safety including L&I reporting, safety meetings, accident reporting, safety training and light duty return to work programs.
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Reviews employees' work to evaluate quality and quantity.
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Contracts with seasonal workers and farmers to provide an adequate workforce to satisfy company labor requirements.
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Investigates grievances and settles disputes to maintain harmony among workers.
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Reviews time and payroll reports, as well as details of personnel actions such as performance evaluations, hires, promotions, and disciplinary actions.
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Oversees subordinate personnel who are tasked with the arrangement of transportation, equipment, and living quarters for seasonal workers.
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Oversees the H2A farmworker visa program in coordination with the General Manager of Mid-Columbia Ag Svs, LLC.
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Oversees building maintenance supervisor for the inspection of facilities to determine maintenance needs.
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Observes workers to detect inefficient and unsafe work procedures or to identify problems, initiating corrective action as necessary.
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Oversees compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), migrant and seasonal worker protection act (MSPA) and other state and federal employment laws.
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Provides sufficient resources and direction to subordinate personnel to successfully carry out work duties.
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Coaches, mentors and instructs subordinate orchard crew bosses, leads and supervisors in horticulture practices to ensure transfer of knowledge.
- Provides feedback to subordinate crew bosses, leads and supervisors regarding orchard operations and horticulture practices.
Additional Responsibilities:
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Communicates with Mt. Adams Orchards Division Manager on a continuous basis.
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Confers with packing house superintendent to discuss harvest time lines, quality assurance of picked fruit and packing run yields.
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Monitors budgets for maintenance and development of grounds buildings, equipment and infrastructure.
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Oversees construction projects such as horticultural buildings and irrigation systems.
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Oversees landscape activities including installation and repair of irrigation systems, roads and erosion control.
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Manages housing supervisor to ensure that all company housing is maintained in accordance with state and federal housing regulations and standards.
Qualifications:
- Incumbent must have good oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively up and down the chain of command.
- This position requires flexibility and the ability to be adaptable to constantly changing schedules.
- This position requires considerable outside work during the commission of daily duties. Variable conditions and inclement weather are constant.
- Bilingual preferred but not required. Bilingual capability greatly enhances the effectiveness of this position.
- Ability to make decisions under pressure, insufficient time and incomplete information is a must. This person must be decisive allowing room for flexibility to adapt decisions as changes conditions present.
- Horticulture experience and general knowledge of fruit is required. Previous experience as a fruit grower greatly impacts the efficacy and success of this position.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
- This employee must also be able to relate with many different employee cultures from the lowest position to the highest position in the company.
