Ratto Bros, Inc is seeking a Yuma Program Manager that will be responsible for the total management of the growing, harvesting, and cooling of crops in Yuma, Arizona. This position will coordinate with the farm labor contractor crews, the Yuma grower, the Yuma cooler and the Ratto Bros. sales team to ensure that all productions needs are met. The program manager will also be responsible for ensuring that all product meets or exceeds Ratto Bros. and the customer’s quality expectations. This position will oversee all aspects of the Yuma program. This is either a seasonal or year-round position. Seasonal position will be based in Yuma, AZ from November to April. Year-round position will be required to relocate between Yuma, AZ (Nov - Apr) and Modesto, Ca (May - Oct). We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. Salary is based on experience.
- Monitor initial growth of plants for germination, vigor and weed control.
- Maintain the internal information systems such as the crop planting summary.
- Monitor the crop growth and direct activities to promote crop growth .
- Observe planting and transplanting operations to ensure that all work is performed as intended.
- Observe crop germination and early stand development and correct problems as necessary.
- Ensure daily sanitation procedures are followed and documented to meet HACCP, FDA, and customer requirements.
- Recommend to management ways to improve production, equipment performance, efficiency, and quality of products.
- Resolve work problems and issues, such as assisting workers in solving work problems and equipment issues.
- Work with the safety manager to ensure compliance of all safety trainings and procedures.
- Provide safety training as needed and required.
- Interpret company policies to workers and enforces safety regulations.
- Ensure that employees understand the best workflow or production patterns for the operations of specific ranches.
- Participate in food safety third party audits.
- Other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: The work schedule is typically Monday through Saturday. Sunday operational duties are expected to be limited to special circumstances, but the day may be effectively utilized for work planning, project development and catch-up on pending items
Travel: Travel between Modesto, Ca and Yuma, Az may be required to fulfill company operations.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Finger use. Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand.
- Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
- Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
- Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
- Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
- Climbing. Ascending or descending stairs.
- Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
- Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
- Vision. Ability to distinguish colors accurately.
- Coordinate the planting, irrigation, spray and harvest schedule of the crops with the grower in order to meet the harvest timeline.
- Ensure that all crops are planted, grown and packed in accordance with Ratto Bros., quality standards.
- Create the daily harvest list & provide proper PTI labels to the harvest crews.
- Inspect the quality of the fields and communicate any issues with the Ratto Bros. sales team.
- Forecast production for upcoming weeks.
- Ensure that the farm labor contractor has all the proper materials to perform harvest activities such as, pallets, boxes, ties etc.
- Learn all aspects of the crop production program and input crop availability for the Yuma operations.
- Ensure that the grower and farm labor contractor comply with all food safety standards.
- Coordinate food safety audits with the Food Safety Director.
- Ensure that all food safety documentation is maintained.
- Organize all pre harvest assessments and tests required.
- Coordinate with the local cooler to ensure that all of Ratto Bros. product is properly cooled.
- Ensure that inventories such as cartons, RPC’s, pallets, and twist ties are maintained in the Famous systems.
- Work with the sales department to coordinate product harvest and shipping schedule.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Minimum of three years’ experience in farming, food production and/or distribution of fresh vegetables.
- 2-3 years of supervisory experience in farming and/or related education.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish.
- FAMOUS software system experience.
- FSMA, PC/PSR, quality and food safety experience.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.
- Previous crop forecast experience.
- Ability to work effectively with a vegetable cooler.
- Ability to give instructions and communicate effectively.
- Must be proficient in the use of standard software programs.
- Must be detailed-oriented and deadline sensitive.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills. Ability to get along well with diverse personalities, cultural backgrounds, and languages.
