Overview and Job Summary:
We are seeking a creative, responsible, and experienced person to lead our farming efforts for a small-scale, highly diversified farm on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Currently, the farm consists of a 1-acre mixed vegetable garden with some orchard species. The intended plan is to expand the farm into 16 total acres to include additional vegetable production, orchards, and perennial hedgerow and windbreak plantings. The Farm Manager will be required to lead a small team in the development and design of the expansion, consistent with the vision of the property owners. The intention is to develop a system that will serve as a model of ecological agriculture within the Maui community. The Farm Manager will bring his/her knowledge of ecological farm design and incorporate innovative farming practices to strengthen the viability of the land to enhance the experience of the property and support the needs of our community.
Primary Roles and Responsibilities:
- Assume management of all daily farming operations including, but not limited to: planning, planting, greenhouse propagation, cultivation, pest and disease control, irrigation, harvest, processing, and marketing for existing gardens
- Lead a small group of farm employees in the execution of daily tasks
- Collaborate with a support team in evolving the design of the existing farm, as well as in the design of all intended expansion areas
- Facilitate the growth of the farm, including expanded vegetable production areas, perennial hedgerows, and orchard plantings
- Assist with the installation of all infrastructure improvements, as required or needed
- Maintain accurate farm and input records
- Ability to generate and operate within an annual farm budget
- Manage purchasing of all required inputs and materials
- Maintain communication with a support team and develop a reporting schedule to record a predetermined set of metrics to monitor ecological sustainability and economic viability
The Farm Manager will be required to collaborate in the acquisition of both our Organic Certification (OG) and Good Agricultural Practices certification (GAP) during the first year. After the initial certification process is complete, the Farm Manager will be required to assure continued compliance and maintain any and all certifications required by ownership. It is expected that the Farm Manager will develop a positive working relationship with existing property management and ownership in order to properly execute the collective vision for the farm, in addition to developing an understanding of its potential and effectively communicate suggestions and future possibilities. In addition, the Farm Manager will facilitate outreach within the community and serve as the voice representing the interests and intentions of the farm. This responsibility will include building positive relationships with other area farmers and building and maintaining relationships with existing and potential vendor accounts. In order to perform these responsibilities, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:
- A minimum of 5 years farming experience, with no less than 2 of those years in a management role
- An understanding of organic farming practices and the organic certification process
- Familiarity with GAP certification will be considered a plus
- Excellent communication skills
- Highly organized with the ability to both understand important metrics and maintain corresponding records
- Familiarity with either tropical or sub-tropical agriculture will be considered a plus
- Ability to operate small farm machinery will be considered a plus, though training is a possibility
- Posses strong leadership skills
Salary for this position will be commensurate with experience. Applicants should send a cover letter, a resume detailing relevant work experience, and contact information for at least two references to mauifarmmanager@gmail.com. The deadline for all applications is February 14, 2014. Qualified applicants will be contacted directly to schedule an interview.