The Farm Operations Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and evaluating the operations and functions of the farm. This role provides leadership and coordination for general farm administration, accounting, budgeting, and planning concerning continued development, farming, and harvesting activities. The manager will also handle purchasing supplies and maintaining relationships with vendors and clients.
A crucial part of the role is to build a positive working culture within the team, with casual workers, and with suppliers, aiming for a model farm standard. Developing each employee within the team is also a key responsibility.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the overall operations of the farm.
- Coordinate schedules and assign work activities/tasks to employees to ensure smooth daily farm operations.
- Organize and coordinate planting, cultivating, and crop harvesting activities.
- Hire and manage farm personnel.
- Assess problems encountered on the farm and recommend appropriate solutions.
- Understand business processes, adhere to FFF Values, and practice good Employeeship.
- Determine the appropriate amount and kinds of crops to be grown (Proper land use planning).
- Develop and build relationships with vendors, partners, and suppliers.
- Monitor the quality and quantity of all crops planted, providing monthly yield assessments.
- Develop and maintain financial production records, tracking all inputs and outputs used/produced in a specific season.
- Track and document farm practices of the operations.
- Ensure farming operations are sustainable and production targets for the season are achieved.
- Be responsible for employee compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Manage the regular maintenance and repair of facility equipment.
- Act as a liaison between Farmhands and Management to communicate and mediate any arising issues.
- Receive directives from the supervisor/management and execute tasks such as equipment repair and harvesting, maintaining machine productivity at not less than 95%.
- Perform special tasks like crop protection/management and fertilization while working in the field.
- Plan and follow up on Irrigation schedules.
- Work towards making the Farm a 'Farm For the Future' focusing on high-value crop production.