Company description

Dirt Farmers. Food Lovers. Land Stewards. 

Marr Pond Farm is a 5 acre MOFGA certified organic farm in rural Sangerville, Maine, started by farmers Courtney and Ryan in 2016. We grow a rainbow of vegetables, cut flowers, and shiitake mushrooms with a focus on soil health and resource conservation. Our products are marketed through CSA shares, farmers markets, restaurants, and natural food stores across central Maine.

We love where we live and farm. Our area has abundant natural beauty, and the farm is a quick drive from Peaks-Kenney state park, Sebec Lake, Moosehead Lake, the Appalachian Trail, and more. We're also part of a close-knit community of new and established area farmers, and believe a vibrant community is the foundation of any sustainable farm. 

Job description

Marr Pond Farm is hiring an Assistant Farm Manager who has an enthusiasm and genuine interest in refining their knowledge of organic farming, a strong work ethic, desire to take pride in their work, and the adaptability to take on a wide array of responsibilities over the course of the season. 
Our Assistant Farm Manager, in coordination and alongside farm owners, will be responsible for the daily management of our organic vegetable production. They will work both in groups and independently (after training) on all day-to-day operations of the farm, and will be comfortable delegating and supervising.

This position includes, but is not limited to:

• Assisting in the management of day to day operations as well as the ‘big picture’ of the farm
• Seed starting, plant propagation, and assisting in greenhouse management
• Mushroom log inoculation and mushroom yard maintenance
• Assisting in management of hand cultivation tasks list including hoeing, thinning and hand weeding
• Directing/monitoring Field Crew, optimizing work
• Harvesting vegetables and mushrooms
• Working with a field map / bed system
• Building skills in evaluating crop readiness, communicating with farm owners about crop status
• Leading Field Crew in harvest systems and techniques including tool and hand harvest methods, providing support and feedback
• Assisting in the coordination of washing and packing to fill market, wholesale, and order needs
• Directing/monitoring Farm Crew, packing and labeling orders correctly
• Maintaining safe food handling practices as outlined by the farm
• Safely operating and assisting in maintenance of tractors and farm trucks
• Participating in all facets of the farm (from maintenance, to pest and disease scouting, to bucket washing), and delegating tasks to farm crew as needed
• Record keeping (planting, cultivation, harvest, etc.) and holding crew accountable for relevant record keeping tasks
• Managing time and transitions efficiently; directing work flow, completing tasks lists
• Reporting to farm owner/managers in real time on progress of work, including updates and changes
• Communicating effectively, utilizing radios, text messages, and phone calls

Interested candidates may also work harvesting and processing flowers. Our assistant manager will attend and manage at least one farmers market for the farm. Our farmers markets have continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we often receive positive customer feedback for how safely we managed our stand throughout the season. It is our expectation that all employees take COVID-19 seriously, in their personal and professional lives.

We will begin bringing our assistant farm manager and crew members on in April, and end the season around Thanksgiving. Start and end dates will be agreed upon when hired, and we occasionally have some work available before and after the formal farm season.

The right person for this job will be:

• Able to maintain a positive attitude in a fast-paced work environment
• Able to see the humor in work and life, and laugh accordingly
• Passionate about good food and organic farming
• Self-motivated & self-aware
• Willing and able to accept feedback gracefully, and adapt accordingly
• Eager to learn
• An efficient worker with good time management skills
• A problem solver
• Detail oriented and observant
• Comfortable delegating tasks and managing interpersonal relationships proactively
• Able to work outdoors in all weather conditions with good spirits
• Willing to learn new systems, and provide constructive feedback on farm systems when needed
• Able to lift and carry 50 lbs, stand for extended periods of time, and crouch or bend over for extended periods of time. We do many things by hand and this job can be very physical.

Required Experience:
• Minimum of 2 years experience on a mixed vegetable farm required, 3+ years of experience preferred.
• The demonstrated ability to work as part of a team is crucial to this position. Our assistant manager MUST be comfortable managing the Farm Crew, including providing both positive and critical feedback. 
• A valid driver’s license and clean driving record are required.

Preferred Experience: 
• Tractor experience and comfort driving a standard vehicle is strongly preferred.
• Experience on farms of a similar scale or with similar marketing outlets is helpful.
• Management or leadership experience in any setting is preferred.

Compensation:

Starting pay is dependent on experience.
All farm crew members have access to free vegetables for their own home use. Bulk vegetables may be available for food preservation at the discretion of the farmers.
All employees receive up to 3 paid sick days, after the first month of employment.
We do not offer housing but can assist applicants in finding housing locally if needed.

We are especially interested in applicants that are excited to become a long-term employee as our farm continues to grow. Long-term employees are eligible for raises based on performance, responsibilities, and commitment.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

March 06, 2022