Company description

Amber Waves Farm is a mixed vegetable farm on the easternmost end of Long Island. The farm operates 25 total acres on three fields, raising 20 acres of vegetables, 5 acres of grains, and a small flock of laying hens. The farm’s production serves a 250+ member CSA and on-site retail farm market and kitchen as well as local restaurant wholesale accounts. Amber Waves is located in downtown Amagansett and is a popular destination for families and foodies who visit the farm to shop in the retail market and tour the fields. The farm is deeply involved in intensive educational work with nearby schools and the public, which includes frequent field trips, tasting tours, demonstrations, and public events at the farm. While the farm is not certified organic, we do subscribe to the Northeast Organic Farmers Association’s (NOFA) “Farmer’s Pledge” program of growing fruits, vegetables, and grains sustainably and responsibly.

 

Amber Waves Farm is a fun, fast-paced work environment where we champion good ideas, hard work, common sense and cooperation. The physical nature of the work is both challenging and rewarding, as is the considerable time we spend interacting with the public both on and off the farm. The entire organization at the height of the season includes a staff of 70 people including farmers, educators, retail market staff, and kitchen staff. The farm crew typically consists of 10-15 people, a Field Manager, Crew Managers, first and second year apprentices, and part-time seasonal help.

Job description

Amber Waves Farm is seeking an experienced and energetic candidate for the Field Manager position. We are always looking to expand the talent on our team and are accepting applications for this position on a rolling basis. The Field Manager is an essential part of our core management team and is expected to think and work like a professional, which includes the ability to identify and carry out big-picture season goals, communicate clearly and confidently with other staff, maintain an upbeat attitude, and to operate autonomously. This position requires consistent attention to detail and strong independent decision-making capabilities while remaining flexible and adaptable to changing situations. The Field Manager is accountable for results in the field and the farm team’s performance at large. On some occasions, largely dependent on the weather, the Field Manager is expected to stay outside of regular hours to ensure tasks are completed in time. The work is physically demanding and requires someone who is motivated, has a good attitude, can tolerate working in inclement weather, and is able to lift at least 50-lbs at a time.

Amber Waves Farm has a well-developed field plan complete with targets for timing of succession plantings, crop variety preferences, and harvest records. The Field Manager’s key responsibility is to execute the plan and pivot where needed, ensuring the farm is on track for weekly, seasonal, and annual goals. This requires a strong background in mixed vegetable production, problem solving, time management, and ability to identify key priorities in day to day and whole-season planning.

 

Core Responsibilities:

1. Crop Production:
 

The Field Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of vegetable and herb production on the farm.

• Field preparation (schedule and timing of tillage, bed prep, rotations, and cover cropping associated with vegetable production)
• Planting program and schedules (oversee target dates for greenhouse seeding, transplanting, and direct seeding)
• Plant health and care (in the greenhouses and in the field; regular maintenance of field crops: fertility, cultivation, pest and disease management, irrigation)
• Operating tractors and equipment 
• Determine and coordinate crop availability for multiple distribution channels (CSA, on-site retail and kitchen, weekly farmer’s market, value-added program, food pantries)

2. Daily Operations & Logistics (Crew Oversight)
 

The Field Manager must make determinations of highest-priority work to be done by the crew and communicate that plan to other farm managers and the entire crew daily. Responsibilities include:

• Participating in goal setting for the farm/crew (year, month, week) 
• Creating the daily crew agenda throughout the season, which includes arriving at the farm prior to the crew’s arrival to go over the daily plan with other managers before daily field work begins. 
• Communicating with Crew Managers about the day’s task list and priorities
• Leading weekly management meetings about week priorities, field work plan, tractor work plan, upcoming events, weekly team assignments, feedback and reviews 
• Occasionally participating in regular field work with the crew, including seeding, transplanting, hoeing and hand weeding, greenhouse work, harvest, post-harvest washing and packing, and other field projects

 

Skills & Qualifications:

• Intention to make a multi-year commitment to Amber Waves with potential for increased compensation, benefits, responsibility, etc. 
• Five+ seasons of experience working on a small to medium scale vegetable farm, and a desire to continue to pursue an agricultural career
• Three+ seasons of experience managing employees/ interns/ apprentices
• A strong, foundational understanding of food production systems having experience with seasonality, plant propagation and seedling care, plant life cycles, scouting for pests and diseases, harvest and post-harvest handling, farmers markets, etc.
• Excellent time management and strong sense of pace and urgency associated with task completion
• Strong communication skills, positive attitude, and desire to teach crew members and set the daily tone for the crew
• Ability to quickly pick up new concepts and techniques and then teach them to others
• Strong work ethic and excellent attention to detail
• Ability to lift 50 pounds at a time and do physical work for 50-60 hours a week in the high season
• Prior experience using small or mid-size tractors and equipment
• Valid drivers’ license (must be able to transport crew members and supplies between fields throughout the day using farm vehicles. A personal vehicle is not required)

 

Work Schedule & Compensation:

• Competitive salary starting at $58,500 / year, commensurate with experience (based on rate of $28 - $34/hour)
• 2 weeks paid vacation
• Access to health insurance
• Access to farm housing
• Year round; flexible start date
• Full time (40-50 hours/week in the spring and fall, 50-60+ hours/week in the summer high season, flexible winter hours, one guaranteed day off/week)

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 50k-75k

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline