Company description

Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center is dedicated to the practices of sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, community education, and the creation of access to healthy food systems. Hilltop is a 60-acre working farm and educational center operated by Westchester County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation that uses organic practices to grow produce, flowers, native seeds, and plants for an on-site farm stand. The farm offers educational programming throughout the year and the property is open to the public, free of charge, year-round.

Job description

The Field Crew Leader will work directly with the Farm Manager and Assistant Farm Manager to help lead & supervise the farm team, and ensure the farm is operating efficiently. Applicants should have excellent leadership, organizational, interpersonal and people management skills. Applicants should also be comfortable supervising, offering feedback, taking instructions, and navigating conflict compassionately.

This position will direct and work alongside the farm team in all areas of the farm, including nursery work, transplanting, weeding, irrigation, crop maintenance, and harvest. Other duties will include tractor work, animal work, working with volunteers, and supporting other parts of the organization.

This position can start as soon as possible. The general work schedule is 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 7:30AM to 3:30PM, with an hour of unpaid lunch. In extremely hot weather, the start time may be as early as 7:00AM.     

Option for full or part-time work from December to March.

Responsibilities

• Become proficient in our farming practices (propagation, bed preparation, transplanting, irrigation, weeding, harvesting, processing, washing, packing, planning, record-keeping) in order to direct and work alongside staff, volunteers, and interns.
• Identify conflicts and issues, and work with management to solve problems and help create a continuously improving work environment.
• Other tasks such as string trimming, animal chores, mucking, and seed cleaning.

Skills and Qualifications

• Two full seasons of work on a production farm. Prior leadership experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of organic practices, soil health, and pest & diseases.
• Detail-oriented, flexible, organized, strong communication skills, and ability to lead.
• Comfortably able to lift 40lbs.
• Basic repair and carpentry skills preferred.
• Background check required: we are a county/government organization/farm, so a background check is required for all county employees, not just these positions.
• Driver’s License: all our vehicles (utility vehicle, van, pickup truck, tractor) require a valid driver's license to operate. Operating these vehicles, particularly the utv and pickup truck, are essential to working here because they are otherwise used daily to transport tools, plants, harvests, etc. - we are a hilly site with a long walk to and from our frequently used places.

Compensation & Benefits

• Pay range is $22 - $25 /hr dependent on experience.
• Free farm produce during the growing season and 30% off Farm Stand products.
• Educational & professional development opportunities.
• Participation in NY State Retirement System.
• Accrued Sick Leave (one hour accrued per 30 hours worked).

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

March 01, 2025