Farm Manager

Position Description

Longview Farms, situated in Central Saanich, BC, stands as a forward-thinking cultivator and distributor of a diverse range of Certified Organic fruit and vegetable crops. Recognized as the largest Certified Organic vegetable farm on Vancouver Island, our produce, including daffodils and bulbs, graces the shelves of numerous local retail stores across Vancouver Island and the mainland.

We are actively looking for a Farm Manager to become a valued member of our dynamic team and work in close collaboration with our leadership team. The Farm Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of farm operations, from production and personnel management to financial planning and strategic development. The role requires a combination of agricultural expertise, business acumen, and leadership skills.

Join us at Longview Farms as we continue to make a significant impact in the realm of Certified Organic agriculture.

**Responsibilities**:

- Managing farm administration by organizing and scheduling meetings, drafting correspondence, managing client/customer relations, maintaining calendars, and generating sales reports.
- Collaborating with the Head Grower and Controller to formulate annual farm production plans, encompassing sales forecasts, budgets, and cash flow projections.
- Monitor financial performance, analyze variances, and implement cost-control measures.
- Develop and implement strategic plans for the farm, aligning with overall organizational goals.
- Identify opportunities for diversification, expansion, or new market penetration.
- Assisting HR and the Controller in all aspects of farm resourcing, including permanent and seasonal domestic hiring and oversight of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP).
- Coordinating with the Head Grower on sales and marketing functions, establishing relationships with retail and wholesale buyers, disseminating regular product availability newsletters, making sales calls, conducting product research, analyzing supply and demand, setting prices, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality products.
- Collaborating with the Grower to accurately communicate commodity inventory and availability timing to buyers.
- Managing and scheduling repairs, maintenance, and replacement of farm equipment and facilities, including housing for SAWP workers.
- Foster a positive work environment and ensure effective communication within the team.
- Acting as the office Health and Safety Representative to ensure adherence to WCB regulations.
- Explore and adopt new technologies to enhance farm efficiency and productivity.
- Implement precision farming techniques and data-driven decision-making.
- Identify and assess potential risks to the farm, including weather-related risks and market fluctuations.
- Coordinating with the Head Grower to develop and implement risk mitigation strategies, such as crop insurance.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Requirements**:

- Bachelor's degree in agriculture, agribusiness, or a related field. Advanced degrees is an asset.
- Over 5 years of experience in farm operations management or a comparable role.
- Knowledge of agricultural technology, market trends, and financial management
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Proficient in both written and spoken Spanish is considered an asset.
- Clear and concise communication abilities, issuing instructions and providing follow-up, monitoring, and correction as necessary.
- Capable of working collaboratively with individuals at various organizational levels and with diverse levels of experience.
- Ability to manage and maintain private and confidential information with a high degree of professionalism.
- Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as seasonally required by the farm.

Longview Farms is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women, Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities to apply. Longview Farms will accommodate the needs of applicants with disabilities throughout all stages of the selection process. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise your Human Resources representative. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.