Job Description

Job Summary:

Lead the orchard operations (Apples, Sour Cherries, Pears) at a large progressive farming operation. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that our core values and culture are represented in all actions and will provide expertise and support to all levels of management. This role requires an individual who is humble, driven, solutions oriented, with expertise in the production of tree fruits, and leading a team.

Role and Accountability:

• Oversee the overall operations of the orchard, ensuring timely completion of tasks, fostering high employee morale, establishing production goals, and driving profitability.
• Manage and lead a team of crew leaders, implementing a proactive system of coaching and development to empower both full-time and seasonal employees with modern orchard practices.
• Ensure that the following primary objectives are accomplished through your team:

• Efficient and profitable operations
• Day-to-day leadership and implementation of orchard operations, including spraying, harvest, mowing, tree training, and pruning.
• Compliance with all food safety requirements
• Adherence to company policies
• Maintenance of roadways and grounds in all orchard locations
• Proper training of employees on equipment, offering re-training when necessary
• Collaborate with HR and Operations administration to ensure successful onboarding of employees
• Work with the Operations administrator to accurately track labor costs and payroll, maintain inventory of orchard tools (saws, picking baskets, ladders, pruners, etc.), and update inventory as needed.
• Implement an effective crop protection program, strictly adhering to all product labels.
• Collaborate with managers across divisions (Field Crops, Livestock, Shop, Processing, etc.) to identify and implement innovations and key strategies for continuous growth and success.
• Lead employee performance management for reports, working closely with the Human Resources Manager to regularly review employee efforts and make necessary adjustments and improvements.
• Promote an excellent team environment that enables workers to thrive.
• Willingness to work extended hours during peak seasons and when necessary to ensure job completion.
• Maintain awareness of safe work practices related to job responsibilities in the work environment, in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures of Schuyler Farms Limited.
• Perform other duties as assigned appropriate to the role.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proven ability to build and manage a team-oriented culture.
• Ability to effectively place people into jobs based on skillset.
• Working knowledge to utilize modern orchard practices to produce high quality, consistent fruit.
• Demonstrate expertise in crop protection materials and proficiently interpret product labels.
• Highly effective verbal and written communication.
• Excellent time management.
• Must have a valid Ontario G drivers license.
• A valid Ontario C drivers license is an asset.

Education and Experience:

• Experience working in a leadership role.
• Knowledge of workplace safety precautions.
• A Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a focus on horticulture is an asset.
• Prior experience in fruit tree production.
• Experience and training in business management is an asset.

Core Competencies Supporting the Role:

• Leadership: Ability to organize and motivate others to get things accomplished in a way that everyone feels a sense of order and direction. Work as a valued team member, actively develop employees as leaders, and serve as a positive role model for other team members.
• Communication: Expresses ideas and opinions in a respectful and professional manner and ensures constant and informative communication between all employees and outside partners; manage accurate record keeping and reporting systems.
• Problem Solving: Persists in problem solving and addresses issues as they arise without being asked.
• Time Management: The ability to prioritize and complete tasks to deliver desired outcomes within allotted time frames using self-management.
• Decisive: Ability to make effective decisions but also to take responsibility for every decision made.

About Schuyler Farms Limited:

Schuyler Farms Limited is a family-owned business that emphasizes building people, business, and community. The company prioritizes excellence by fostering a team of humble, driven, and solutions-oriented individuals. We grow various crops, including apples, cherries, corn, soybeans, and lamb, and are vertically integrated through the storage of apples, cherries, corn, and soybeans, as well as the packing of apples and cherries.

Vision Statement:

A progressive farm focused on building people, profitability, and a better future for our team. Our success is built on humility, drive, and problem solving.

Core Values:

Humble \xe2\x80\x93 Employees that are team players and are respectful of others and the job at hand. Great team players lack excessive ego or concerns about status. Humble employees are quick to point out contributions of others and slow to seek attention of their own.

Driven \xe2\x80\x93 Employees who are motivated and focused on self improvement. Driven or hungry employees are always looking for more. More things to do, learn, and take responsibility for. They never have to be pushed by a manager to work harder because they are self-motivated and diligent.

Solutions Oriented \xe2\x80\x93 Employees who focus on solving, and preventing problems from occurring, not just identifying them. This is equal parts of problems with systems and processes and the common sense that an employee has about people. They are aware, act appropriately, ask good questions, and listen to understand.

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Schuyler Farms Limited