Full Time Field Crew Leader

This is a full-time supervisory position; a minimum of one season of vegetable farming experience is required, previous leadership experience in any field preferred. 

Job Description & Expectations:

The Field Crew Leader will be responsible for leading the workflow of the farm crew members under the direction of the Farm Managers. This role will directly participate in and supervise greenhouse, field, and washpack work, and act as a line of communication between the farm managers and crew members. Primarily, this means understanding the tasks to be accomplished for a given day, how to go about getting them done (materials needed, field and crop location, quality standards, etc), and then leading the farm crew through these tasks. 

Daily hours for the majority of the season are 7AM to 5PM Monday to Friday with a mid-morning paid break, and an unpaid hour for lunch, allowing for flexibility due to weather and season. This position is expected to participate in a (paid) rotating weekend watering schedule throughout the season. Work is year-round, with part-time hours December - February, generally becoming full time March - the end of November. Our work days include but are not limited to: 

  • Field work: harvesting, transplanting, weeding, pruning, trellising, bed prep

  • Wash and pack operations: washing, sorting, and packing of harvested crops, conducting quality control checks, and learning and following storage requirements of all crops

  • Greenhouse operations: seeding, potting, irrigation, trellising, as well as other tasks

The above lists are not all-encompassing; as we are a small operation, all crew members get the opportunity to participate in all facets of the farm, from seeding to packout. With daily support from the farm managers, you will lead the crew through all aspects of the farm season. We start every day with an all-team meeting to discuss the plan for the day, and the crew leader is responsible for executing/leading the crew through that plan when farm managers are occupied with other tasks.

Skill Sets and Job Requirements:

Farm work requires a strong work ethic, therefore applicants should have the following skills and attributes:

  • Ability to direct a small crew through daily farm work and stay in contact with farm managers

  • Interested in local agriculture and food systems

  • Capable of lifting 40-50 lbs. repeatedly 

  • Communicative, and receptive to feedback

  • Ability to work independently with direction

  • Strong interest in leadership 

  • Able and prepared to work in all sorts of weather 

  • Trustworthy, reliable, and responsible

  • Ability to balance speed and efficiency while maintaining Obercreek’s high quality standards

  • Licensed and comfortable driving; we have on-farm harvest pickup trucks and a commercial delivery van and truck, and all employees are expected to be comfortable operating them

Hourly pay begins at $18/hour but is based on experience and may increase based on performance and tenure 

Benefits:

  • Lots of delicious organic vegetables (free of charge) 

  • 15% discount on all products at our farm store, free “scratch & dent” products

  • 10% discount at Obercreek Brewing Company

  • Paid sick time

  • 2 week break at the end of the calendar year

  • Being part of a dedicated community of people working to improve our local food system

  • On-farm housing may be available

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, please send a note about why you’re interested and a resume to Alex Vaughn and Trixie Wessel at marketing@obercreekfarm.com