TITLE:                      Substrate Manager

REPORTS TO:         V.P. of Operation

LOCATION:             Oxnard, CA

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Substrate Manager leads all aspects of growing activities in structures and outside plantings for commercial program to ensure the quantity, quality and timely delivery of production.

JOB SUMMARY:

 Under the direction of the V.P. of Operation, the Substrate Manager will maintain a RBI  substrate growing operation in Oxnard, CA.

QUALIFICATIONS:

B.S. degree or equivalent experience in an appropriate agronomic field desired.

Minimum 5 years experience in production agriculture desired.

Direct berry crop farming experience preferred.

Bilingual English/Spanish highly desired.

SKILLS:

Greenhouse and Nursery Leadership: Develops an effective team, develops best practices and standard operating procedures, recruits, trains, develops, and evaluates personnel and labor needs. Develops appropriate personnel structure to meet department growth plans.

Greenhouse and Nursery Manager: Successfully transplant, acclimate and grow raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and strawberry plants. Optimize plant nutrition, irrigation, and greenhouse timing. Practice agronomic skills to develop a balanced, healthy, and quality plant. Provides plant order on time, in quantities ordered, and within agreed upon time frames.

Plant Inventory: Accurately track and maintain plant inventory while providing visibility throughout the entire process. Packages and prepares plants for shipment.

Material and Supply Purchaser: Purchases all growing area supplies and materials for the assigned area.

Regulatory Compliance: As a Certified California Private Applicator, ensures legal, accurate, and appropriate material usage.

Internal Customer Engagement: Engages closely with Reiter Affiliated Companies’ contract fruit growers, DSA Breeders, and other internal production customers.

Oversight Outside of Designated area: Visit and collaborate with other Reiter Affiliated Companies operated and contract companies as needed.

Mission and Values: Work both internally and externally with employees, growers, and vendors to support and promote the Company Mission and Values.

Conduct: Follow Company policies and practices while representing Reiter Affiliated Companies in an ethical and business-like manner.

Other: Perform other duties as instructed by RBI V.P of Operation.

CHARACTERISTICS:

• Honest, fair, respectful of others
• Excellent communication skills
• Team player
• Positive attitude
• Ambitious, dedicated, self-motivated
• Passionate
• Organized
• Broad-thinking
• Innovative
• Analytical
• Solution and results oriented

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Site management: Execute and supervise with hands on involvement all growing activities, including irrigation system installation and management, growing preparation and growing.

Hiring and management of labor:  Identifies, sources, and hires labor; develops and manages crews; ensures proper training; manages performance.

Agronomic innovation: Learn and implement the latest and best current growing practices from within the RAC organization, as well as from university and other outside industry resources; develop and advance knowledge and innovations that deliver competitive advantage.

P&L: Develop and manage operating and capital budgets; manage costs; and deliver expected profitability.

Reporting:  Submission of production data and any required crop information.

Other: Travel required between RAC’s various districts; industry conferences; etc.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit cover letter and resume to: racjobs@berry.net

Title:                    Strawberry Ranch Manager

Location:             Oxnard

Classification:      Full-Time, Exempt                 

Position Purpose:

Reiter Affiliated Companies, an International Berry Company is seeking a dynamic individual to join our Production team and we currently have a career opportunity available for a Strawberry Ranch Manager.  This individual will be responsible for the farming, harvest, and management of strawberries.  

Job Summary: 

 General Responsibilities include:

·        Hiring of overhead crew for ranch operations.

·        Conducting regular performance reviews of crew leaders and ranch overhead.

·        Work with crew leaders to insure compliance with all labor and food safety requirements.

·        Work with product manager to monitor and control costs, through regular reviews of budgets, crop statements, and production reports.

·        Obtain a qualified applicators license from the county agricultural commissioner.

·        Work with product manager and Driscoll research to maximize production, through variety development diversification, and cultural practices.

·        Work with product manager to maximize revenue, through maximum production, maximum use of value-added packaging, and production of the highest quality product.

·        Attend monthly safety meetings, compliance and soft skill training, and all applicable Driscoll meetings pertaining to operation.

·        Direct improvement of fruit quality.

Day to Day ranch operations:

·        Assist product manager in laying out each year’s plantings.

·        Become familiar with ranch soil types and potential problems (e.g. salt, drainage), and work with product manager to seek methods of improvement.

·        Work with ground prep supervisor on coordinating field preparation, fumigation, and bed up operations.

·        Work with pest control advisors to monitor pest populations and treatments.

·        Retain a crew for pesticide applications. Supervise Spray crew during the pesticide application for safety and to assure the best application possible.

·        Will relay completed pesticide applications to the pest control advisor.

·        Work with ground prep supervisor to coordinate pesticide applications and also outside pest control operations.

·        Insure posting of pesticide application notices and notify workers in regards to worker re-entry and pre-harvest intervals.

·        Work with product manager in understanding soil fertility, plant nutrition, irrigation efficiency, and pest control.

·        Work with product manager in maximizing efficiency and performance in all cultural labor operations.

·        Work with product manager in maximizing harvest packaging potential, as well as harvest labor efficiencies.

·        Implement tests of various cultural practices, varieties, fumigation alternatives, etc. and collect data.

·        Contacting venders for services, or supplies needed to meet the needs of operation and coordinating equipment needs and repairs with shop and other ranch managers.

·        Develop five week harvest estimate and review with product manager for submission to Driscoll.

·        Work with product manager to insure accurate information for block reports and test picks.

·        Ranch manager responsible for managing a cost center (e.g. labor cost, input cost), and profitability of operation.

·        Responsible for implementing safe work practices and policies established by the company and exercising disciplinary action for non-compliance.

Crop Analysis

·        Participate with product manager in developing each crop cycles budget using historical data and new ideas for improvement of operation.

·        Work with Human Resources Department on all aspects of labor laws, worker safety, and labor needs.

·        Work with payroll department to insure accuracy of time sheets and field data collection reports.

·        Learn field data collection process utilizing PC for uploading data and generating reports.

·        Work with product manager on understanding all financial aspects of crop production, using available in-house reporting, as well as any pertinent outside resources.

·        Will participate in DSA grower related meetings.

·        Will participate in pertinent Ag-related meetings, seminars, and conferences.

·        Will travel to other Driscoll growing areas to share and increase knowledge.

·        Will work collaboratively with Driscolls to determine process and price/cost of special picks.

·        Implement a weekly fruit quality awareness program (holding tests)

Job Qualifications:

2 to 4 years experience in production agriculture

Bilingual conversational English/Spanish

BS degree in Ag Business or Related Major

Basic computer skills

Company values

Honesty, Respect, Fairness

TITLE:  Florida Berry Farm Manager

REPORTS TO:  VP of Business Development and Operations

LOCATION:  Highlands and DeSoto Counties, FL

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Florida Berry Farm Manager (“FL Berry Manager”) performs the vital function of developing and operating RAC’s Lake Placid region blueberry and strawberry farm operations in a manner that is economically successful, strategically oriented, and technically innovative.  

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the VP of Business Development and Operations, the FL Berry Manager will start up a RAC blueberry farm in Lake Placid, FL and develop plans for a strawberry farm, directly manage its farming operations, and be responsible for its P&L. The FL Berry Manager will be responsible for all aspects of RAC’s new farming operations in Highlands and DeSoto Counties, including overseeing ranch development, managing the ground prep and planting process, hiring and management of operational and harvest labor, and executing day to day cultural growing practices and harvest activities in order to ensure successful crops.

QUALIFICATIONS:

B.S. degree or equivalent experience in an appropriate agronomic field desired.

Minimum 5 years experience in production agriculture desired.

Direct berry crop farming experience preferred.

Bilingual English/Spanish highly desired.

SKILLS:

Ability to operate farm equipment.

Operate and maintain drip irrigation systems.

Implement fertilization and pest management programs.

Engage in hands on pruning and harvest activities.

Ability to develop and manage personnel.

Demonstrated strength in operational administration.

Understanding of agricultural financial measurements.

Self-starter; ability to work independently as well as with growers, team members and management.

Detail oriented, with effective verbal, writing and presentation skills.

CHARACTERISTICS:

• Honest, fair, respectful of others
• Excellent communication skills
• Team player
• Positive attitude
• Ambitious, dedicated, self-motivated
• Passionate
• Organized
• Broad-thinking
• Innovative
• Analytical
• Solution and results oriented

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Ranch management: Execute and supervise with hands on involvement all farming activities, including irrigation system installation and management, land prep, planting, fertilization and pesticide applications, pruning, and harvesting.

Hiring and management of labor:  Identifies, sources, and hires labor; develops and manages crews; ensures proper training; manages performance.

Agronomic innovation: Learn and implement the latest and best current production practices from within the RAC organization, as well as from university and other outside industry resources; develop and advance knowledge and innovations that deliver competitive advantage.

P&L: Develop and manage operating and capital budgets; manage costs; and deliver expected profitability.

Reporting:  Submission of production data and any required crop information.

Other: Travel required between RAC’s various districts; industry conferences; etc.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Application Instructions: Please submit resume to racjobs@berry.net

COMPANY VALUES

Honesty, Fairness, Respect

BENEFITS PACKAGE INCLUDES

Choice of Medical plans, including HMO, PPO and a company-sponsored HSA.

Choice of Dental coverage; including a Dental HMO and a Dental PPO

Vision Coverage

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Optional Life Insurance

Pre-Paid Legal Services

Pet Insurance

OTHER BENEFITS

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

401K

Tuition Reimbursement