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Field Crew Leader (Vegetable Production) : Maintenance Mechanic I (Grounds)
Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center is hiring a full-time year-round Field Crew Leader. We are seeking a farmer and leader who is interested in continuing their farm career, and is passionate about sustainability, local food, and community. Start date is flexible, with a preferred start date of February 2025.
Who We Are
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. This position will serve as a model of efficiency, working closely with the Field Crew and assisting in all areas of production. Applicants should love getting dirty, take pleasure in a hard day’s work, be self-motivated, and have excellent leadership, organizational, interpersonal & people management skills. As a farming position, the work is physical, requiring long hours of repetitive tasks and heavy lifting. Applicants should be comfortable supervising, offering feedback, taking instructions well, answering & asking questions, and navigating conflict compassionately.
Responsibilities include participation in all aspects of farming on 5+ acres. With input from the Farm Manager and Assistant Farm Manager, this position will direct and supervise the farm team throughout each workday. The Field Crew Leader will spend the bulk of their time working with the farm team to do greenhouse/nursery work, transplant, weed, irrigate & maintain crops, and harvest. Occasional tractor work will also be a responsibility. Other duties will include animal work (feeding chores, infrastructure maintenance, mucking), working alongside volunteers, and supporting other departments (such as the Native Plants team and Farm Stand).
This position can start as early as February. The default work schedule is 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 7:30AM to 3:30PM, with an hour of unpaid lunch and one Sunday shift per month. The work schedule will shift throughout the season, based on the weather, needs of the farm, and time of the year (earlier starts on extremely hot days, and later starts around November). Occasional schedule shifts, including weekend work, will be requested depending on the need. Though this position is full-time year-round, winter responsibilities will include non-farm tasks to help other parts of the organization.
Primary Responsibilities
- Become proficient in farm systems and 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.
- Independence with problem solving, taking initiative, and critical thinking in the field
- Communication with management
- Help lead harvest 1-2 times per week.
- Help plan, lead, and supervise Community Farm Work Days throughout the year.
- Maintain a positive attitude and team mentality.
- Help ensure quality control and efficiency on the farm
- Help ensure safety for workers on the farm
- Identify conflicts and issues, and work with management to solve problems and help create an ever-improving work environment and work experience for all.
- Farm maintenance work including weed whacking and maintaining fence lines.
- Work with farm tools and vehicles (hoes, walk-behind tractors, flame weeder, tractors).
- Animal chores including mucking and watering of animals.
- Help other departments as needed.
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.
- Ability and desire to work in all weather conditions.
- Detail-oriented, flexible, organized, strong & observational communication skills, and ability to lead.
- Commitment to sustainability and a career in organic farming.
- Comfortably able to lift 40lbs and perform repetitive tasks.
- Basic repair and carpentry skills. Experience with small engines is preferred.
- Background check and drug test required.
- Driver’s License.
Compensation and Benefits
- Pay range is $22 - $25 /hr dependent on experience
- Access to free farm produce during the growing season
- 30% off all products sold in the Farm Stand
- Access to educational & professional development opportunities
- Participation in NY State Retirement System
- Accrued Sick Leave (one hour accrued per 30 hours worked)
To Apply
Send an email to farmmanager@hilltophanoverfarm.org with a letter of interest in the email body, resume, and three farm references, including ‘Field Crew Leader’ in the subject line. Deadline to apply is January 3rd, 2025.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER