Farm Manager - Raisin Operations
2 days ago
Fresno
Job Description Location: California- Central Valley - Fresno, CA Employment Type: Full-Time Reports To: Owner Position Overview: A premier farming operation in the California Central Valley is seeking an experienced and hands-on Farm Manager to lead and oversee daily field operations for a large-scale raisin and wine grape production business, spanning multiple ranches and thousands of acres. The ideal candidate will bring proven leadership in crew supervision, logistics, and compliance, along with deep knowledge of Central Valley viticulture practices. This is a full-time leadership position offering growth potential and the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, highly productive-evolving environment. Key Responsibilities: 1. Crew & Labor Management • Supervise and direct a labor force comprising 10–12 crew foremen and 100–400 seasonal and permanent field workers. • Plan and allocate labor across multiple ranches for optimal efficiency, ensuring all vineyard activities meet operational timelines. • Enforce work quality, safety, and productivity standards while providing mentorship to foremen and crew leaders. • Ensure all labor practices comply with Cal/OSHA, H-2A, and state labor laws., • Leveraging successful leadership experience to develop, train/mentor and grow current foreman/crew through presence at all meetings, huddles, and within the field. • Teamwork must be embedded within the core of the incumbents DNA. Communication is essential to relay daily/weekly and monthly goal-setting and operational changes. 2. Field Operations Scheduling • Develop and manage detailed work calendars for:, • Pruning (manual and mechanical), • Trellising and tying, • Pest and disease management, • Manual and mechanical harvest operations, • Coordinate with internal logistics and maintenance teams to ensure all equipment and machinery is field-ready. • Monitor vineyard blocks and prioritize fieldwork based on crop stage, vine health, and harvest tools and machinery. 3. Crop Maintenance & Pest Management • Implement and monitor vineyard cultural practices tailored to raisin and wine grape varieties., • Collaborate closely with licensed PCAs to execute proactive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, ensuring compliance with California DPR guidelines. • Oversee safe and compliant application of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides, with full documentation aligned with FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) standards. • Utilize weather data, pest traps, and crop history to anticipate threats and schedule timely interventions. • Understand Water Districts associated with California, and Central Valley, leveraging a cohesive relationship that meets the expectations of regulations while ensuring healthy water management and utilization. • Up-to-date on new and emerging technologies associated with crop management, new variety implementation, water management, and pesticide management. 4. Viticulture Expert• Grape Cultivation • Environmental Management - must understand and manage various environmental factors, including, Temperature and resting periods. • Solar Radiation, • Soil Health, • Agricultural Practices, • Canopy Management, • Irrigation, • Planting Density, • Variety and Rootstock Selection, • Site Selection, • Health and Protection, • Spraying, • Nutrient Applications 5. Multi-Property Ranch Oversight • Manage farming operations across multiple properties, ensuring consistent application of company protocols and vineyard standards. • Coordinate shared use of resources such as labor crews, equipment, and supplies across ranch locations in Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare Counties. • Maintain accurate mapping and record-keeping for each property using GPS tools, digital field logs, or vineyard management software. • Hands-on, in-the-field approach, that centers around building relationships with entire team, crew, and ranch owners. 6. Harvest & Post-Harvest Logistics • Direct manual and mechanical harvest activities, ensuring efficient timing and coordination across ranches. • Manage operations for Dry-on-Vine (DOV) and traditional tray-dried raisins, including timing, placement, and pick-up. • Coordinate with packinghouses for fruit delivery, quality assurance, and yield tracking., • Maintain tight scheduling with logistics teams for equipment movement and labor adjustments during peak harvest windows. 7. Budgeting & Reporting • Assist in preparing and managing budgets related to labor, materials, equipment, and crop inputs. • Maintain accurate records of all field activities, labor hours, chemical applications, and equipment usage. • Generate regular progress reports and provide input on overall ranch performance and improvements. 8. Compliance & Regulatory Oversight • Ensure full operational compliance with:, • FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) – including traceability, worker hygiene, and chemical use documentation. • Cal/OSHA – enforcing safety protocols, PPE usage, heat illness prevention, and regular crew safety training. • Ag Order 4.0 – implementing and documenting nutrient management plans, irrigation practices, and water quality monitoring as required in the Central Valley region. • Maintain detailed and organized records for audits, inspections, and internal reviews. Qualifications: Required: • Degree or certification in Agriculture, Viticulture, Agribusiness, or related field., • Familiarity with agricultural software platforms (e.g., for scheduling, inventory, labor tracking, or compliance). • 7+ years of experience managing vineyard operations, preferably in grape or raisin production in the California Central Valley. • Proven leadership managing large labor teams, including multiple foremen and seasonal crews. • Deep knowledge of Central Valley viticulture, raisin drying methods, and wine grape handling., • Experience in mechanical and manual vineyard tasks, including pruning, and harvesting., • Familiarity with state and federal agricultural compliance requirements including FSMA, Cal/OSHA, and Ag Order 4.0. • Bilingual in English and Spanish (preferred or highly desirable)., • Valid California Driver’s License and clean DMV record. Preferred: • Degree in Viticulture, Plant Science, Agricultural Business, or related field., • Familiarity with digital vineyard management systems (e.g., Workyard, FieldClock, or similar)., • QAL and ability to work closely with a licensed PCA. Skills & Competencies: • Exceptional leadership and personnel management skills., • Strong organizational and logistical planning capabilities., • High attention to detail and quality standards., • Effective verbal and written communication skills., • Ability to work extended hours during peak seasons., • Strong understanding of agricultural safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. Work Environment: • Position requires frequent outdoor work in variable conditions (heat, dust, cold, etc.)., • Must be comfortable traversing ranch terrain, walking vineyard rows, and performing physical inspections. • Occasional evening and weekend work required during critical periods (e.g., pruning, harvest, or chemical application windows). Compensation & Benefits: • Competitive salary, commensurate with experience. This position will institute a generous base salary of $80,000/yr. Incentive and Bonus that leverages yield, profitability, budgeting, KPI/Goals and team relations increases earning potential to $110,000-$120,000/yr • Company vehicle, • Health, dental, vision, and retirement benefits available., • Opportunities for professional development and advancement. How to Apply: We understand that this job description lists the ideal candidate we are looking for. If your resume does not check all the boxes, or you have in progress licenses or degrees, we ask that you please submit your resume, a cover letter detailing your relevant experience, and references. The ideal candidate is a heavy mixture of work experience, background and relationship building. If this is you, please apply! Company DescriptionRand Employment SolutionsRand Employment Solutions