Regional Farm Manager (Hudson Valley, NY)

Propagate helps farmers & landowners make regenerative agriculture work for them by balancing short-term income with long-term returns. Our mission is to make agroforestry a cornerstone of agriculture.

At Propagate, we're an empathetic and charismatic team. We have a deep passion for nature, and of course, we love trees. We believe economics can work in harmony with nature, and that regenerative agriculture can be a financial and ecological success. Outside of work, you'll find us connecting locally with farmers, playing music, and getting active outdoors. Read our manifesto, and meet our team.

We are looking for a hard-working Regional Farm Manager to oversee our on the ground farm operations in and around the Hudson Valley of New York.

As a key member of the team, you'll be responsible for overseeing the day to day management of our farms in this region. This is a full-time and year round position.Priority will be given to candidates who submit their application before Dec 15, 2021.

What you’ll do

• Act as the primary labor source for our keystone Chestnut & Blackcurrant agroforestry farm in the Hudson Valley (the farm was planted in 2019 & 2020).
• This position will grow to oversee multiple farm locations growing a variety of crops, i.e. Chestnuts, Blackcurrants, Elderberries, Timber, Fruit, and more.
• Ensure that all required farm activities are recorded & carried out in an efficient and effective manner.
• Organize and manage farm labor, equipment, purchases, and rentals.
• Be responsible for maintaining farm infrastructure and equipment.
• Track hours, tasks, labor, and budgets.
• Maintain good relationships with landowners, neighbors, local service providers, and crew.
• Maintain detailed records for both internal use and for potential certifications.
• Other duties may be assigned and participation in special projects as required. These may include: site visits to client farms, sales calls to potential clients in the region, traveling to other regions to assist in large plantings and projects, attending trade shows as a company representative, etc.

Who you are

You first and foremost consider yourself to be a land and ecosystem steward. You are a hard worker with prior farm management experience; are an independent and self motivated worker, but are also capable of working within a larger organization and willing to go the extra mile to keep your coworkers informed about your work.

Like us, you value creativity, curiosity, and intellectual honesty, and you are committed to solving problems as a team. You’re passionate about creating a positive impact, and are motivated to join a small, incredibly productive team to bring agroforestry practices to more and more acres!

Requirements

You have the following skills and experience (if you don’t have a listed skill or experience, we still encourage you to apply):

• Ability to safely operate and maintain tractors and other equipment.
• Experience managing farm crews and contractors.
• Prior experience producing food for markets; tree crops, vegetables, or livestock.
• Be willing and excited to farm in a biological way (read: beyond organic, possibly certified)
• Are comfortable working in a highly organized environment and maintaining records about farm operations.
• Excellent listening, negotiating, and presenting skills as well as mentoring, coaching, and managing skills, across all levels of the organization.
• Strong sense of honesty, high ethical standards, reliability, and trustworthiness; holding yourself mutually accountable with the team.
• Digital literacy and proficiency are a must.
• Be based within the Hudson Valley Region. Ideally within 45 minutes of Hudson, NY.
• A valid driver's license and clean driving record are required for insurance purposes and/or because driving your own vehicle will be an aspect of your job duties in this role.
• Must be able to regularly lift 50lbs.
• Must be able to work in all kinds of weather.
• Must have a working smart phone with data plan.
• 5+ years of agricultural experience.
• 1+ years in a management role.

Additional education & experience that could be helpful

• Knowledge and experience growing permanent crops and/or using biological agriculture is a plus.
• Bilingual or trilingual skills are a strong plus.

Benefits

• Salary ($45,000 - $60,000)
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Stock Option Plan

Who we are

At Propagate, we believe that by equipping people with the best tools to solve problems, we can tackle big challenges, together! We're always looking for talented people who are interested in building a more resilient future. We are a venture-backed startup, founded in 2017, backed by The Grantham Environmental Trust, Techstars, Elemental Excelerator and Exelon Foundation.

Propagate is strongly committed to equity in its policies, practices, and programs. People of color, women, LGBTQ-identifying, individuals with disabilities and/or veterans are highly encouraged to apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.