Job Summary: The Senior Manager, Orchard & Field Operations is responsible for leading all aspects of orchard and field crop management to ensure optimal crop health, yield, and quality. This role oversees critical agronomic functions—including irrigation, harvest scheduling, fertilization, pest control, and seasonal transitions—while coordinating closely with Packline, QA, and Logistics teams to align timing and quality from field to storage. This leader manages the day-to-day operations and labor strategy for orchard and field teams, supports budgeting for inputs and infrastructure, and implements systems for accountability using performance metrics, scorecards, and key performance metrics. This role requires an individual who exemplifies the company values of humble, driven, and solutions-oriented.
Humble – Employees that are team players and are respectful of others and the job at hand. Great team players lack excessive ego or concerns about status. Humble employees are quick to point out contributions of others and slow to seek attention of their own.
Driven – Employees who are motivated and focused on self improvement. Driven or hungry employees are always looking for more. More things to do, learn, and take responsibility for. They never have to be pushed by a manager to work harder because they are self-motivated and diligent.
Solutions Oriented – Employees who focus on solving, and preventing problems from occurring, not just identifying them. This is equal parts of problems with systems and processes and the common sense that an employee has about people. They are aware, act appropriately, ask good questions, and listen to understand.
Role and Accountability:

• Own the execution of orchard and field crop operations, ensuring optimal crop health, quality, and yield
• Make recommendations for planting and replanting trees and which selection of variety of fruits to be planted.
• Work with the QA team to review the harvested fruit for defects.
• Accountable for the oversight of labour management, ensuring that crews are working appropriate hours, remain productive, and are strategically transferred between farms to maximize efficiency and minimize non-essential tasks—an area that currently lacks clear ownership and must be strengthened
• Plan and oversee irrigation, harvest scheduling, fertilization, pest control, and seasonal transitions.
• Lead the team responsible for labor management, agronomy decisions, and day-to-day field operations.
• Coordinate with Packline, QA, and Logistics to align timing and quality standards from field to storage.
• Support capital and operational budgeting for orchard inputs and field infrastructure.
• Hire, coach, and retain top talent, ensuring every team member is aligned with expectations and values.
• Build systems of accountability using scorecards, MicroSTF data, and performance metrics.
• Working closely with the Orchard Labour Manager to ensuring the seasonal worker force are working appropriate hours, labour is kept productive, that labour is being transferred with other farms to maximize productive work and minimize any busy work.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and fellow Senior Managers to ensure seamless operational handoffs and aligned execution of company objectives.
• Develop and maintain financial dashboards and KPI reporting to drive visibility into performance and support data-informed decision-making.
• Build and lead a high-performing team by hiring A Players, using LMA (Lead, Manage, and hold Accountable), and developing future leaders. Actively model the company's core values—Humble, Driven, and Solutions-Oriented—by personally welcoming new hires, celebrating team achievements, and fostering an inclusive and empowering culture.
• Ensure that departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies, and procedures are developed, regularly reviewed, kept up to date, and that any changes are submitted through the appropriate approval process
• Lead Level 10 meetings with direct reports to ensure alignment with company goals and drive continuous improvement. Participate in other Level 10 meetings to contribute to organizational effectiveness.
• Lead strategic initiatives to improve efficiency, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Serve as the point of escalation for department-level issues, collaborating with other directors to ensure organizational alignment.
• Exercise discretion in giving or receiving gifts and promptly notify direct reports accordingly.
• Utilize Microsoft To-Do (or similar) for task tracking and reminders, ensuring productivity and accountability.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Agronomy & Crop Science: Expertise in orchard and field crop management, including irrigation, fertilization, pest control, and seasonal cycles.
• Post-Harvest Operations: Knowledge of harvest scheduling, packline coordination, quality assurance, and logistics.
• Labor & Team Management: Skilled in workforce planning, labor productivity, hiring, coaching, and building a high-performance, accountable team using frameworks like LMA.
• Operational Budgeting & Resource Management: Understanding of capital and operational budgeting, cost control, and efficient resource allocation.
• Performance Management & Data Analysis: Experience with scorecards, KPIs, MicroSTF or similar systems, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Leadership & Strategic Execution: Ability to lead cross-functional teams, conduct Level 10 meetings, and drive operational excellence and innovation.
• Communication & Relationship Building: Strong verbal and written communication skills to collaborate internally and externally, and to foster a culture of inclusion and recognition.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making: Competent in identifying issues, escalating appropriately, and implementing effective solutions.
• Time & Task Management: Highly organized with the ability to prioritize, manage deadlines, and use task management tools such as Microsoft To-Do.
• Ethics & Compliance: Knowledge of company policies, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, exercising discretion as needed.
• Culture & Values: Commitment to fostering a positive work environment aligned with the values of Humble, Driven, and Solutions-Oriented.
• Escalation Management: Skilled in handling department-level issues and ensuring organizational alignment and progress.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Science, or a related field required.
• Advanced degrees (e.g., Master's in Agricultural Management or Business Administration) are a plus but not mandatory.
• Relevant certifications in crop management, food safety, or leadership development are beneficial.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in orchard or field crop operations management, including hands-on agronomy and post-harvest operations.
• Proven track record in labor management, including seasonal workforce coordination and productivity optimization.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced agricultural environment.
• Demonstrated ability in budgeting and resource planning within agricultural or related operational settings.
• Familiarity with performance management systems, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement processes.
• Experience with compliance, safety programs, and ethical business practices.
• Proficiency in using project and task management tools (e.g., Microsoft To-Do) and ERP or other operational software systems is an asset.

In accordance with the Ontario Human rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, The Company is an equal opportunity employer who is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free recruitment and selection process. Applicants should advise Human Resources if they require any type of accommodation during the recruitment process.
Salary $110,000 annually

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