Job Description
The Rodale Organic Farm at St. Luke’s is an innovative and nationally-renown partnership between Rodale Institute and St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN). This partnership aims to create a highly successful and impactful farm-to-hospital model that is creating a new paradigm in food-as-medicine and regenerative healthcare. The Senior Farm Manager will collaborate with the St. Luke’s University Health Network leadership and serve as a public-facing and collaborative leader of this institutional program. The primary functions for this position are to provide healthy, seasonal, and organic produce to all hospital campuses within the St. Luke’s University Health Network. Additionally, the Senior Farm Manager will facilitate a high degree of cross-collaboration, communication, and execution for the program by working closely with multiple stakeholders.
Responsibilities include: - Collaborate with St. Luke’s leadership team to develop programs for St. Luke’s patients and staff that focus on the food-as-medicine initiative.
- Meet with outside interested individuals and attend conferences to present the farm to hospital approach
- Lead day-to-day farm operations in relationship to crop production at the St. Luke’s Hospital Anderson Campus. Field responsibilities include, but are not limited to harvesting, washing, and packing produce, weed, pest and disease management, planting, building cold frames or hoop houses, equipment maintenance and repair, etc.
- Manage and coordinate labor efforts among the farm staff
- Document field operations on Rodale Institute forms to satisfy organic certification requirements, research data collection needs, financial accounting and maintain production records on a regular basis
- Coordinate CSA and wholesale deliveries
- Coordinate maintenance schedules for tractor(s), truck(s) and other equipment
- Coordinate landscaping and facility maintenance and repairs among St. Luke’s hospital staff
- Operate equipment (tractors, tractor implements, small engine equipment, and hand tools) in a safe and efficient manner
- Complete and follow the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as well as FSMA
- Plan a growing schedule to ensure planting of crops are sufficient to meet needs of St Luke’s chefs and wellness goals
- Ensure farm plan meets all organic certifications
- Educate and train temporary staff and interns to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation
- Summarize and analyze production data to identify trends
- Maintain a clean workspace and offices
- Collaborate with St. Luke’s chefs and employee wellness personnel to ensure crop plan meet hospital requirements
- Coordinate with Rodale Institute staff for travel needs and purchasing supplies
- Assist the Communication Department with preparing media
- Assist with the Research team when necessary
- Prepare a yearly budget, budget narrative and quarterly reports
- Other duties may/will be assigned on a case by case and as-needed basis
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in horticulture or agronomy or equivalent experience
- 5 years experience working in vegetable production environment
- 3 years leadership experience in vegetable production environment
- Leadership experience successfully managing customer relationships/expectations a plus
- Must be able and willing to work in all types of weather
- Able to lift and carry 50 lbs
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proficient in MS Office suite
- Experience giving presentations/training a plus
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Expectations: Individuals must be committed to the farm’s success, and in turn, the farm will be committed to the individual’s success. To be trustful and respectful to all staff and visitors.
Travel: Travel will be required between Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA and the St. Luke’s Rodale Institute Organic Farm, and to conferences, grower meetings and workshops.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity or handicap.
Job Tags
Full time, Temporary work, Seasonal work,