General Manager, Idaho Seed Facilities

General Manager, Idaho Seed Facilities

General Purpose:

The General Manager of Idaho Seed Facilities provides strategic and tactical leadership for Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc.'s Nampa and Melba, Idaho facilities. This role owns end-to-end operations at both sites, including team development, health and safety, seed quality, the operating budget, and delivery against the annual seed production calendar. Critical operations include crop planning, planting and crop health, grower and landlord relationships, seed conditioning and treatment, packaging and shipping, machinery and facilities, people development, and customer service.

The General Manager leads approximately 4 to 8 direct reports and a seasonal workforce of 30 to 80 crew members across both sites and is accountable for deploying corporate policy at both sites. Sweet corn seed is the flagship product of the Idaho operation, and its production is one of the company's central purposes.

Essential Duties / Responsibilities:

Leadership and Team Development

• Build and develop a team of direct reports accountable for seed production at both facilities; define roles, expectations, and KPIs with each, and hold accountability conversations as the business requires.
• Develop a positive culture where everyone feels valued, respected, safe, and heard, and ensure clear communication reaches the full workforce, including team members whose first language is not English.
• Mentor, coach, and when necessary, discipline employees; actively participate in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring.
• Maintain an organizational chart with clear lines of communication, decision-making rights, and reporting structure.

Production and Operations Management

• Own the annual seed production calendar: assign deadlines to key milestones, hold team members accountable to their dates, and plan daily and weekly so that sequencing, orders, maintenance, and ag products are available when needed.
• Coordinate day-to-day operations of all departments under supervision at both the Nampa and Melba sites; plan labor, shifts, and schedules to ensure efficiency and quality, and actively manage work hours and company assets.
• Allocate labor, equipment, and seed volume between the Nampa and Melba sites, and harmonize processes, procedures, and records across both so that standards and quality outcomes are consistent.
• Communicate clear expectations to the seed production team, with sweet corn seed as the stated priority.
• Manage grower and landlord relationships supporting crop planning, planting, and crop health.
• Collect and analyze data to identify production issues proactively and improve existing practices.
• Lead effective production meetings weekly, or daily as the season requires.

Financial and Budget Management

• Maintain a working knowledge of the financial statements for each department under supervision, identifying and implementing cost and efficiency improvements.
• Develop, track, and control the annual operating budget and the capital expenditure budget for both facilities.
• Integrate the business plan, goals, and financial forecasts into day-to-day decisions and communications.
• Manage contracts and service agreements to protect IFSI's interests; prepare cost estimates and proposals for new and existing work.

Quality, Safety, and Compliance

• Own continuous improvement of safety, quality, training, and standards against both company and client requirements; monitor and report damages and claims.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances, and daily completion of all required company and client paperwork.
• Administer inventory procedures and reporting; drive accurate data entry for material location, quantity on hand, and value.
• Proactively manage material exceptions and escalate critical matters to the VP of Operations.

Facilities, Equipment, and External Engagement

• Ensure employees have the tools, machinery, transportation, knowledge, and equipment to work effectively and safely.
• Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with clients and customers.
• Participate in industry forums to stay current on industry direction and new technologies, and advise IFSI corporate leadership on the strategic opportunities and operational capabilities of the Idaho facilities.

Qualifications:

The following four capabilities are the primary requirements for this role and will form the basis of candidate evaluation:

• Leadership. Demonstrated success leading a multi-level team, including managers and a large seasonal workforce, with evidence of developing people into greater responsibility. Comfortable moving between a coaching style that builds capability in the team and a directive style that sets the call when appropriate.
• Organizational capability. Proven ability to plan, sequence, and hold a complex operating calendar across multiple departments within a compressed seasonal window.
• Decision-making. Track record of making timely operational decisions under pressure and incomplete information, and owning the outcome. During peak production, a timely decision with good information is worth more than a perfect decision made late.
• Communication. Clear, direct, and consistent communication upward to leadership, laterally to peers, and downward to managers and crew.

Additional qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Crop Science, Business, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Seven or more years of progressive operations experience, including at least three years directly supervising managers or supervisors.
• Experience owning an operating and capital budget, with demonstrated cost and efficiency improvements.
• Background in seed production, agricultural processing, food processing, or comparable seasonal production operations.
• Working knowledge of safety programs and OSHA requirements in a production environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and with inventory or production tracking systems.
• Valid driver's license and good driving record; ability to obtain relevant licenses as needed, which may include forklift, pesticide applicator, and fumigation and treatment licensing.

Physical Requirements:

• Capable of working long hours and weekends during critical periods of the production season, and outdoors in high heat, dust, and variable weather.
• Ability to move throughout active warehouse and conditioning facilities at both sites, including stairs, catwalks, and equipment areas, and to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Regular travel between the Nampa and Melba sites, and travel to production sites, grower fields, and other IFSI facilities as required.

Training:

Orientation to IFSI systems, the seed production calendar, and both Idaho facilities is provided by the VP of Operations. Because the work is seasonal, full exposure to the operating cycle takes a complete production year.

Location:

Nampa and Melba, Idaho.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range of $105,000 to $145,000, commensurate with experience.
• Eligible for an annual incentive tied to safety performance, seed quality, cost management, and on-time delivery against the seed production calendar.
• Full benefit package including health, dental, vision, life, STD, LTD, 401(k), and PTO. Company vehicle provided.
• This salary range is an estimate and may vary based on market data, an applicant's skills and prior relevant experience, certifications, and other relevant factors.

Reporting:

The General Manager, Idaho Seed Facilities reports to the Vice President of Operations and is accountable for the leadership and performance of all Nampa and Melba facility operations. The position supervises approximately 4 to 8 direct reports, including the Operations Manager, as well as full-time, part-time, seasonal, and contract labor. Other duties may be assigned to support IFSI's overall business objectives and growth.