- Department: AgOps
- Reports to: VP of AgOps
- Location: Salinas
Position Summary:The Director of Growing & Harvesting Operations oversees all end-to-end activities crop production, harvesting, and inbound raw-material logistics across all regions. This role leads raw product supply contract negotiations, ensuring full adherence to pound and acre supply agreements with a focus on cost management and ensuring product quality. The Director of Growing & Harvesting Operations is responsible for driving field execution across iceberg, romaine, brassica and mixed-leaf crops-providing accurate supply estimates, mitigating quality and food-safety risks, and ensuring operational readiness across Santa Maria, Salinas, Yuma, and other regions. The role partners closely with sourcing and operations teams to identify solutions for supply gaps and maintain disciplined budget performance.
Key Responsibilities:- Growing & Harvesting Oversight
• Direct production and harvesting operations across multi-region locations (e.g., Santa Maria, Salinas, Yuma).
• Provide accurate and timely supply estimates and field availability updates for all major crop types (iceberg, romaine, brassica and mixed-leaf).
• Ensure raw product meets quality, food safety, and customer specifications.
Contract Negotiation & Compliance
• Lead contract negotiations with grower partners and vendors across all production regions.
• Ensure adherence to pound and acre agreements for internal production and outside purchases.
• Monitor contract performance, escalate compliance gaps, and resolve contractual issues as needed.
Cost & Budget Management
• Own harvesting cost performance, including labor, equipment, and logistics.
• Maintain strict budget discipline and identify opportunities for cost efficiencies.
• Partner with finance to create accurate seasonal and annual harvest budgets.
Field Quality, Risk Mitigation & Food Safety
• Proactively mitigate field-level quality challenges (weather impacts, pest pressure, yield variability).
• Ensure harvesting operations meet all company and regulatory food-safety requirements.
• Implement corrective actions when field deviations or quality risks occur.
Cross-Functional & Supply Alignment
• Partner with sourcing, raw-material planning, and supply planning teams to ensure supply meets demand.
• Coordinate sourcing solutions when supply gaps occur, including outside purchases.
• Communicate real-time field updates to internal stakeholders for planning and ensuring customer service.
Leadership & Team Development
• Lead, coach, and develop production and harvesting teams.
• Promote continuous improvement across field operations, logistics, and quality management.
Minimum Qualifications:- 10+ years of experience in growing operations, harvesting management, agricultural supply chain, or fresh produce leadership.
• Deep knowledge of crop cycles, yield forecasting, field operations, and quality management.
• Proven experience negotiating agricultural contracts and managing vendor/grower relationships.
• Strong understanding of perishable supply chains and inbound raw-material logistics.
• Demonstrated success managing large field teams across multiple regions.
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets and cost-control initiatives.
• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Science, Ag Business, Supply Chain, or equivalent experience; Master's preferred.
• Ability to travel frequently across growing regions.
