Job Description:
We are currently seeking a District Manager in Watsonville, CA.
Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership for the successful day-to-day operation of in-house strawberry, raspberry and blackberry farming and harvesting operations
- Manage a workforce of approximately 300 employees
- Work closely with outside grower/partners to ensure consistency in processes and quality
- Manage contract cooling and box forming operations
- Monitor operation expenses and research ways to reduce costs while maintaining product quality
- Work closely with the Human Resources Manager and Food Safety Manager to ensure all members of the production and harvesting team are aware of established policies and procedures
- Develop and execute farm and operations budgets, inventory control and capital expenditure requirements
- Manage profit & loss for the district
- Develop, organize & manage product quality and efficiency analytics (white boards etc...)
- Analyze workforce requirements
- Mentor and coach front-line managers, supervisors and employees and encourage a culture of development and personal/professional improvement
- Provide leadership for employees by being a good role model
- Encourage and promote operating in a continuous improvement environment
- Remove production constraints; allocate human and equipment resources and direct production employees to attain all established goals
- Identify opportunities to eliminate cost and/or waste by applying LEAN Manufacturing Principles
- Incorporate a culture of inclusion and continuity within all departments
- Identify, develop and implement best practices in safety and quality
- Develop and improve supplier and vendor relationships
- Manage special projects as required
Qualifications & Attributes:
- BS/MS in a business, finance, systems & operations management, engineering or other related field
- Experience in agricultural operations a plus
- Spanish/English bilingual
- Ability to travel
- Ability to be flexible and work long hours as needed
- Clean DMV record
- A strong customer focus
- 3+ years progressive experience in a key leadership/management role
- Previous experience/strong understanding of budgeting/expense management with a basic understanding of financial and accounting practices
- Strong computer skills including the ability to prepare spreadsheets and use Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Power Point etc..) to analyze data and trends
- Previous experience in implementing and using continuous improvement/lean manufacturing tools to drive continuous improvement
- Previous experience/broad understanding of quality, food safety and personnel safety systems
- Demonstrated strong leadership, team building and advanced coaching skills
- Demonstrated ability to motivate people, assess and develop team member skills
- Demonstrated understanding of the principles and applications associated with agricultural operations
- Excellent planning and organizational skills, with the ability to balance production and quality needs
- Excellent interpersonal communication and listening ability
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills
- A strong ability to be adaptable and flexible
- Highly motivated, results oriented and innovative
- Demonstrated ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams with or without formal authority
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple competing requests while maintaining a culture of accountability, execution and teamwork
- Demonstrated ability to build coalitions
