Annual and Perennial Department Manager

Full Time, Year Round
Weekend availability required

We are looking for a detail oriented, positive team member to manage our greenhouse and outdoor cut flower systems, develop a robust native perennial plant enterprise and make an impact in a mission driven organization that focuses on agricultural education and research.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Annual and Perennial (A&P) Manager is responsible for all of Cedar Circle’s annual and perennial plant growing environments, including propagation areas, retail greenhouses, garden retail area, outdoor cut flower garden, and perennial nursery. This position is responsible for all annual and perennial growing environments and the management of a team of seasonal staff to accomplish department goals. The ideal candidate will be excited about developing educational opportunities and finding creative ways to connect community members and visitors to our farm and production systems. By working closely with our retail, education, and marketing staff, the A&P manager ensures that visitors are provided with top notch customer service and are educated about the products and systems at CCFEC.

We are currently in a transition period where we are focusing both our retail perennial area and cut flower garden on perennial ‘Plants with a Purpose’—native, local ecotype, pollinator support, and herbal plants that build ecosystem function on our landscape and empower our community members to have a positive impact in the face of biodiversity loss and climate change. Candidates for this position should be excited about native plants and eager to help build out our nursery and educational offerings to this end.

Department Responsibilities

Planning and Implementation

Oversee all production of annuals, perennials, and cut flower garden, including but not limited to: propagation, watering, fertilizing, and monitoring of plant health and greenhouse and systems
Review and analyze sales data from previous year; create crop plans and seed charts accordingly
Order all plants, seeds, pottery, garden tools, and necessary supplies for the department
Coordinate all aspects of the cut flower garden management—planning, field preparation, planting, weeding, irrigating, and fertility management—and implement it with the A&P team.
Organize the cut flower CSA, PYO, and bulk flower operations, which involves customer coordination, maintaining order records, staffing harvest days, and invoicing with support from admin and outreach staff
Enter and price all department products into our point of sale (POS) system, create tags and signs for all plants to be sold, and track sales over the course of the season
Maintain records for compliance with USDA organic certification requirements including materials documentation, plant sourcing records, and propagation records
Research and create informative point of purchase signage and educational materials for annual and perennial plants, in coordination with Outreach and Engagement Coordinator
Develop and review department budget in conjunction with the Director of Agriculture
Pest management through detailed scouting and implementation of organic pest and disease control methods
Work with marketing and retail staff to promote products, including but not limited to: assisting with website content creation and organizing plant sales
Develop and present educational opportunities for our community members and visitors; find creative ways to engage the public with our local food system and our farming practices
Foster connections with allied organizations, participate in off site educational and networking events, and build a network of native plant and pollinator focused allies

Personnel

Hire, train, supervise, and work beside a seasonal team and department lead to accomplish all department goals
Staff scheduling, project and task coordination, and oversight of quality control

Retail

Receive orders and unpackage, display, price and organize retail areas
Keep the greenhouses neat, tidy, and in working order (watering, heating, ventilation, and fertilization systems) with support from our team
Maintain retail areas during 8-month sales season, creating and maintaining aesthetically pleasing displays, with signage, that are easy for customers and staff to navigate
Oversee customer service for all Annual and Perennial department sales and provide customer service coverage during peak times

Farm Team Responsibilities

Proactively anticipate and communicate workload and equipment needs with other departments
Maintain a smooth, timely flow with team members while working through projects, balancing efficiency with quality
Make sound judgment calls on project implementation and time management
Participate in organizational planning and development with the CCFEC leadership team throughout the season
Support other departments as needed and balance the needs of the organization as a whole
Participate in educational activities and events as required and pre-arranged by Education Programs Manager
Contribute to a positive, meaningful work experience for all co-workers

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

Required

At least three growing seasons of experience in the plant industry with at least two full seasons of previous greenhouse growing & plant propagation experience and at least two full seasons of outdoor garden, flower garden, or nursery experience
Comfort developing and leading workshops and training opportunities
Leadership experience, including organizing, training and leading a seasonal team
Excellent time management skills and consistent attention to detail
Positive interpersonal and clear consistent communication skills
Ability to take direction, ask for help/clarity, and give/accept constructive feedback
Ability to work independently and within a team environment
Flexible, creative, and able to perform well in diverse conditions
Hands-on management with the ability to work alongside your team in an outdoor and greenhouse environment, which could include cold, rainy weather and hot humid days – standing, sitting, bending, lifting and kneeling and completing repetitive tasks
Ability to use computers; develop, review and keep detailed records; and utilize a two-way radio for daily communications

Desired

A passion for native perennials and all plants garden related
Knowledge of and experience with pest scouting, IPM, and pest control
Experience developing and managing a department budget

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time year-round position. The Annual and Perennial Manager is an hourly position starting at $24+/hour, DOE, with benefits including:

403 B retirement plan with a 5% employer safe harbor match
Health insurance 100% premium paid by employer
Professional development opportunities, industry conferences, etc.
20% discount at the farmstand, greenhouses, and Hello Café
Paid Holiday and Sick Time
Two weeks of paid parental leave

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references through our employment application below, or email application materials to growing@cedarcirclefarm.org. Apply by November 30th for first consideration. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after this date until the position is filled.

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Cedar Circle Farm is an EEO/AA employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Due to the volume of applications that we receive, we are not able to reply to every applicant individually. We will be in touch via e-mail if we are interested in scheduling an interview with you.