Director of Agriculture

Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center; East Thetford (VT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Paid personal/sick/ parental leave

Staff discounts

Housing may be available

Job summary

Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, a nonprofit organic farm in Vermont, seeks a mission-driven DoA to lead vegetable, berry, and flower production. The role oversees three managers, aligns agricultural goals with the mission, and mentors staff in climate-resilient farming practices.

The candidate will bring 5–7 years of diversified organic vegetable production on a commercial farm, leadership in budgeting, and a track record of collaboration with external partners.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience managing diversified organic vegetable production on a commercial farm.
• Experience producing vegetables for direct-market sales (CSA, farmstand, farmers' markets, wholesale).
• Deep understanding of organic certification, soil health, and sustainable production practices.
• Strong team management and communication skills, with ability to foster collaboration.
• Proven leadership in farm operations, including budgeting and infrastructure management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance for vegetable, berry, and flower operations.
• Supervise and mentor three departmental managers while promoting accountability and safety.
• Set goals, prioritize, manage budgets, and develop long-term plans balancing labor, environment, and market.
• Review production plans with managers and support adaptive decision-making.
• Ensure operations uphold Cedar Circle's mission and values.
• Foster collaboration across agriculture, education, retail, marketing, and administration.

Skills

Organic vegetable production

People management

Budgeting

Strategic leadership

Communication

Job description

Full-time, Year-round

Cedar Circle & Education Center seeks a mission-driven and experienced farmer to lead our nonprofit organic vegetable, berry, and flower farming operations. We are looking for a leader who combines deep practical expertise in certified organic vegetable production with strong organizational and people management skills and a passion for regenerative agriculture.

The Director of Agriculture (DoA) provides strategic oversight and leadership to a team of three departmental managers, helping ensure that agricultural goals are clearly defined, well coordinated, aligned with Cedar Circle's mission, and effectively executed. The DoA serves as a senior source of agricultural expertise for the production team, providing guidance and mentorship grounded in extensive practical farming experience while supporting managers in their areas of responsibility. This position also plays a central role in communicating Cedar Circle's agricultural practices and advancing innovative, climate-resilient approaches to farming.

The successful candidate will bring firsthand experience managing the complexities of mid-sized (15-30+ acre) certified organic vegetable production-from crop planning and field operations to harvest, labor management, and producing high-quality crops for market. While experience in other agricultural sectors and in research settings is valuable, it does not substitute for the required experience in commercial certified organic vegetable production.

Responsibilities

Production Leadership & Oversight

• Draw on practical organic farming experience to provide strategic oversight and guidance for Cedar Circle's vegetable, berry, and flower operations.
• Supervise and mentor three departmental managers while nurturing a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Help establish goals, identify priorities, manage budgets, and develop long-term plans while balancing labor, financial, environmental, and market considerations.
• Review production plans and outcomes with managers, identify opportunities for improvement, and support adaptive decision-making throughout the season.
• Ensure that agricultural operations uphold Cedar Circle's mission and values.

Organizational & Team Leadership

• Help prioritize investments in equipment, infrastructure, facilities, and other agricultural resources.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, coordination, and financial sustainability across agricultural operations.
• Ensure compliance with organic certification, relevant regulations, and organizational policies.
• Work closely with the Executive Director and leadership team to align agricultural operations with broader organizational priorities.
• Foster strong communication and collaboration among agriculture, education, retail, marketing, development, and administration.
• Help connect agricultural decisions to Cedar Circle's educational, community, and financial goals.

Partnerships & Outreach

• Partner with the Research Director to ensure that on-farm research complements and strengthens commercial production goals.
• Help evaluate and thoughtfully incorporate new practices that advance soil health, biodiversity, climate resilience, and organic production.
• Support research collaborations and grant-funded projects when they align with Cedar Circle's agricultural priorities.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with agricultural organizations, research partners, landowners, agencies, and other external stakeholders.
• Oversee agricultural land partnerships and shared land use, including lease renewals and ongoing communication with land partners.
• Represent Cedar Circle and its agricultural work within the broader farming and local food community.
• Support educational programming, farm events, festivals, and other community engagement activities as appropriate.

Required Agricultural Experience & Qualifications

Required

• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience managing diversified organic vegetable production, including significant hands-on experience on a commercial small- or medium-scale farm.
• Experience producing vegetables for direct-market sales (CSA, farmstand, farmers' markets, wholesale, or similar), with an understanding of balancing crop quality, labor, yields, and market demand.
• Deep understanding of organic certification, soil health, and sustainable production practices (e.g., minimum tillage, nutrient and pest management).
• Strong team management and communication skills, with the ability to foster collaboration and a positive organizational culture.
• Proven leadership in farm operations, including budgeting and infrastructure management.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple projects and priorities with flexibility, creativity, and strategic focus.
• Experience building partnerships and representing an organization to external stakeholders and collaborators.

Preferred

• Familiarity with native plant propagation, nursery operations, or greenhouse production.
• Experience with research collaborations, educational programming, or market development initiatives.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, year-round position with a salary range of $75K-$85K. Benefits include: health insurance (premium 100% employer paid, 50% paid for minor dependents); paid personal, sick, and parental leave; a 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer safe harbor match; short-term disability insurance (100% employer paid), 20% discount at our farmstand and café; 50% off summer and vacation camps for dependents; and access to an employee assistance program.

2-Bedroom onsite housing may be available.

About Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center

Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center is a nonprofit, certified organic farm located on over 50 acres of conserved land along the Connecticut River in East Thetford, Vermont. Our organization has a deep commitment to developing organic regenerative agriculture systems for our annual vegetable and flower production and to offering educational programming that builds connections between our food, ecosystems, and community.

Our farm is a community hub with a farmstand, retail greenhouses, a farm kitchen, a coffee shop, a cut flower garden, education programs, and unique CSA options. It's a place where folks can learn about and deepen their appreciation for organic regenerative agriculture.

Our staff is a reflection of our community and is the most essential aspect of our farm. When you join our dynamic team, you'll have the opportunity to make valuable contributions to our greater mission of promoting organic, regenerative farming and the transition to a localized food economy!

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.

Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.