Director of Farm Management

JK Farms; Bliss (ID); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Company vehicle

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Hagerman Canyon Farms in Bliss, Idaho, seeks a Director of Farm Management to lead crop production across 17,000 acres in Southern Idaho. The role oversees five Farm Managers and drives accountability for crop planning, execution, yield, quality, and profitability across multiple farming units.

The ideal candidate combines agronomy expertise, strong leadership, budgeting, and problem-solving skills with experience managing specialty and rotation crops, including watermelons, sweet corn, onions,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of commercial farm management or crop-production management experience, including leadership of managers.
• Strong background in irrigation, fertility, crop protection, and field operations.
• Experience managing large acreage or a complex operation; willing to travel and work in the field.
• Analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and planning skills; computer-literate.
• Willingness to learn quickly, develop people, and drive profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop five Farm Managers across 17,000 acres with clear expectations and accountability.
• Provide senior guidance on agronomic, irrigation, fertility, and crop protection challenges.
• Develop annual crop and production budgets with leadership and Farm Managers.
• Oversee harvest planning and coordinate with sales, warehouse, and operations.
• Drive continuous improvement through trials, data analysis, and process optimization.

Skills

Leadership

Crop production

Agronomy

People management

Budgeting

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Agronomy / Crop Science / Agricultural Business

Tools

Center-pivot irrigation

Drip irrigation

Excel

Job description

Director of Farm Management

Hagerman Canyon Farms | Bliss, Idaho
Scope:~17,000 acres |Direct Reports:~5 Farm Managers
Reports To:President |Total Compensation:$150,000–$210,000
Benefits:Health Insurance, 401(k), Company Vehicle |Relocation Assistance:Available

Position Summary

Hagerman Canyon Farms (HCF) is seeking an experiencedDirector of Farm Managementto lead crop production across approximately17,000 acres in Southern Idaho. This senior leadership role will oversee approximatelyfive Farm Managersand drive accountability for crop planning, execution, yield, quality, and profitability across multiple farming units.

The Director will provide strategic and technical leadership acrossspecialty crops and rotation crops, including watermelon, sweet corn, onions, pumpkins, field corn, and hay, while overseeing production programs for potatoes and sugar beets through HCF's sister company, Jentzsch Kearl Farms.

The ideal candidate is an experienced agricultural leader with strongcommercial crop production, agronomy, people management, budgeting, and problem-solving skills. Experience with every crop is not required; HCF values the ability to learn quickly, manage complexity, develop people, and consistently deliver results.

Key Responsibilities

Farm Management & Leadership

• Lead and develop approximatelyfive Farm Managers across 17,000 acres, establishing clear expectations and accountability for planning, execution, crop performance, and financial results.
• Partner closely with Farm Managers during the growing season to identify issues, make timely production decisions, and maintain high standards across farming units.
• Provide senior-level guidance onagronomic, irrigation, fertility, crop protection, and field-production challenges.
• Evaluate Farm Manager performance and support staffing, compensation, and employment decisions as needed.
• Collaborate with Field Operations, Sales, Warehouse, and other departments to resolve operational issues and maintain alignment.

Crop Production & Agronomy

• Develop and oversee annual production programs forwatermelon, sweet corn, onions, pumpkins, field corn, and hay.
• Oversee the execution of potato and sugar beet production programs forJentzsch Kearl Farms.
• Provide technical leadership inirrigation, fertility, crop protection, and integrated crop-management practices.
• Develop fertilizer programs usingsoil and tissue analysisand guide crop-protection programs, includingFRAC resistance-management practices.
• Oversee bothcenter-pivot and drip irrigation systems.
• Diagnose crop and production problems, determine root causes, and implement practical, economically sound corrective actions.

Planning, Budgeting & Performance

• Develop annualcrop and production budgetswith Farm Managers and company leadership.
• Monitor crop performance, costs, yield, quality, and profitability throughout the growing season.
• Hold Farm Managers accountable to production and financial targets.
• Conduct postseason reviews and use results to improve futurecrop plans, practices, varieties, and field decisions.
• Build effective planning systems, schedules, dashboards, and management tools using technology and automation.

Harvest & Commercial Coordination

• Evaluate crop maturity and harvest readiness and establish harvest priorities based on crop condition, customer requirements, weather, labor, and capacity.
• Coordinate harvest planning and volume projections across Farm Management, Field Operations, Sales, and Warehouse.
• Support fresh-market sales relationships and serve as the primary farm-management contact for processing customers.
• Monitor harvest quality and efficiency and adjust plans as conditions change.

Research & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and overseevariety and production trialsfocused on improving yield, quality, harvest timing, efficiency, and market opportunities.
• Evaluate trial results and determine which practices or varieties should transition into commercial production.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improveagronomic practices, technology, management systems, and farm profitability.

Ideal Candidate

HCF is seeking a hands-on agricultural leader who can manage through others while maintaining strong technical credibility in the field. The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Leadership:Proven ability to manage managers, establish expectations, coach employees, and create accountability.
• Commercial Crop Production:Strong practical knowledge of agronomy, irrigation, fertility, crop protection, and field operations.
• Decision-Making:Ability to diagnose complex problems, evaluate alternatives, and make timely, economically sound decisions.
• Planning & Systems:Ability to manage multiple farms, priorities, schedules, budgets, and production programs simultaneously.
• Analytical Skills:Ability to use production, soil, tissue, financial, and operational data to improve decisions and results.
• Technology:Strong computer skills and willingness to use technology, automation, spreadsheets, and dashboards to improve farm management.
• Communication:Ability to clearly communicate plans, priorities, expectations, and changes across departments and organizational levels.
• Accountability & Initiative:Takes ownership of results and proactively addresses issues before they materially affect production.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of commercial farm management or crop-production management experience, including leadership of managers or senior production personnel.
• Strong commercial crop-production background with experience inirrigation, fertility, crop protection, and field operations.
• Experience managing significant acreage or a similarly complex agricultural operation.
• Stronganalytical, problem-solving, organizational, and planning skills.
• Strong computer aptitude and willingness to use technology extensively.
• Ability to spend significant time in the field and travel regularly among HCF farming locations.
• Willingness to work extended hours during critical planting and harvest periods.

Preferred Qualifications

• Production experience with at least two of the following:onions, potatoes, sugar beets, watermelon, sweet corn, or pumpkins.
• Experience with bothcenter-pivot and drip irrigation.
• Bachelor's degree inAgronomy, Crop Science, Agricultural Business, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may substitute.
• AdvancedMicrosoft Excelskills, including automated or scalable planning and management tools.
• Spanish-language skills.

Location & Compensation

This position is based at HCF's main office inBliss, Idaho, with responsibility for farming operations inGooding, Bliss, Glenns Ferry, and Bruneau. Regular travel between farming units and significant field time are required.

Target Total Compensation:$150,000–$210,000, based on experience and qualifications.

HCF offers:

• Health insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• HealthShare
• 401(k)
• Company vehicle
• Relocation assistance for the right candidate

Join Hagerman Canyon Farms and lead the people, production systems, and agronomic strategy behind a 17,000-acre Southern Idaho farming operation.