Farm Manager

Jones Valley Teaching Farm; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Jones Valley Teaching Farm in Birmingham, Alabama, seeks a salaried Farm Manager to lead day-to-day production on a multi-site farm, oversee interns and volunteers, and maintain safety and record-keeping standards. The role requires hands-on crop production experience, budgeting, and strong leadership to support JVTF’s mission and educational programs.

The Farm Manager will oversee site production, distribution, and stakeholder coordination, ensuring a welcoming, productive learning environment

Qualifications

• Two+ years hands-on experience growing vegetables using organic, sustainable, or regenerative practices, including at least two seasons managing production at a farm or large garden site preferred
• Experience supervising people
• Experience with produce distribution and food-safety practices for fresh produce

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute the site's annual crop plan, including greenhouse sowing, transplanting, direct seeding, irrigation, pest and disease management, pruning, trellising, and bed turnover
• Harvest, wash, pack, and distribute produce for farm programs and partner deliveries to food-safety standards
• Supervise interns, volunteers, and station staff; lead tours and manage daily tasks and evaluations
• Maintain site cleanliness and safety; assist with budget oversight and maintenance planning

Skills

Farm management

People supervision

Hydroponics knowledge

Budgeting and purchasing

Job description

Founded in 2002, Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) located in Birmingham, Alabama. Envisioning communities inspired by food and transformed by youth, JVTF uses food as a foundation so young people can lead, create, and grow a healthy future for themselves and their community. Learn more at jvtf.org.

Our Culture: The “Teaching Farm” isn’t just part of our name, it’s the heart of our mission. Every team member plays a vital role in educating, mentoring, and working alongside students and young people. If you’re energized by passing on your knowledge and skills while doing meaningful work, you’ll thrive here.

The Farm Manager oversees one of JVTF's largest Teaching Farms located on 2–3 acres of production, orchard, greenhouse, and gathering spaces at either the Center for Food Education or Woodlawn High School. Under the supervision of the Farm Operations Manager, this position leads the site’s day-to-day operations and upholds the organization’s vision of welcoming, productive, and diverse learning environments. The Farm Manager is responsible for all aspects of crop production, produce distribution, farm-related record keeping, care of farm equipment and infrastructure. It is the Farm Manager’s role to serve as a steward of their site and to welcome a variety of individuals to engage with the work and mission of the organization. The site is both a working farm and a classroom, and the Farm Manager ensures that it is both productive and welcoming at the same time.

This position is responsible for leading interns, volunteers, and any JVTF Growers stationed at their site. They collaborate with JVTF’s Education, Community Programs, and Development teams to coordinate program needs.

The role is hands-on and physically demanding. This work requires a deep understanding of sustainable and diverse growing practices. A successful candidate must have a high degree of professionalism, strong management, organizational, and communication skills.

Core Responsibilities:

Site Production

• Plan and execute the site's annual crop plan: greenhouse sowing, transplanting, direct seeding, irrigation, fertigation, pest and disease management, pruning, trellising, and bed turnover
  Manage soil health through composting, cover cropping, and amendments; maintain orchard, perennial, and pollinator plantings
  Operate hydroponic and vertical systems at assigned sites: nutrient mixing, pH and EC monitoring, lighting, water changes, and system cleaning
  Operate the site's greenhouse and manage hydroponic systems to JVTF's production standards
  Complete weekly farm walks, manage produce availability for programs, and keep bed, pest, amendment, and harvest records current
  Purchase farm equipment, materials, and supplies within the site budget; maintain inventory

Programs and Distribution

• Harvest, wash, pack, and distribute produce for the farm stand, harvest shares, education and culinary programs, and partner deliveries, to food-safety standards
  Operate the weekly farm stand, manage and make deliveries for CSA program, coordinate partner pickups
  Coordinate with the Education, Community Programs, and Development teams on produce needs, field trips, camps, and events hosted on the farm
  Host and support site events that bring students, families, and the community onto the farm

People Management: Interns, Apprentices, Volunteers, and Stationed Staff

• Supervise interns: daily task lists, skills training, expectations, feedback, and evaluations
  Direct the day-to-day work of any Grower stationed at the site
  Manage volunteer programs on the farm: scheduled shifts, open hours, and group workdays, including waivers, check-in, safety standards, and supervision
  Serve as a leader and model for students, interns, volunteers, and visitors; delegate fairly and supervise actively
  Lead formal and informal farm tours

Site Stewardship and Budget

• Keep the whole site clean, organized, safe, and welcoming: fields, greenhouse, sheds, wash station, walk-in cooler, and gathering spaces
  Execute or arrange regular maintenance and repairs of tools, equipment, vehicles, and infrastructure; coordinate larger projects with the Facilities Manager
  Maintain bed records, pest and amendment logs, harvest logs, and volunteer records weekly
  Collaborate with the Farm Operations Manager to oversee and maintain the site’s budget

Growing Practices

• Complete hydroponic training; all farm staff are expected to grow in soil and in controlled-environment systems
  Follow the production standards set by Jones Valley Teaching Farm

Please note that this job description is not designed to provide a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this position. Job responsibilities may change at any time and without prior notice.

Physical Requirements

• Able to perform physically demanding farm work outdoors in varying temperatures
  Able to lift 50 lbs or more, bending, kneeling, and standing for extended periods
  Able to safely operate and maintain hand tools, power tools, mowers, tractors or similar equipment, and farm vehicles
  Willing to work weekends and early mornings or evenings (when needed)

Qualifications

• Two or more years of hands‑on experience growing vegetables using organic, sustainable, or regenerative practices, including at least two seasons managing production at a farm or large garden site preferred
  Experience supervising people
  Experience with produce distribution such as a CSA, produce stand, or institutional deliveries, and with food‑safety practices for fresh produce
  Working knowledge of, or demonstrated ability to learn, hydroponic or other controlled‑environment growing
  Budget and purchasing experience; strong record‑keeping

Personal Attributes

• Clear, direct, and encouraging in leading interns, volunteers, and stationed staff
  Gracious host to students, volunteers, and partners
  Resourceful with tools, repairs, and budgets
  Open to feedback and to the standards set by JVTF

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000

Deadline

November 23, 2026