Farm Operations Senior Lead

Bonton Farms; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Wellness resources

401(k)

Dental insurance

Job summary

Bonton Farms is seeking a Farm Operations Sr. Lead to direct daily farming activities, oversee budgeting and safety, and mentor Farm Leads. You will coordinate propagation, irrigation, harvest planning, and compliance across the site, ensuring efficient production and adherence to safety standards.

The role requires hands-on leadership, cross-functional coordination, and ability to manage multiple operations while maintaining quality and training standards.

Qualifications

• 2+ years hands-on experience in diversified vegetable/specialty crop production.
• 3–5 years hands-on experience; 1+ year in a lead role; proficiency in propagation/greenhouse, irrigation design/scheduling, IPM scouting/response, harvest leadership, post-harvest/wash–pack management.
• Strong knowledge of crop production, livestock management, irrigation systems, and sustainable farming practices.
• Experience with farm budgeting, financial planning, and record-keeping.
• Ability to operate and maintain farm machinery, tools, and equipment.
• Prior leadership experience, with the ability to train, supervise, and manage farm teams.
• Proficiency in using basic accounting software and farm management tools.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.
• Strong documentation habits; comfort with email, shared calendars, and simple spreadsheets/log apps.

Responsibilities

• Execute work plans across bed prep, seeding/transplanting, irrigation, cultivation, trellising, scouting, harvesting, wash/pack, and cold chain.
• Set up crews, assign tasks, monitor pace/quality, and adjust for weather and priorities; maintain clean, organized work areas.
• Lead complex operations (propagation calendars, irrigation scheduling, IPM thresholds, harvest planning, pack-line flow).
• Enforce produce safety/GAP SOPs; ensure PPE use and safe equipment operation.
• Conduct toolbox talks and safety observations; document and correct issues.
• Senior level adds: Prepare areas and documentation for audits/inspections; lead corrective actions and coach Leads on compliance.
• Provide task direction and on-the-job coaching to crew members, apprentices, and volunteers; model respectful, trauma-informed communication.
• Escalate performance/safety concerns to the Farm Manager with timely documentation.
• Senior level adds: Mentor Farm Leads; run start-of-shift huddles and end-of-day debriefs; provide input to 30–60–90 reviews.
• Deliver structured OJT using competency checklists and approved lesson plans; rotate apprentices to meet learning objectives.
• Record attendance, competency sign-offs, and incident/recognition notes in HRIS/LMS; coordinate with the People Program to address barriers.
• Senior level adds: Validate competencies, recommend milestone wage progressions, participate in interviews/orientation, and co-facilitate micro-trainings (soft skills, job readiness).
• Communicate status, issues, and supply needs; align harvest specs and delivery timing with Restaurant and Grocery Connect.
• Senior level adds: Manage inventory for seeds, amendments, packaging, sanitation, and PPE; submit timely reorders.
• Perform basic preventive maintenance; ensure tool accountability and safe storage.
• Senior level adds: Coordinate repairs and service with the Farm Manager/vendors; maintain maintenance logs.
• Maintain accurate daily logs (planting, inputs, harvest weights, culls/waste, labor hours, sanitation/temperature).
• Senior level adds: Produce weekly site/function summaries (yield vs. plan, quality holds, downtime, safety observations).
• Support tours, classes, and volunteer events to provide safe, productive experiences.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Perform farming duties as needed, including fieldwork, equipment operation, planting, and animal care.

Skills

Leadership

Irrigation design

IPM scouting

Harvest leadership

Budgeting

Crew direction

Farm machinery

Accounting software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Agriculture

Tools

Farm management software

Excel

Job description

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Wellness resources
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance

Farm Operations Sr. Lead

Overview of Role

The Senior Farm Lead are working leaders who execute Bonton Farms’ daily production plans and uphold quality, safety, and training standards. The Senior Farm Lead owns a site or major function (e.g., greenhouse/propagation, field production, or post-harvest/wash-pack), mentors Farm Leads, and acts as site lead when the Farm Manager is off-site.

Primary Responsibilities

The Farm Operations Lead will evaluate, plan, organize, and oversee all aspects of farming, harvesting, and livestock operations. Additionally, they will play a key role in financial management, budgeting, and operational development.

Daily Operations

• Execute work plans: bed prep, seeding/transplanting, irrigation, cultivation, trellising, scouting, harvesting, wash/pack, and cold chain.
• Set up crews, assign tasks, monitor pace/quality, and adjust for weather and priorities; maintain clean, organized work areas.
• Senior level adds: Convert seasonal/weekly plans into daily schedules; rebalance labor across crews/sites; lead complex operations (propagation calendars, irrigation scheduling, IPM thresholds, harvest planning, pack-line flow).

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Enforce produce safety/GAP SOPs (sanitation, lot tracking, temperature logs, FIFO); ensure PPE use and safe equipment operation.
• Conduct toolbox talks and routine safety observations; document and correct issues promptly.
• Senior level adds: Prepare areas and documentation for audits/inspections; lead corrective actions and coach Leads on compliance.

People Leadership & Coaching

• Provide task direction and on-the-job coaching to crew members, apprentices, and volunteers; model respectful, trauma-informed communication.
• Escalate performance/safety concerns to the Farm Manager with timely documentation.
• Senior level adds: Mentor Farm Leads; run start-of-shift huddles and end-of-day debriefs; provide input to 30–60–90 reviews.

Apprenticeship Program & People Program Partnership

• Deliver structured OJT using competency checklists and approved lesson plans; rotate apprentices to meet learning objectives.
• Record attendance, competency sign-offs, and incident/recognition notes in HRIS/LMS; coordinate with the People Program to address barriers (transportation, accommodations, readiness).
• Senior level adds: Validate competencies, recommend milestone wage progressions, participate in interviews/orientation, and co-facilitate micro-trainings (soft skills, job readiness).

Coordination & Communication

• Communicate status, issues, and supply needs; align harvest specs and delivery timing with Restaurant and Grocery Connect.
• Senior level adds: Manage inventory for seeds, amendments, packaging, sanitation, and PPE; submit timely reorders.

Equipment & Facilities

• Perform basic preventive maintenance; ensure tool accountability and safe storage.
• Senior level adds: Coordinate repairs and service with the Farm Manager/vendors; maintain maintenance logs.

Data & Reporting

• Maintain accurate daily logs (planting, inputs, harvest weights, culls/waste, labor hours, sanitation/temperature).
• Senior level adds: Produce weekly site/function summaries (yield vs. plan, quality holds, downtime, safety observations).

Other

• Support tours, classes, and volunteer events to provide safe, productive experiences.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Perform farming duties as needed, including fieldwork, equipment operation, planting, and animal care.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required Skills & Experience

• Farm Lead (Level I): 2+ years hands-on experience in diversified vegetable/specialty crop or urban farm production; prior crew direction preferred.
• Senior Farm Lead (Level II): 3–5 years hands-on experience; 1+ year in a lead role; proficiency in at least three areas (propagation/greenhouse, irrigation design/scheduling, IPM scouting/response, harvest leadership, post-harvest/wash–pack management).
• Strong knowledge of crop production, livestock management, irrigation systems, and sustainable farming practices.
• Experience with farm budgeting, financial planning, and record-keeping.
• Ability to operate and maintain farm machinery, tools, and equipment.
• Prior leadership experience, with the ability to train, supervise, and manage farm teams.
• Proficiency in using basic accounting software and farm management tools.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.
• Commitment to safety regulations and best farming practices.
• Strong documentation habits; comfort with email, shared calendars, and simple spreadsheets/log apps.
• Valid driver’s license; ability to operate small tractors/implements and powered equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Farm Management, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Knowledge of organic or regenerative farming techniques.
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations or community farms.
• Familiarity with marketing and distribution of farm products.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Comfortable working with heavy equipment and machinery.
• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs and perform physically demanding tasks.
• Willingness to work irregular hours, including early mornings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.
• Fundamental first aid skills (or willingness to undergo training).

Note: This job description is intended to outline the primary duties and responsibilities of the position; however, additional duties, responsibilities, and assignments may be required or assigned at any time based on business needs, operational priorities, or organizational necessity.