Farm Operator

OISHII; Jersey City (NJ); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(K)

Employer Paid Life Insurance

Long Term Disability Insurance

Paid Parental leave

Paid Time Off

Paid Sick Time

Paid Training

Office social events

Employee activity groups

Job summary

Oishii is seeking a Farm Operator to execute planting, pruning, harvesting, cleaning, and sanitation on a bustling indoor farm. You will handle propagation, cultivation, and daily plant care while using advanced farming technologies. The role requires strong teamwork to coordinate with packaging and distribution, plus data collection to drive improvements.

Most work occurs on-site in a hands-on farming environment. High School Diploma or GED is required.

Qualifications

• Experience or ability to operate farming tools and equipment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced farming environment.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Execute pruning, harvesting, and cleaning/sanitizing on schedule.
• Operate and troubleshoot new farming technologies.
• Manage all stages of the strawberry plant life cycle, including propagation, cultivation, pruning, and harvesting.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with packaging and distribution.
• Collect data to improve farming processes and outcomes.
• Escalate plant/people health concerns to leadership as needed.
• Spend ~90% of time in the farm tending to plants.

Skills

Pruning

Harvesting

Cleaning

Sanitizing

Data collection

Cross-functional communication

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Farming technologies

Job description

We grow the world’s BEST Strawberries & our Farm Operators are a huge reason why!As part of our Production Team, a Farm Operator is responsible for the execution of farming and related tasks in a production farm contributing to our exceptional product and plant health. Individuals execute the day-to-day operations of the Farm which includes pruning, harvesting, cleaning, sanitizing and transferring plants.What you’ll be responsible for:Ensure tasks such as pruning, harvesting, and cleaning/sanitizing are completed timely.Operate and troubleshoot new farming technologies.Manage all stages of the strawberry plant life cycle - propagation, cultivation, pruning, and harvesting.Communicate and work cross functionally with packaging and distribution.Engage in information and data collection as necessary so that we can continually improve our strawberries.Escalate concerns to leadership as necessary to ensure the health and safety of our plants and our people.The role is hands-on with about 90% of time spent in the farm tending to our plants.Who will love this job: Individuals who identify with our Core Values and exhibit skills within those values will thrive at Oishii.One Team, One Fight!Ability to quickly shift priorities to meet deadlines and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, clearly, concisely and with purpose at various levels of the organization.Ability to work cross functionally at all levels including across locations, and collaborate with a focus on supporting & understanding the evolving business needs of a startup environment.Ability to lead through others and develop teams with a diverse level of experience to succeed.Focus.Ability to remove obstacles in order to prioritize which could include problem solving, working through ambiguity and using fact based or sound judgment in the absence of process or policy. We are building it, but need to manage through the process with good judgment and a bias for action.Ability to synthesize information quickly to aid in the troubleshooting process.GSD (Get Sh** Done!)Possessing an entrepreneurial mindset with the tenacity to develop ideas, process, and policy and implement them rapidly.Capable of prioritizing tasks and considering the resources available when doing so.A bias for action! Ability to hold yourself accountable and take ownership of driving results that impact company outcomes.Track record of effectively handling complex employee relations issues, and addressing sensitive information and difficult situations with tact, discretion, and confidentiality.Physical Requirements:Ability to lift up to 30 lbsAbility to climb a ladderAbility to crouch or kneelAbility to reach and stretchHand dexterityComfortable in an active non sedentary role for lengths of up to 5 to 6 hours at a timeMUST NOT be allergic to beesWhat We Look for in a Farm Operator:High School Diploma or GED.Ability to maintain excellent punctuality and attendance.You love strawberries and learning new things!You love the natural rhythm of farming and would thrive spending hours every day in a farm caring for plants–experience with gardening is a plusNo growing experience necessary, on the job training will be provided. Shift & Schedule:Either Saturday or Sunday availability is required; this is a 5 day/week onsite role. Schedules/shifts vary.Perks at Oishii:Compensation: $19 hourlyMedical, dental, vision, 401(K)100% Employer Paid Life Insurance + Long Term Disability InsurancePaid Parental leave, Paid Time Off, Paid Sick TimePaid TrainingOffice social events including happy hours, events, and partiesEmployee activity groups for basketball players, Yoga Enthusiasts, runners…About Oishii:Oishii (which means “delicious” in Japanese) is the innovative company behind the world’s largest indoor vertical strawberry farm. On a mission to transform the agriculture industry through the power of smart farming, Oishii harmoniously marries nature with state-of-the-art technology to create the ideal elements—rain, air, heat, light, nourishment and natural bee pollination—for growing in-season produce all year round. Oishii’s beloved Omakase, Koyo and Nikko Berries are grown in pesticide-free vertical farms in the U.S. and proudly bear the Non-GMO Project Verified seal. Founded in 2016, Oishii’s investors include SPARX Group, NTT, Yaskawa, McWin Capital Partners, and Resilience Reserve. Oishii was recognized as one of Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2022.Today, Oishii operates farms and research facilities across the United States and Japan, bringing together expertise from both countries to advance the future of agriculture. As a Japanese-founded company with global ambitions, we are building a world-class team dedicated to transforming how premium produce is grown and delivered. For more information, visit www.oishii.com.