Farm Production Manager

Red Wiggler; Germantown, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k match

Paid time off

Job summary

Red Wiggler Care Farm in Germantown, MD is seeking a Farm Production Manager to oversee all crop production, organic certification, nutrient management, greenhouse operations, and budget planning. The role includes supervising Growers, staff, apprentices, and volunteers, while coordinating with program managers to maintain alignment and safe farm-wide operations.

You will manage field planning, record-keeping, and equipment, with a focus on inclusivity, wellbeing, and efficiency.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of diversified vegetable production experience.
• Experience with organic certification, nutrient management, greenhouse operations, and tractor work.
• Ability to lead a diverse team including adults with developmental disabilities.
• Strong budgeting and record-keeping abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead crop production planning and budgeting, including organic certification and nutrient management.
• Supervise Growers, seasonal staff, apprentices, and volunteers; manage schedules and performance.
• Coordinate with program managers to ensure alignment and safe farm-wide operations.
• Maintain field logs, input records, and harvest documentation.
• Oversee tractor operation, equipment maintenance, and safety practices.
• Support nonprofit activities like grant reporting and program updates.

Skills

People Management

Budgeting

Record-keeping

Safety

Team Leadership

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Excel

Dropbox

Tractor operation

Job description

Red Wiggler Care Farm is a 12‑acre sustainable farm in Germantown, Maryland (the traditional land of the Piscataway People), where people with and without disabilities come together to work, learn, and grow healthy food.

Our staff and volunteers cultivate vegetables and sell or donate the harvest to nourish our diverse local community. And through Red Wiggler’s Care Farming Network—our initiative to raise awareness, strengthen connections, and expand the reach of therapeutic farming,we’re building capacity for care farms everywhere.

Position Summary

We are seeking a full-time Farm Production Manager to join Red Wiggler Care Farm in Germantown, MD. This role is ideal for an experienced farmer who thrives in both hands-on agricultural work and program management. The Farm Production Manager will lead all aspects of crop production, organic certification, nutrient management, greenhouse operations, tractor work, and production budgeting.

As a key program manager, this person will work closely with other program managers across the farm to ensure alignment, communication, and smooth farm-wide operations. They will also oversee people and workflow—supervising Growers (adults with developmental disabilities), seasonal staff, apprentices, and volunteers; creating and maintaining schedules; and collaborating with support services to cultivate a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

This position ensures high-quality vegetable production, strong record-keeping, and efficient day-to-day operations across the farm while fostering an inclusive work environment that promotes well-being and belonging.

This position reports to the Executive Director and works closely and collaboratively with other Program Managers. Our main work occurs 7:30am-4:00pm Monday through Friday and there is occasional weekend and evening work required.

Benefits and Wages

This position pays $70,000/year . The rate is non-negotiable to ensure fairness and equity in our hiring practices.

Red Wiggler Care Farm provides a generous employee benefit package including:

• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401k match (after 1 year)
• Paid time off and holidays
• Life and disability Insurance
• Training and continuing education opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (therapy, financial advising, legal support)
• Regular vegetables throughout the season

Note that Red Wiggler does not provide housing for this position.

FLSA and Employment Status

This is a Full-Time, Exempt position.

Key Responsibilities

People Management

• Supervise team of Growers (adults with developmental disabilities), seasonal staff, apprentices, and volunteers including ongoing management and performance reviews.
• Maintain an inclusive, respectful workplace and provide hands-on training suited to different learning styles.
• Create and manage the staffing plan for field, greenhouse, and harvest schedules.
• Communicate regularly with staff and their support services (job coaches, caregivers, partner agencies) to coordinate schedules and support individual needs.
• Oversee onboarding and training for new and seasonal staff.

Field & Crop Production

• Lead yearly field planning, including variety selection, cover cropping, planting, and harvest schedules.
• Oversee all field prep and maintenance including:
  • Tractor work
  • Irrigation
  • Pest/disease monitoring.
• Maintain food safety harvest and post-harvest workflows.

Organic Certification & Nutrient Management

• Prepare annual Organic Certification updates and manage all audit requirements.
• Maintain field logs, input records, greenhouse records, and harvest documentation.
• Prepare and implement the annual Nutrient Management Plan, including soil tests, cover crops, and nutrient application tracking.

Greenhouse Management

• Oversee propagation schedules, seeding, watering, environmental control, and pest management.
• Maintain accurate greenhouse records.

Equipment & Facilities

• Operate and maintain tractors, implements, farm vehicles, and mechanical equipment.
• Coordinate repairs and maintain organized workspaces (barns, sheds, wash/pack, greenhouses).
• Manage grounds maintenance related to production including waste/trash management.

Safety

• Maintain a safe working environment and model best practices for equipment use and field work.
• Train staff and volunteers in tool use, tractor safety, lifting, and general farm safety.

Organizational & Nonprofit Support

• Budgeting: Develop and manage production and labor budgets (seeds, supplies, equipment, repairs, amendments, and staffing), maintain accurate purchasing and expense records, and provide timely financial updates to support organizational decision-making.
• Participate in the Care Farming Network by attending events and providing technical assistance, consulting, and production-related guidance to other care farms.
• Support nonprofit activities such as:
  • Contributing to program updates and reports
  • Assisting with grant writing and grant reporting related to production
  • Providing content, photos, or updates for social media and communications
  • Collaborating with other programs to ensure smooth integration of production needs with education, volunteerism, distribution, and community engagement
• Participate in organization-wide planning, events, and strategic discussions.
• Create and maintain relevant Standard Operating Procedures.

Core Knowledge and Competencies

• 3+ years of experience in diversified vegetable production.
• Hands‑on experience with organic certification, nutrient management, greenhouse operations, and tractor work.
• Experience and comfort in using and maintaining tractors and implements.
• Ability and excitement to lead, support, and communicate with a diverse team while staying energized and people‑focused.
• Ability to remain attentive, approachable, empathetic, and engaged throughout the day.
• Experience supervising staff or mixed‑ability teams, including people with developmental disabilities.
• Basic budgeting and expense‑tracking skills.
• Strong record‑keeping and compliance experience.
• A demonstrated commitment to safety.
• Experience and comfort with Google platform, dropbox, excel and other technology
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and work outdoors in all weather.

Red Wiggler is an equal opportunity employer, drug‑free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable. All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. By completing this application, you are seeking to join a team of hardworking people dedicated to consistently delivering outstanding service and contributing to the financial success of the organization. Equal access to programs, services, and employment is available to all qualified persons. Those applicants requiring accommodation to complete the application and/or interview process should contact [e-mail] .