Market Garden Manager

Gorman Heritage Farm; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Short Term Disability

Retirement Contributions

Paid Time Off

Flexible Schedule

Farm Perks

Job summary

Gorman Heritage Farm invites an experienced Market Garden Manager to oversee daily operations and drive the long-term success of our Market Garden. You’ll lead planning, coordinate a team, and ensure high-quality, sustainable produce for CSA, Farm Shop, and off-site markets.

You’ll train interns and volunteers, collaborate with education and program teams, and help grow a regenerative farming program while promoting community engagement year-round.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years experience in sustainable/regenerative/organic vegetable production at significant scale.
• Knowledge of irrigation systems, garden tools, and greenhouse management.
• Experience using spreadsheets or farm recordkeeping systems to track harvests, sales, and planting schedules.
• Working with and communicating effectively with people of a variety of ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
• Strong organization and planning skills.
• Driver’s license and ability to pass a background check.

Responsibilities

• Manage Market Garden planning, including ordering seeds and supplies and creating timelines for garden tasks throughout the growing season.
• Lead and work alongside a team that plants, maintains, and harvests produce, adapting methods to prevent and respond to challenges.
• Prepare, track, and distribute produce for weekly CSA shares, on-site Farm Shop sales, off-site markets and restaurant sales, and GHF programs and events.
• Manage communications and relationships with buyers, including communication with off-site vendors and gleaning partners.
• Manage the CSA program, including recruiting members and providing weekly communication to members.
• Manage, train, and support Market Garden staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Communicate with and lead weekly volunteers and special volunteer groups in Market Garden tasks and projects.
• Assist in developing and leading educational programming related to gardening and agriculture, including for youth and individuals pursuing agricultural careers.
• Maintain garden tools, equipment, and infrastructure, including the drip irrigation system, the Germination Station, and the High Tunnel.

Skills

Garden Management

Sustainable Farming

Team Leadership

Planning & Scheduling

Communication

Background Check

Education

Degree in Agriculture

Tools

Irrigation Systems

Greenhouse Management

Farm Recordkeeping

Job description

The Market Garden Manager oversees the daily operation and long-term success of the Gorman Heritage Farm Market Garden, ensuring the production of high-quality produce through sustainable and regenerative farming practices. This role leads planning and implementation, and manages a team that grows and distributes produce through a CSA, as well as retail and wholesale markets. It educates and leads interns, volunteers, and service learning students who are building agriculture skills while contributing meaningful labor to the Farm. It collaborates with livestock, field crop, flower garden, and education department colleagues to maximize circularity, minimize waste, and integrate education experiences across the farm.

The position will:

• Manage Market Garden planning, including ordering seeds and supplies and creating timelines for garden tasks throughout the growing season
• Lead and work alongside a team that plants, maintains, and harvests produce, adapting methods to prevent and respond to challenges
• Prepare, track, and distribute produce for weekly CSA shares, on-site Farm Shop sales, off-site markets and restaurant sales, and GHF programs and events
• Manage communications and relationships with buyers, including communication with off-site vendors and gleaning partners
• Manage the CSA program, including recruiting members and providing weekly communication to members
• Manage, train, and support Market Garden staff, interns, and volunteers
• Communicate with and lead weekly volunteers and special volunteer groups in Market Garden tasks and projects
• Assist in developing and leading educational programming related to gardening and agriculture, including for youth and individuals pursuing agricultural careers
• Maintain garden tools, equipment, and infrastructure, including the drip irrigation system, the Germination Station, and the High Tunnel

The successful candidate will have the following experience and skills:

• Minimum 2 years experience in sustainable/regenerative/organic vegetable production at significant scale
• Knowledge of irrigation systems, garden tools, and greenhouse management
• Experience using spreadsheets or farm recordkeeping systems to track harvests, sales, and planting schedules
• Working with and communicating effectively with people of a variety of ages, backgrounds, and abilities
• Strong organization and planning skills
• Ability to problem solve, adapt and stay calm under pressure
• Experience supervising, training, scheduling, and coordinating volunteers or staff
• Driver’s license and ability to pass a background check

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, horticulture, environmental science, or related field preferred
• Experience managing a CSA program, farm market, or produce sales
• Experience leading educational programming, intern cohorts and volunteers
• Experience working in a nonprofit, educational farm, or community-based organization

This job operates on a working, educational farm that hosts a variety of programs and production activities. It also has a professional office environment. Work is performed primarily outdoors in the Market Garden, Germination Station (greenhouse), and High Tunnel throughout all seasons. Expect at least 25% of weekly hours to be spent on planning and communication activities. This position requires regular physical labor, lifting 50 lbs, and the ability to work in varying weather conditions year-round. This is a full-time hourly position (40 hours/week, with potential for scaling back in the winter), with weekend and evening availability required for temperature control, watering, and event and program staffing.

Starting pay range of $20-$25/hour, commensurate with experience, annualized to $41,600 to $52,000 annually.

Why Work at Gorman Heritage Farm

• Rewarding Mission
• Generous Paid Time Off and Other Paid Leave Options
• Health Insurance, short term disability and retirement contributions
• Flexible work schedule and farm perks

EEO/Diversity Statement

At Gorman Heritage Farm, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Lived experience is equally important as educational experience. We are committed to making sure our applicant pool is diverse and reserve the right to extend the application period or seek additional candidates if it is not.

GORMAN HERITAGE FARM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND VALUES DIVERSITY AT ALL LEVELS OF ITS WORKFORCE.