Sr. Manager, Crop Management & Grower Relations – Garlic

ofi; Hanford (CA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation time from Day 1

Paid Sick Leave

Company Paid Holidays

401K Match on Day 1

Career Growth and Learning

Job summary

ofi is seeking a Sr. Manager, Crop Management & Grower Relations – Garlic to lead partnerships with growers, contract management, and production planning for reliable garlic supply. You will oversee multi-region crop programs, budgets, and quality objectives while partnering with EH&S and Sustainability teams.

The role requires agronomy expertise, 10+ years in crop management and strong leadership, with up to 25% travel and on-site presence at an ofi location.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; major in agronomy, crop science, agribusiness, or related field preferred.
• Ten years of crop management, grower relations, or agricultural sourcing experience required.
• Experience with farm equipment and supervising employees is required.
• Strong communication skills with growers, customers, colleagues and leadership.
• Travel up to 25% and valid driver's license required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain grower partnerships with regular communication and issue resolution.
• Identify new grower partners and evaluate expansion opportunities based on water, soil, weather, and resources.
• Develop crop plans (pounds, acres, varieties) for production needs.
• Create competitive crop cost models and propose annual raw material pricing by region.
• Oversee grower contracts, renewals, and payments.
• Manage annual budgets for garlic Agricultural Operations and track performance.
• Direct planting and growing activities with growers and teams.
• Provide weekly and monthly updates on contracting, planting, yield forecasts, quality, and maturity.
• Develop and communicate freight schedules for garlic seed transport; monitor costs and activity.

Skills

Crop management

Grower relations

Strategic planning

Communication

Leadership

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in agronomy, crop science, agribusiness, farm management, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Description

ofi is a global leader in food & beverage ingredients and solutions. Through our core ingredient platforms that we’re known for globally – cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts, and spices – we partner with food and beverage manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice operators worldwide to help meet evolving consumer needs.

With deep roots in origin countries and close relationships with farmers, we help deliver quality, traceability, transparency, and resilient supply chains. By combining sourcing expertise, market knowledge, innovation, and technical capabilities, we create value for customers while driving positive impact for people and the planet.

Together, ofi employees advance our Purpose: to be the change for good food and a healthy future.

Position Summary

ofi values in-person collaboration with colleagues – employees are expected to work their specific work schedule on site at their ofi location.

Reporting to the Head of Agriculture Operations, the Sr. Manager, Crop Management & Grower Relations – Garlic will lead the ofi Spices garlic program, overseeing grower partnerships, crop contracting, and production planning to ensure a reliable, cost-effective supply of quality garlic for processing facilities.

The ideal candidate will bring strong agricultural knowledge, experience managing grower partnerships, and the leadership and business judgment needed to manage a multi-region crop program with personal and professional integrity.

What You’ll Do - Position Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain grower partnerships through regular communication, sharing relevant crop and market information, and collaborating to resolve production challenges.
• Identify new grower partners and evaluate opportunities to expand production based on water availability, soil suitability, weather conditions, and grower resources and infrastructure.
• Develop crop plans, including pounds, acres, and varieties, to support company production requirements.
• Develop competitive crop cost models and recommend annual raw material pricing for each growing region.
• Oversee grower contracts and renewals, including approval of garlic grower contracts and payments.
• Develop and manage annual budgets for garlic Agricultural Operations and monitor performance against crop volume, cost, and quality objectives.
• Direct planting and growing activities in collaboration with growers and agricultural teams.
• Ensure timely field assessments and accurate reporting of budgeted, planted, and forecasted garlic pounds within AgInsight.
• Provide weekly updates on contracting, planting, yield forecasts, quality, and crop maturity, and contribute monthly updates to the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
• Develop and communicate freight schedules for transporting garlic seed to and from seed and production areas.
• Monitor and report on competitive crop activities and production costs, including acreage, yields, quality, and crop volume across growing regions.
• Represent ofi within the grower base and local agricultural community to promote a positive company image.
• Lead the department’s safety program and partner with Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) to achieve established safety objectives.
• Partner with the ofi Sustainability team to maintain crop data and grower information supporting sustainability initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience You’ll Bring – Role Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree is required; a major in agronomy, crop science, agribusiness, farm management, or a related field is preferred. Five (5) years of crop management experience may substitute for the degree requirement.
• Ten (10) years of relevant experience in crop management, grower relations, or agricultural sourcing is required, including substantial experience with crop cultivation and harvesting. Candidates substituting experience for the degree must have fifteen (15) total years of relevant experience.
• Experience working with farm equipment and directly supervising employees is required.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills are required, including the ability to work effectively with growers, customers, colleagues, and leadership.
• Strong planning and general management skills, including the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities, are required.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required, including the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions when information is incomplete.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of the time is required.
• A valid state-issued driver’s license and a good driving record is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, is required.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

ofi provides employees with a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that is designed to support your career, health, and future. Build a Rewarding Career at ofi!

The pay for this role ranges from $126,000 - $157,000 annually and is based on position responsibilities and geographic location. Actual pay within this range may be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and/or other determining factors.

Performance-based Bonuses: Discretionary bonus rewarding company performance as well as your contributions and impact, for eligible roles.

Comprehensive & Affordable Benefits: Coverage for you (and your eligible dependents) with plans designed for peace of mind and savings for the future.

A Culture of Well-being: Paid Volunteer time off, access to events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being for you and your family.

Family Support: Paid parental leave, Fertility benefits and lactation support, including milk shipping for traveling employees.

Additional Perks That Make a Difference

• Vacation time from Day 1 – Your time off starts accruing immediately, growing with your tenure.
• Paid Sick Leave – Rest, recover, and return strong – with paid sick leave on ofi.
• Company Paid Holidays – ofi values work-life balance and the importance of celebrating life’s special moments.
• 401K Match on Day 1 – Invest in your future with our competitive retirement savings program.
• Career Growth and Learning – Join a company committed to developing talent, fostering innovation, and creating meaningful opportunities.

ofi provides equality of opportunity for all persons with respect to hiring without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. All employment will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us for support at: [email protected]

At ofi, we celebrate our diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.