Farm Manager - Organic Production & Training

Our client, a nonprofit farmer training organization on Whidbey Island, Washington, is seeking an experienced Farm Manager to lead production operations and mentor the next generation of sustainable farmers. This is a unique opportunity to combine hands‑on organic vegetable and seed production with meaningful educational impact in a mission‑driven environment.

We're seeking someone with entrepreneurial creativity and vision who can see the larger possibilities and help the organization scale significantly and improve efficiency. Looking further ahead, plans include incorporating regenerative livestock management and hay production over the next 3–5 years, with the potential to develop a much larger, multi‑site operation across the island.

Located approximately 45 minutes from Seattle (90 minutes door‑to‑door via ferry), Whidbey Island offers a beautiful Pacific Northwest. The ideal candidate will be open‑minded, comfortable working in a community‑focused environment, and excited about the mission.

• Production Management: Oversee day‑to‑day operations of a certified organic vegetable and seed production farm growing specialty crops; lead all aspects including seeding, transplanting, irrigation, harvest, processing, and marketing.
• Strategic Expansion & Vision: Take primary responsibility for scaling production from 5 to over 12 acres within two years; develop and implement 3–5 year plans for integrating regenerative livestock management and hay production; help envision and execute the organization’s growth across multiple island locations with access to 100+ acres of farming potential.
• Entrepreneurial Leadership: Bring creative, entrepreneurial thinking to identify opportunities for expansion, efficiency improvements, and new revenue streams; help the organization think bigger while staying grounded in practical execution.
• Cropping Strategy: Design and implement comprehensive crop plans in collaboration with current farm team; align specialty crop production with local market demand and ensure operational efficiency.
• Financial Management: Manage multiple market outlets (wholesale, farmers markets, farm stands, local food hubs) to maximize revenue; maintain budgets and meet production and revenue goals; potential for performance‑based compensation tied to sales growth.
• Soil Health Management: Apply deep understanding of soil building, soil health assessment, and soil limitations to guide organic and regenerative practices; this is a core driver of the farming philosophy.
• Systems Improvement: Assess current farming systems and identify opportunities for efficiency gains; implement certified organic and regenerative practices including judicious use of tillage, tarping, rotational grazing, cover cropping, and pest exclusion methods—taking a pragmatic rather than ideological approach.
• Equipment Operation & Troubleshooting: Operate tractors and farm equipment confidently; demonstrate aptitude for troubleshooting and repairing equipment in the field when issues arise (island logistics mean off‑island repairs can take a month or more, so problem‑solving skills are critical).
• Team Leadership: Supervise and train farm staff and apprentices with varied experience levels and goals; foster an inclusive, supportive learning environment that encourages both regenerative practices and commercially viable farming approaches; make independent operational decisions while holding team accountable for outcomes.
• Communication &
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Engage regularly with the Executive Director and leadership team to ensure collaboration and alignment with our community‑focused mission—this role thrives through teamwork rather than independent operation.
• Documentation & Compliance: Maintain operational logs, track progress against goals, and ensure regulatory compliance with organic certification standards (note: operation includes both certified and non‑certified fields).
• Community Engagement: Represent the organization in the community through public speaking, leading tours, and participating in outreach activities; demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and values alignment with the mission.
• Local Operations: T…