Manager, Ranch.Jr

Manager, Ranch.

Jr – Berry Mex

Location:

Santa Barbara‑Santa Maria Area

Salary: $66,600 to $77,000.

Day‑to‑Day Crop Management

• Assist and support the Production Manager and assigned mentor.
• Supervise, with hands‑on involvement, all farming activities, including irrigation system installation (drip for substrate and pipe and spray for soil), land preparation, planting, nutrient management, pesticide applications, disease management, pollination, pruning, plant rotation, and harvesting.
• Collaborate with Harvest, Operations (non‑harvest) and Production Services for respective services as needed.

Pesticide Management Program

• Assist and support the organic and/or conventional program in soil and/or substrate, coordinating with the Pesticide Control Adviser. Document application and results.

Fertilizer Management Program

• Assist and support the organic and/or conventional program in soil and/or substrate to optimize plant health. Document application and results. When using medium (including solid or liquid designed to support plant growth), sample, test, and analyze results to determine course of action.

Compliance

• Comply with all labor laws, primary audits or food safety, company policy and workers safety.
• Learn and apply knowledge of Driscoll’s pathology in developing a Reiter’s organic program.

People Management

• Assist and support in identifying and sourcing labor.
• May train and supervise harvest and/or non‑harvest personnel.

Outreach

• Learn and implement current production practices from the RAC organization, universities, and other industry resources; develop and advance knowledge and innovations that deliver competitive advantage.
• Collaborate with internal and external resources including universities, substrate grower peers, and the DSA and RAC knowledge‑share networks.
• Communicate methods and results to peers and colleagues.
• Learn and apply knowledge of Driscoll’s use of technology and scientific plant development.

Operating Budgets

• Administer operating budgets; assist in defining capital budget needs; manage costs; and deliver expected profitability.

Production

• Contribute to the preparation of production data and any required crop information. Participate in weekly and monthly crop statement reviews.
• Participate in communications with Driscoll’s to ensure accurate estimates of crops and to deliver high‑quality berries to the cooler.
• Assist in coordinating cold storage and removal of canes and additional field trials.

Horticultural Trials

• Install, maintain, and evaluate horticultural trials. Report results and drive adoption. Focus areas may include trellis, pruning, tunnels, frost control, and plant date and source.
• Contribute to the development of acreage study standards for management to support expansion of the agronomy model farm.

Irrigation Systems

• Substrate – Assist in design and installation of automation and injection system. Implement climate, water‑use, and soil moisture monitoring systems. Oversee installation of the drip system, tunnel structures, and trellises.
• Soil – Assist in design and installation of traditional pipe/sprayer irrigation systems.

Job May Also Include

• Scientific Analyses: implement best practices for optimum soil health; learn how growth medium responds to scientific management techniques and apply based on results; apply agricultural data into trends, reports, and sustainable methods; measure and monitor growth medium, sampling, and similar technology; analyze watering rates, salinity, pH balance, and electrical conductivity; use results in decision‑making; ensure quality growth medium and identify contaminated or degraded medium and develop improvement plans.
• Microbial Program: assist and support the beneficial microbes program to the root zones of plants, enabling healthy, vibrant root systems that directly translate to higher nutrient absorption and optimal yields; document applications and results.

Other Duties or Special Projects as Assigned

• Berry farming
• Thorough understanding of basic farming principles – substrate a plus
• Principles of nursery management
• Agricultural software applications, equipment calibration, and medium and plan testing
• S…