Tractor Operations & Maintenance Lead Job Description

Cropthorne Farm

Tractor Operator and Maintenance Lead 

Full-Time Permanent

The Tractor Operator and Maintenance Lead has the ability to work in highly dynamic situations with multiple stakeholders and deadlines and is able to work independently. You are extremely well-organized and can work dynamically to juggle multiple priorities in a calm manner. Your strong oversight of the maintenance area and solid understanding of field operations allows you to jump in and assist with other farm activities where needed. 

 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATIONS:

• Reports to the Assistant Farm Manager.
• Communicates with the Farm Manager, Assistant Manager, Farm Supervisor and other Leads on a daily basis regarding farm needs, particularly regarding maintenance, tractor operations and cultivation needs.
• Communicate with internal teams, contractors, and suppliers to coordinate maintenance and repairs
• Is an active member of the Farm Team which meets regularly to ensure effective communication.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Work with Farm Manager and Assistant Manager to ensure farm goals are met.
• Work closely with Assistant Manager, Farm Supervisor, other Leads and Field Crew to complete daily farm tasks on schedule.
• Liaise with Farm Manager, Assistant Manager, Farm Supervisor and other Leads about tractor and maintenance work requirements and to facilitate the smooth running of the farm as a whole.
• Works closely with Assistant Manager and Farm Supervisor to complete tractor, cultivation and maintenance work on schedule.
• Is an active part of the farm team, assisting in a wide array of tasks including harvest, planting, irrigating, weeding, washing and other post harvest and field related tasks with quality and efficiency in mind.
• Support overall operations as a member of the farm leadership team through active participation in meetings, progress reports, collaboration and good communication

 

Training, Recordkeeping & Supervision

• Ensure that team members are exhibiting all expected job behaviors, including quality, speed, accuracy, and that they are following all required company policy and procedures when working under the lead’s supervision to assist in maintenance or relevant field operations tasks
• Help ensure field team members personal safety by promoting individual awareness of hazards and teaching safety skills on the job, as well as identifying new hazards.
• Help ensure food safety by promoting individual awareness of food safety hazards and communicating any hazards to supervisors and field team members 
• Help ensure procedures relating to Organic Certification are carried out.
• Provide leadership support to other leads, supervisors and managers in other spaces whether post-harvest, markets etc. as needed
• Assist in the training of new team members.
• Adhering to farm protocols and policies, which include food safety, farm safety and organic certification
• Facilitate a respectful, communicative and team-oriented work environment.
• Accurately fill out detailed records in a timely manner which include maintenance, repairs, spraying, cultivation, planting, harvesting, packing and food safety.
• Assist in documenting and working with the farm’s Food Safety Plan.
• Other tasks and activities consistent with our Food Safety Plan.
• Maintain a safe, clean and well-organized environment for staff
• Write, review and edit SWPs and SOPs as needed.
• Adhere to all safety procedures, emergency protocols, and company SOPs to ensure a compliant and safe work environment

 

Tractor Work and Cultivation

20%-60% (1-3 days, May-Sept Only)

• Operate tractors safely and effectively in a variety of farm tasks including cultivation, field preparation, fertiliser and compost applications, material handling, seeding, transplanting, spraying, and harvesting.
• Assist in creating a weekly cultivation plan and coordinate with Assistant Manager and other tractor operators to carry out cultivation work.
• Continuously working to improve cultivation systems on a broad scale and working to advance the program including implementing new techniques and trialing different equipment designs.

Maintenance

20%-50% (approx. 0.5-1 day in the summer, 2-3 in fall, winter and spring)

• Proactively maintain farm equipment and facilities: schedule and complete services in a timely manner including oil changes, greasing, inspecting etc. Make basic repairs to farm equipment and machinery and maintain records of work completed.
• Manage record-keeping of maintenance and repairs and keep library of manuals and supplemental equipment information organised and up-to-date
• Keep tools, equipment, materials, and workspaces clean, maintained, and organized
• Maintain stock and organisation of chemical sheds, ensure proper signage, storage and cleanliness.
• Ensure all maintenance and construction work meets safety standards and best practices.
• Troubleshoot and repair minor issues with irrigation, heating, and cooling systems, etc.
• Operate tools and equipment for carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work as needed.
• Perform routine maintenance and repairs on farm equipment, buildings, and structures.
• Assist with greenhouse repairs, renovations, and other farm-related building projects.
• Proactively ensure necessary supplies (lubricants, hardware, filters, etc other maintenance items) and parts are available for farm production and equipment repair.
• Continuously working to improve and advance the maintenance program on a broad scale, including innovation and researching ideas.

Field & Post Harvest

 20%-60% (1 to 3 days, depending on season)

•   Provide support regarding crop availability for weekly yield projections for CSA boxes and restaurant orders on an as needed basis.
• Assist with IPM program; spraying (tractor/wheelbarrow) and scouting for pests and disease in field and in hoophouses.
• Assist with irrigation, moving pipe or reel, drip installation, and repairs.
• Assist with seeding and transplanting by hand or machine, including propagation tasks such as grafting and pot-ups
• Field work such as weeding, trellising, pruning, row covering & thinning
• Efficient and consistent harvesting of 50+ types of vegetables, which includes cleaning, bunching and boxing.
• Tending to greenhouse crops including winding, deleafing and harvest.
• General grounds maintenance, including lawn mowing and weedeating
• Efficiently and properly receive, wash, pack and prepare crops for distribution, including operating the rinse conveyor or root washer to wash crops and harvest bins. 
• Assist in cleaning and sanitising post-harvest equipment and packing shed.

 

Other

• Contribute to the farm business planning by providing input and expertise on cropping systems, varieties, inputs, equipment, HR strategies and capital improvements as needed.
• Perform other farm related duties as required, as sometimes we need everyone to help accomplish certain tasks, especially those that are time sensitive!