Ag Operations Manager

Ocean Mist Farms•Castroville, CA

just now

About The Position

The Ag Operations Manager is responsible for leading grower relations, contracting, procurement planning, and planting schedule coordination across Ocean Mist Farms’ production program, including both commodity and value-added operations. This role ensures alignment between field supply, harvest operations, plant demand, and commercial commitments by integrating grower management, crop intelligence, planting plans, and supply planning. This position plays a critical role in delivering accurate forecasts, reliable supply, and strong grower partnerships while driving operational efficiency across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Supply Chain, or related field preferred
5–7 years of experience in agricultural operations, procurement, supply planning, or grower relations
Experience working with growers, crop forecasting, and agricultural contracting preferred
Strong knowledge of fresh produce production and supply chain operations
Proven ability to analyze crop and supply data to support decision-making
Strong negotiation and relationship management skills
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced agricultural environment

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred

Responsibilities

Lead procurement planning and raw material sourcing across commodity and value-added programs
Collaborate daily with plant, harvest, and field operations on demand planning, forecasts, and planting schedules
Develop, maintain, and adjust planting schedules across all growing regions based on demand plans and harvest timing
Align field supply with plant demand, harvest schedules, and sales commitments
Monitor crop estimates, yields, production forecasts, and days-to-harvest data to support planning decisions
Coordinate seed procurement and delivery to greenhouse operations in alignment with planting schedules
Maintain accurate records of seed usage, germination rates, and inventory in partnership with Production Accounting
Identify and implement improvements to procurement, planting, and supply planning processes and tools
Develop, track, and refine KPIs related to raw product supply, planting progress, and sales performance
Conduct market research and cost analysis to support sourcing and planning decisions
Support new product and packaging initiatives through development, trials, and commercialization
Identify supply risks and implement contingency plans to ensure consistent product availability
Coordinate with regional teams to ensure consistent quality and efficient product flow
Drive continuous improvement across commodities, planting execution, and supply programs
Build and maintain strong relationships with Ocean Mist Farms’ grower network (internal and external)
Identify and onboard new growers to support supply needs and long-term growth
Negotiate and manage grower contracts, production commitments, and pricing structures
Oversee contract pricing and structured FOBs by commodity within established timelines
Analyze grower budgets and support contract development and execution
Conduct seasonal acreage and cost reconciliations with partnership growers
Monitor grower performance to ensure quality, yield, and program expectations are met
Manage quality issues, product rejections, and vendor or grower disputes
Oversee collection and analysis of field-level data including planting progress, crop conditions, plant populations, wet dates, and yield indicators
Conduct regular field observations in partnership with Farming leadership
Provide timely reports to leadership highlighting risks, opportunities, and forecast updates
Coordinate variety trials with seed vendors and internal teams
Use crop intelligence to improve forecasting accuracy and operational planning
Partner with Harvest, Cooler Operations, Sales, Value-Added, Farming, and Greenhouse teams to align supply with business needs
Lead regular planning discussions on volume, timing, varietal selection, and planting schedules
Foster collaboration to support efficiency, quality, and shared success
Supervise and support field-based team members responsible for crop data collection and reporting
Provide clear direction, accountability, and development for team success
Promote a culture aligned with Ocean Mist Farms’ values: respect, integrity, accountability, teamwork, innovation, and quality
Perform other duties as assigned