Shop Operations Manager

Pacific AG Management, Inc•Wasco, CA

About The Position

The Shop Operations Manager leads the transformation of the Company’s repair and maintenance operations into a modern, data-driven, metrics-focused organization. Reporting to the Director of Farming and working as a peer to the Farm Manager, Spray Manager, and Agronomic Manager, the role has overall responsibility for shop, fleet, warehouse, and orchard-development equipment functions, supporting more than 500 pieces of equipment and a technician team of 20+ employees. The position establishes the systems, processes, technology, and accountability practices required to operate a forward-looking maintenance organization. It introduces technology, industry best practices, and performance-driven solutions while providing responsive support to Farm, Spray, and Agronomic operations. The role aims to reduce equipment downtime, optimize cost per operating hour, strengthen workforce professionalism and accountability, and maximize the reliability, productivity, and long-term value of Company capital equipment. The Shop Operations Manager leads data-driven performance management, budgeting and cost control, equipment lifecycle monitoring, workflow and shop efficiency, people leadership and culture transformation, safety and compliance, and technology advancement. The position works through the Farm Equipment Manager and Shop Supervisor, who carry out many day-to-day shop functions, while the Manager sets standards, systems, priorities, and accountability. The role also supports the Beef Division and responds to special projects and other duties as assigned. The position works in both an office environment and outside in field locations. Field work may involve dirty or dusty conditions, temperature extremes, chemicals, airborne particles or fumes, moving machinery, and potentially loud noise. The role may involve extended periods of sitting, including driving or office work, and regular reaching with hands and arms. Occasional activities include standing, walking, handling or operating objects and tools, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and using foot controls to operate vehicles. The position requires occasionally exerting up to 50 pounds of force and frequently or constantly exerting 10 pounds of force. The employee must be able to work around bees without having an allergic reaction if stung.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in Agricultural Business, Mechanical or Agricultural Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and 7+ years of progressive experience managing a comparable shop, fleet, or industrial maintenance operation.
7+ years of progressive shop, fleet, or maintenance management experience, including 3+ years directly supervising a team of 15 or more.
Demonstrated experience leading a data-driven, metrics-based maintenance or shop operation.
Experience with CMMS or fleet management software.
Demonstrated financial management experience and budgeting skills.
Proven track record of leading culture change and improving accountability, professionalism, and performance within an established team.
Strong working knowledge of diesel and gas engine repair, hydraulics, electrical systems, and equipment fabrication sufficient to direct and evaluate technician work.
Fluent in English.
Valid California driver’s license and motor vehicle record acceptable under the Company auto insurance carrier’s guidelines.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of Company information.
Self-directed leadership, ownership of problems, and ability to drive solutions with team input.
Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and adapt to changing situations.
Superior organizational skills and ability to build systems and processes, not just manage day-to-day tasks.
Proficiency in Windows-based computer programs, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and general aptitude for adopting software and technology platforms such as CMMS and GPS or telematics.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to train and influence operational personnel across departments.
Ability to work around bees without having an allergic reaction if stung.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of up to 50 pounds and frequent or constant handling of 10 pounds of force.
Ability to work in office and field environments, including exposure to dirt, dust, temperature extremes, chemicals, airborne particles or fumes, moving machinery, and potentially loud noise.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on mechanic background.
Bilingual English and Spanish skills, including reading, writing, and speaking.
Experience evaluating, piloting, and adopting equipment technology such as telematics, automation, and precision-ag tools.

Responsibilities

Transform the Company’s repair and maintenance operations into a modern, data-driven, metrics-focused organization.
Establish and maintain systems, processes, technology, and accountability practices for the shop, fleet, warehouse, and orchard-development equipment functions.
Implement and manage a CMMS or fleet management platform that centralizes work orders, preventive maintenance schedules, parts usage, equipment downtime, and labor hours across more than 500 pieces of equipment.
Establish, monitor, and report shop KPIs, including equipment uptime and availability, mean time to repair, cost per operating hour, preventive maintenance compliance, and technician productivity.
Analyze repair, cost, and equipment usage data to identify recurring failures, cost drivers, standardization opportunities, reliability improvements, and operational efficiencies.
Benchmark shop performance against industry standards and continuously improve processes using data-driven results.
Develop and present a monthly Shop Performance Scorecard to the Director of Farming and Company Leadership, covering KPI trends, cost and downtime drivers, performance gaps, and corrective actions.
Promptly escalate KPI performance gaps with root-cause analysis and a documented corrective action plan.
Compile and present an annual Capital & Fleet Performance Report with data-based equipment replacement recommendations, capital spend information, and lifecycle cost trends.
Maintain a documented library of standard operating procedures and best practices informed by performance data.
Ensure CMMS-generated preventive maintenance tasks and work orders are completed on schedule and that completion data meets compliance and KPI standards.
Build, own, and manage the annual shop, fleet, and equipment budget in partnership with the Director of Farming.
Track monthly spending against budget, explain variances, and adjust plans proactively.
Negotiate with vendors and suppliers for parts, machinery, and fuel, and own purchasing policies and procedures within Company policy and approved spending thresholds.
Evaluate outsourced versus in-house repairs using true cost comparisons.
Manage warranty claim submissions and manufacturer credit recovery to capture eligible reimbursements.
Ensure timely, accurate field-level cost, usage, and vendor-pricing information is compiled to support budget development and monthly variance reviews.
Monitor equipment lifecycle status, including age, utilization, maintenance costs, and downtime, using CMMS data and equipment condition and usage information.
Identify equipment nearing the end of its economically useful life based on cost and performance data, and bring replacement or refurbishment recommendations to the Director of Farming quarterly and ahead of critical harvest windows.
Partner with Accounting by providing operational and cost data for capital expenditure planning and depreciation discussions; capital and accounting decisions remain outside this role’s ownership.
Maintain real-time visibility of equipment location, condition, and utilization through GPS or telematics.
Set standards and priorities for shop layout, work order flow, and scheduling so equipment is available to operating departments.
Own system-level design for real-time inventory and tracking of parts, tools, fluids, and fuel through the CMMS.
Set the quality-control standard for equipment before release from the shop.
Identify and eliminate repair-process bottlenecks from intake through release.
Provide proactive, responsive support to Farm, Spray, and Agronomic operations; develop measurable service-level expectations for response times, repair turnaround, communication, and equipment availability.
Establish and lead an emergency and after-hours breakdown response protocol, including rapid mobilization during harvest and other critical periods.
Solicit and act on field operator feedback when setting maintenance priorities and improving shop processes.
Ensure equipment is not released until all identified issues have been resolved, not just the reported symptom.
Own accountability for shop fabrication capability and ensure the Farm Equipment Manager and Shop Supervisor have resources for custom fabrication, modification, and repair work supporting Farm, Spray, Agronomic, and Beef Division equipment needs.
Provide responsive equipment, fleet, and shop support to the Beef Division.
Respond promptly and professionally to special projects and equipment-related requests from ownership and family members, with the Farm Equipment Manager responsible for this dedicated function and the Shop Supervisor assisting only when delegated.
Develop and execute seasonal equipment-readiness plans with Farm, Spray, and Agronomic leadership, covering equipment, staffing, parts inventory, and preventive maintenance before critical operating periods.
Ensure day-to-day communication with outside resource agencies, vendors, and other parties is handled at the appropriate level, personally stepping in on higher-level or cross-departmental matters.
Build a culture of accountability, ownership, professionalism, continuous improvement, and customer service within the shop team.
Own the shop’s culture and accountability standard for a technician team of 20+ employees, driving it through the Farm Equipment Manager and Shop Supervisor.
Communicate equipment risks, maintenance trends, capital needs, and operational impacts clearly to executive leadership.
Establish shop expectations, training plans, and performance standards.
Actively reshape shop culture by building trust, communication, and pride of workmanship.
Recommend hiring and termination decisions to the Director of Farming and partner with Human Resources on performance evaluations, wage adjustments, and disciplinary actions.
Set staffing-level and scheduling policy for peak efficiency.
Set the framework for Performance Based Compensation plans and technician development pathways, including certifications, lead or senior roles, and cross-training.
Ensure structured semi-annual performance reviews take place and are documented against agreed development goals.
Build and maintain a technician skills and certification ladder, such as diesel, hydraulics, electrical, and fabrication, tied to pay grade and responsibility.
Track and report bench strength, internal promotion rate, and technician retention as people-development metrics alongside operational KPIs.
Serve as the escalation point for employee issues, conflicts, or performance concerns that the Farm Equipment Manager or Shop Supervisor cannot resolve.
Develop and execute a comprehensive shop safety program in partnership with the Safety Department.
Ensure Company safety standards, policies, and state and federal regulatory procedures are followed.
Set standards for an efficient shop layout and a clean, organized, and safe shop and yard.
Ensure on-road equipment maintains current registration, licensing, DOT-required annual inspections, and documentation.
Research, evaluate, and pilot new equipment technology, automation, and precision-ag tools; bring credible, tested recommendations to the operations team.
Develop strategic relationships with manufacturers, dealerships, and service vendors to improve parts availability, technical support, warranty recovery, and purchasing leverage.
Champion adoption of telematics, diagnostics, and shop software across shop and operations teams, managing change in light of current skill levels.
Partner with Information Technology and Operations leadership to integrate maintenance, telematics, inventory, and operational data into business intelligence dashboards.
Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.