Senior Farm Operations Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Wellness resources
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance

PLANTING SEEDS OF CHANGE

JOB DESCRIPTION: SENIOR FARM OPERATIONS LEAD

Department: Farm Operations
Reports To: Farm Manager
Classification: Full-Time, Hourly, Nonexempt
Location: Dallas, Texas

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Farm Operations Lead is a hands-on leadership position responsible for supporting the Farm Manager in coordinating daily farm production, livestock care, equipment use, site maintenance, and farm-team activities across assigned Bonton Farms locations.

This position works alongside farm employees, apprentices, volunteers, and program participants while helping organize daily assignments, demonstrate proper work methods, reinforce safety and quality standards, and monitor the completion of assigned work.

The Senior Farm Operations Lead may serve as the designated senior lead when the Farm Manager is temporarily unavailable but does not independently exercise managerial authority over hiring, termination, compensation, formal performance evaluations, or disciplinary decisions. Performance and employee-relations concerns must be promptly escalated to the Farm Manager.

This role requires consistent on-site presence, practical farming experience, dependable leadership, sound judgment, and the physical ability to work outdoors in changing weather conditions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Farm Production and Daily Operations

• Support the Farm Manager in carrying out seasonal crop, livestock, and farm-production plans.

• Help coordinate daily planting, cultivation, irrigation, harvesting, washing, packing, storage, and post-harvest activities.

• Perform hands-on farm work alongside the farm team and provide assistance where operationally needed.

• Assist with seed starting, transplanting, crop rotation, soil preparation, composting, fertilization, pest management, and weed control.

• Monitor crops, soil conditions, irrigation systems, and growing areas and promptly report concerns to the Farm Manager.

• Help ensure farm products are harvested and prepared according to established quality and timing requirements.

• Support the timely preparation of farm products for Bonton Farms’ social enterprises, community programs, markets, and distribution activities.

• Maintain accurate production, harvest, inventory, equipment, and farm-activity records as assigned.

• Identify production delays, plant-health concerns, supply shortages, equipment problems, and other operational risks and communicate them promptly.

• Help ensure tools, materials, and supplies are properly staged and available for scheduled work.

Team Coordination and Hands-On Leadership

• Assist the Farm Manager with communicating daily priorities and distributing work assignments to farm employees, apprentices, volunteers, and program participants.

• Lead morning work assignments or team check-ins when directed by the Farm Manager.

• Demonstrate proper farming methods, equipment use, animal-care practices, and safety procedures.

• Work alongside team members while helping monitor productivity, work quality, and completion of assigned tasks.

• Provide routine coaching, instruction, and redirection regarding established procedures and performance expectations.

• Reinforce attendance, conduct, safety, and work-quality expectations established by Bonton Farms and the Farm Manager.

• Communicate employee performance, conduct, attendance, or safety concerns to the Farm Manager promptly.

• Refrain from making independent hiring, termination, compensation, disciplinary, or formal performance-management decisions.

• Promote a respectful, accountable, productive, and collaborative work environment.

• Serve as the designated senior lead during assigned periods or when the Farm Manager is temporarily unavailable.

Livestock and Animal Care

• Perform and support daily feeding, watering, health monitoring, and general care of livestock.

• Help ensure animal-care routines are completed consistently and documented as required.

• Monitor animals for signs of injury, illness, distress, or unusual behavior and immediately report concerns.

• Maintain clean, secure, and sanitary animal enclosures, feeding areas, water sources, and related facilities.

• Assist with animal movement, routine handling, and other livestock activities within established procedures and the employee’s training.

• Help monitor gates, fencing, enclosures, and other animal-security measures.

Equipment, Facilities, and Grounds

• Safely operate authorized farm vehicles, tractors, mowers, tillers, trailers, hand tools, power tools, and other agricultural equipment.

• Complete required pre-use inspections and ensure equipment is cleaned, secured, and properly stored after use.

• Immediately report equipment damage, mechanical concerns, safety hazards, and facility issues.

• Assist with basic preventive maintenance and minor repairs within the employee’s training and authorization.

• Help maintain organized tool, supply, equipment, and storage areas.

• Support the upkeep of farm structures, fencing, gates, irrigation systems, pathways, growing areas, and workspaces.

• Assist with assigned opening, closing, and site-security procedures.

• Help track tools, equipment, fuel, supplies, and maintenance needs.

Safety, Food Handling, and Compliance

• Model and reinforce farm-safety procedures, proper tool usage, and required personal protective equipment.

• Support compliance with established food-safety, sanitation, harvesting, washing, packing, storage, and transportation procedures.

• Immediately report injuries, hazards, damaged equipment, animal incidents, chemical concerns, food-safety risks, or unsafe working conditions.

• Assist with maintaining required safety, equipment, production, and operational documentation.

• Follow all organizational policies and applicable agricultural, environmental, food-safety, and workplace requirements.

• Participate in required safety, equipment, food-handling, emergency-preparedness, and organizational training.

• Use farm chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and related materials only when properly trained and authorized.

Cross-Departmental and Community Support

• Coordinate with Social Enterprises and other Bonton Farms departments regarding harvest availability, product needs, deliveries, events, and farm-related requests as directed.

• Support farm tours, volunteer activities, educational programs, community events, and special projects.

• Provide clear and professional information to visitors regarding established farm procedures and activities.

• Interact respectfully with employees, apprentices, volunteers, community members, customers, vendors, and visitors.

• Represent Bonton Farms and its mission positively in all internal and external interactions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• At least three years of hands-on experience in farming, agriculture, horticulture, ranching, landscaping, greenhouse production, or a closely related field.

• At least one year of experience serving as a crew lead, senior team member, trainer, or work-group coordinator.

• Working knowledge of crop production, irrigation, soil preparation, harvesting, farm maintenance, livestock care, or related agricultural practices.

• Ability to organize daily work, provide clear instructions, and monitor task completion.

• Experience safely operating agricultural equipment, landscaping equipment, power tools, or comparable machinery.

• Ability to recognize operational, equipment, animal-care, and safety concerns and communicate them promptly.

• Valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record.

• Reliable transportation and the ability to report consistently to assigned farm locations.

• Ability to work a flexible on-site schedule, including early mornings, occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays when operationally necessary.

• Basic proficiency with email, electronic timekeeping, and recordkeeping systems.

Preferred

• Experience with diversified vegetable production or urban agriculture.

• Experience supporting livestock or animal-care operations.

• Experience with sustainable agriculture, composting, integrated pest management, or regenerative farming practices.

• Experience training or guiding employees, apprentices, volunteers, or individuals with different skill levels.

• Experience working in a nonprofit, workforce-development, educational, or community-based environment.

• Applicable agriculture, horticulture, equipment-operation, food-safety, pesticide-handling, or first-aid certification.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong hands-on agricultural and operational skills.

• Dependable leadership, attendance, and follow-through.

• Ability to balance team-lead responsibilities with physical farm work.

• Ability to organize people, tools, materials, and supplies around daily priorities.

• Sound judgment and the ability to respond appropriately to changing conditions.

• Clear, respectful, and timely communication.

• Ability to train and guide others through demonstration, instruction, coaching, and reinforcement.

• Ability to follow established plans and escalate concerns appropriately.

• Commitment to safety, quality, accountability, and responsible use of organizational resources.

• Ability to work effectively with employees and community members from different backgrounds and experiences.

• Alignment with Bonton Farms’ mission, values, and community-centered culture.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

This position regularly requires the employee to:

• Work outdoors in heat, cold, rain, humidity, dust, mud, and other changing weather and environmental conditions.

• Stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, reach, climb, push, pull, and perform repetitive physical tasks for extended periods.

• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently and heavier items with appropriate assistance or equipment.

• Safely work around livestock, insects, plants, soil, fertilizers, farm equipment, vehicles, and tools.

• Travel between Bonton Farms locations and other assigned work sites.

• Use required personal protective equipment and comply with established safety procedures.

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, qualifications, or working conditions. The employee may be assigned other duties reasonably related to the position and Bonton Farms’ operational needs.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Bonton Farms is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.