Farmer - MAHIAI WAENA

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nOrganizational Summary:\nMA'O Organic Farms (MA'O), located in Lualualei Valley, Waianae, is a social enterprise of the Waianae Community Re-Development Corporation (WCRC), a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Established in 2000, MA'O grows organic food and new leaders for a sustainable Hawaii. For the first 18-years in operation MA'O managed 24-acres of certified organic land, now we’ve grown to 280-acres in Lualualei Valley. This new aina presents a huge kuleana – to manage land and water with aloha, and to radically increase the production of nutritious local organic food, while empowering a new generation of leaders to serve Hawaii nei.\nPosition Summary:\nThe Mahi'ai Waena (Production & Harvest) role is an intermediate-level staff position in organic farm operations with a primary focus on production and harvest. Through the training model of ma ka hana ka ?ike (learning through doing), this role operates in a fast-paced, hands-on environment while taking on increased responsibility for coordinating workflows, supporting operational execution, and providing day-to-day direction, guidance, and mentorship to Mahi'ai Akahi and youth interns.\nWorking alongside Managers, Mahi'ai Akahi, and interns, the Mahi'ai Waena supports production planning, harvest execution, and cross-functional farm operations while reinforcing quality, safety, efficiency, and operational standards.\n\n Work Location(s):This position may require occasional travel between our farm sites for meetings, events, or operational support based on program and operational needs.\n \n MA'O Organic Farms, 86-148 Puhawai Rd. Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii 96792\n MA'O Organic Farms, Palikea Farm Site, Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii 96792\n MA'O Organic Farms, Makaha Farm Site, Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii 96792\n \n Schedule:\n \n Production & Harvest Tracks: Primarily Monday to Friday with occasional evening or weekend hours to support youth programming and operational needs.\n \n\nEssential Duties & Responsibilities:\nGeneral Duties & Core Responsibilities(Applies to all Mahi'ai Waena work, regardless of track)\n\n \n Uphold organic certification standards, food safety protocols, and food quality expectations in accordance with MA'O Organic Farms’ policies and training.\n \n Work both collaboratively with the Farm team and independently, as assigned, to support organic farming operations.\n \n Maintain cleanliness, sanitation, and safe use of farm vehicles, equipment, tools, and workspaces. Operation of vehicles, machinery, chainsaws, or power tools is performed only as authorized, trained, and licensed (if applicable to assigned duties) and in accordance with safety policies.\n \n Maintain the cleanliness of shared and collective spaces, which may include break areas, parking lots, restroom facilities or portable restrooms, tool sheds, and surrounding work areas. Assist with managing trash and recyclables in accordance with farm practices.\n \n Coordinate and manage multiple groups of staff, interns, and volunteers to support safe and efficient operations.\n \n Support cross-functional farm operations as assigned, including assisting in different work areas based on operational needs and training, consistent with safety requirements and role classification.\n \n Collaborate with Akea and 'Auwai teams to achieve organizational impact goals.\n \n Support end-of-day security procedures by ensuring farm tools, equipment, vehicles, tractors, facilities, and gates are properly secured.\n \n Use digital tools and software, as required and/or provided by the organization, to support communication, coordination, documentation, and operations. This may include email, mobile devices, farm management or scheduling software, point-of-sale tablets, and platforms such as Microsoft products, Google Workspace, Slack, WhatsApp, and the organization’s HRIS.\n \n Participate in required food safety and organic certification audits, trainings, and inspections, as assigned.\n \n Perform other duties as assigned, consistent with training, safety requirements, and operational needs.\n\nProduction Track\n\n \n Coordinate and execute assigned production plans, including crop scheduling, field coordination, and task prioritization to maximize yield and support efficient resource utilization.\n \n Monitor crop health, irrigation performance, and field conditions, and communicate issues, risks, or inefficiencies to supervisors or managers.\n \n Assist with the installation, removal, and maintenance of irrigation systems, including overhead and drip irrigation, irrigation timers, and related components.\n \n Perform weed management practices, including hand weeding, knife weeding, picking, flame-weeding, and weedeating, in accordance with safety and operational standards.\n \n Execute planting activities such as hand transplanting, implement-assisted transplanting, nursery operations, direct seeding, and tree planting.\n \n Maintain agroforestry areas through weeding, pruning, mulching, harvesting, and irrigation maintenance.\n \n Support processing shed operations as assigned, including washing and packaging produce in compliance with food safety standards.\n \n Provide direction, guidance, and support to Mahi'ai Akahi and interns during production operations to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency standards are consistently met.\n \n Teach, train, and provide mentorship to Mahi'ai Akahi and interns during production operations to ensure efficiency, safety, and adherence to quality expectations.\n\nHarvest Track\n\n \n Manage and execute daily harvest operations to ensure timely harvesting of fresh, high-quality organic produce in alignment with production schedules and quality standards.\n \n Coordinate and prioritize harvest tasks based on crop readiness, order demand, and field conditions.\n \n Utilize harvest tools and equipment safely and effectively in accordance with training and food safety protocols.\n \n Monitor harvested produce for quality and food safety concerns and communicate issues promptly.\n \n Maintain cleanliness and organization of harvesting areas during and after harvest activities.\n \n Assist with transporting harvested produce, interns, or supplies using authorized farm vehicles.\n \n Support processing shed operations as assigned, including washing and packaging produce in compliance with food safety standards.\n \n Provide direction, guidance, and support to Mahi'ai Akahi and interns during harvest operations to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency standards are consistently met.\n \n Teach, train, and provide mentorship to Mahi'ai Akahi and interns during harvest operations to ensure efficiency, safety, and adherence to quality expectations.\n\nMentorship & Values\n\n \n Model professionalism and provide mentorship and positive reinforcement for youth interns learning in the fields, processing shed, and farmers markets.\n \n Support the training and evaluation of the farm’s youth interns.\n \n Model mutual love, respect, and a willingness to work, thus reinforcing organizational and programmatic policy and values in a positive and formative manner that supports the mission, goals and activities of WCRC and MA'O wherever possible.\n\nRequired Experience:\n\n \n Associate’s degree in Agricultural Science, Horticulture, Botany, Environmental Science, Sustainable Community Food Systems, Engineering, Community Development, Culinary Arts, Food Science, Hawaiian Studies, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.\n \n Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in agriculture, organic farming, food production or processing, or a closely related operational environment.\n \n Working knowledge of fruits and vegetables, including growing, harvest, handling, and general crop characteristics, with knowledge of organic growing practices or the ability to develop such knowledge through MA'O's training and operational practices.\n \n Demonstrated experience coordinating work activities, providing day-to-day direction or guidance to others, and supporting training, mentorship, or team operations.\n \n Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, physically demanding environment.\n \n Strong communication skills, with the ability to listen, think critically, and make sound decisions in a dynamic work setting.\n \n Demonstrated attention to detail, particularly as it relates to food safety, quality control, and operational accuracy.\n \n Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, Hawaiian cultural traditions, with a commitment to serving Hawaii’s rural communities and the Leeward Oahu region.\n \n Proficiency in using computers and communication platforms, including Google Workspace, Slack, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Office, or the ability to learn with training provided.\n \n Valid Hawaii Driver License and ability to meet MA'O's driving eligibility requirements for authorized work-related driving responsibilities, including transporting staff, interns, supplies, or materials and completing assigned operational tasks using MA'O provided, rental, or otherwise authorized vehicles.\n \n Must be authorized to work in the United States.\n\nPreferred Qualifications:\nIdeal candidates will have:\n\n \n Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science, Horticulture, Botany, Environmental Science, Sustainable Community Food Systems, Engineering, Community Development, Culinary Arts, Food Science, Hawaiian Studies, or a related field.\n \n Advanced experience coordinating production, harvest, food processing, or related agricultural operations, including workflow coordination, task prioritization, and team leadership responsibilities.\n \n Demonstrated experience independently coordinating work groups and providing work direction, training, coaching, or mentorship to staff, interns, volunteers, or other team members in an agricultural, production, or related operational environment.\n \n Demonstrated experience identifying and responding to operational issues, including crop, harvest, quality, food safety, workflow, staffing, or resource-related needs, and communicating concerns or recommended next steps to supervisors or managers.\n \n Experience working across multiple agricultural or food-system functions, such as production, harvest, processing, food safety, quality control, farmers markets, or related farm operations.\n \n Additional experience or training in fresh food processing, organic agriculture, irrigation systems, agroforestry, sustainable community development, engineering, or related fields.\n\nWork Environment:\nWork conditions may include:\n\n \n Outdoor and indoor work environments, including exposure to sun, rain, wind, dust, mud, uneven terrain, insects, and cool, wet, or damp processing conditions involving water, ice, and approved cleaning agents in a fast-paced, high-volume workflow.\n \n Work performed across multiple settings, which may include fields, processing facilities, farmers markets, community sites, and shared indoor or administrative spaces, depending on assigned duties and operational needs.\n \n Use of required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which may include safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, aprons, hairnets, hats, and appropriate footwear, to support safety and hygiene.\n \n A physically demanding, team-oriented environment with shifting priorities, seasonal workload fluctuations, and periods of independent work.\n \n Exposure to loud equipment, machinery, and variable sensory inputs associated with farm, processing, and market operations.\n \n Regular interaction with youth and interns from diverse backgrounds, including providing mentorship, guidance, and support in a professional and culturally responsive manner.\n \n Use of digital tools (e.g., email, mobile devices, farm management or scheduling software, point-of-sale tablets, and collaboration platforms) to support communication, documentation, and operations.\n \n Occasional off-site work, including participation in community events, educational workshops, farmers markets, or partner-led initiatives.\n \n A variable work schedule, which may include early morning shifts, holidays, Saturdays for Farmers Markets, and occasional weekends depending on seasonal or operational needs.\n \n Ability to work extended hours on occasion to meet critical deadlines or support key programs, events, and operational priorities.\n\nPhysical Requirements:\nThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met, with or without reasonable accommodation, by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role:\n\n \n Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 50 lbs frequently.\n \n Prolonged periods of standing, walking, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, climbing, or reaching.\n \n Repetitive use of hands and arms for washing, bunching, packing, labeling, harvesting, loading produce, and handling tools.\n \n Safe operation of processing equipment, machinery, farm tools, and vehicles (e.g., hand tools, harvest bins, pallet jacks, tractors, box trucks), as trained and authorized.\n \n Ability to work safely in close proximity with others while maintaining situational awareness in dynamic work environments.\n \n Ability to safely identify and respond to worksite conditions, instructions, equipment movement, warning signals, and other safety-related hazards, with or without reasonable accommodation.\n\nMA'O Organic Farms complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.\nEmployment and Compensation:\n\n \n Classification: Regular Full-Time (32-40 hours/week)\n \n FLSA Status: Hourly Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)\n \n Range: $21.67 to $24.60 per hourFinal compensation will be based on experience, education, and internal equity.\n \n Payroll Frequency: Semi-monthly (2x per month)\n\nBenefit Package:\nEligibility may vary based on employment classification (Full-Time or Part-Time) and may be subject to eligibility waiting periods and plan terms.\nHealth & Wellness\n\n \n Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage (HMSA or Kaiser)\n \n Chiropractic services (included in medical plans)\n \n Wellness programs (HMSA members)\n \n Group Term Life and AD&D (HMSA members)\n\nLeave & Holidays\n\n \n Paid vacation and sick leave (Full-Time)\n \n Paid vacation (Part-Time)\n \n Nine (9) paid holidays (Full-Time)\n \n Holiday overtime (OT) eligibility (Part-Time)\n\nAdditional Benefits\n\n \n Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care & Dependent Care)\n \n Employer-sponsored 401(k) (eligible after 6 months)\n \n MetLife Voluntary Benefits, which may include:\n \n \n Accident Insurance\n \n Critical Illness Insurance\n \n Hospital Indemnity Insurance\n \n Life Insurance options\n \n Long Term Disability Insurance\n \n Legal services coverage (including wills, document review, and l