Strawberry Field Supervisor

Job description

The Strawberry Field Supervisor supervises harvest field operations. This position oversees crew leads, harvest crews, punchers and stackers to ensure that ranch employees perform their duties efficiently and that the field harvest activities are carried out as scheduled. The Strawberry Field Supervisor monitors field materials and ensures the safety of the employees while working in the fields, in alignment with the Company’s mission and values.

Harvest Supervision: • Oversee daily harvest through direct supervision of Crew Leads, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant field harvesting practices. • Ensure a well-organized, clean, and safe field work environment that aligns with the ranch’s standard for maintenance and housekeeping. • Oversee harvest quality standards, ensuring berries meet size, quality, and packaging specifications for fresh-market fruit. • Monitor crop and field conditions daily and identify issues (diseases, pests, irrigations issues) and escalate immediately to the grower/production manager. • Estimate field material needs and coordinate with crew leads and growers.

Field Coordination: • Collaborates with crew leads to improve field workflow and harvesting practices. • Support crew leads and team members by addressing and supporting them with their needs to facilitate field activities. • Coordinate crew movement between blocks as directed, optimizing harvest efficiency while complying with H2A rules prohibiting unauthorized task reassignment. • Identify training needs and provide hands-on instruction to improve harvest quality and harvesting pace.

People Management: • Oversee the crew leads, harvest crews, punchers and stackers to ensure field harvesting tasks are performed correctly and efficiently. • Promote a positive field work environment by resolving conflicts promptly and escalating employee relations issues when necessary to Management. • Make recommendations related to discipline and performance issues as per the progressive discipline policy. • Ensure all workers understand their field job duties, expectations, and safety rules through consistent communication and reinforcement. • Ensure all employees have proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and tools for field work and replace items as needed.

Compliance: • Ensure compliance with all applicable agricultural safety, food safety, labor, and regulatory requirements (Grower, DSA, State, Federal, Global GAP, FSMA) This includes supporting the completion of necessary reports and documentation, verifying that employees have received the required food safety training, and confirming that field activities follow food safety protocols. • Attend all required trainings and meetings, and comply with all local, state, and federal labor laws, food safety audits, company policies and agricultural worker safety regulations. • Ensure compliance with company policies and all applicable local, state, federal regulations by overseeing the accurate and timely completion of required field-related paperwork. This includes, but is not limited to, meal waivers, 7th day work acknowledgements, workweek documentation, and time-off forms, all of which must be submitted promptly to management. • Assist with monthly safety training as needed. • Ensure compliance with H-2A regulations including. • Prohibited unauthorized job duties • Following required rest and meal periods. • Maintaining accurate time and harvest records • Report any worker injury immediately and assist with incident documentation. • May drive workers to medical appointments or other errands if necessary.

Reporting: • Review and validate records related to hours worked, crates harvested, and attendance • Review daily quality reports from Driscoll’s and take immediate actions to correct field deficiencies.

Special Requirements

12 months of experience in Strawberry Field Supervisory. A valid CA drivers License is required and ability to travel short distances during workday.

Working Conditions:
Environmental Conditions: Work is conducted outdoors in variable weather conditions with large temperature fluctuations (50-90 degrees). Exposure to bees, wasps, snakes, chemicals, pesticides, etc.

Tools, Equipment Used: cellular phone, tablet, farm equipment and vehicles, and handheld data collection devices.