Farm Operations Manager (Controlled Environment Agriculture CEA)
Vanguard Terra Agriculture Ltd.
Farm Operations Manager (Controlled Environment Agriculture CEA)
About Us
We are a year-round indoor vertical farming company in Saskatchewan specializing in premium fresh herbs and leafy greens. Utilizing controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology, we produce high-quality, locally grown produce for retailers, food service customers, and consumers across Western Canada.
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Controlled Environment Farm Operations Manager to oversee crop production, facility operations, environmental control systems, and team leadership within our vertical farming operation.
This position is ideal for someone who combines strong horticultural knowledge with hands-on operational leadership.
Position Summary
The Controlled Environment Farm Operations Manager is responsible for the successful day-to-day operation of the vertical farm.
This role oversees:
- Crop production
- Environmental management
- Nutrient and irrigation programs
- Harvest scheduling
- Food safety
- Employee supervision
- Production planning
- Quality assurance
The successful candidate will lead production staff and ensure all crops are produced efficiently, safely, and consistently while meeting yield and quality targets.
This position will also work with the directors in business development and risk management.
Key Responsibilities
Crop Production & Horticulture
- Develop and manage crop production schedules
- Oversee seeding, germination, transplanting, harvesting, and packaging activities
- Monitor crop health and quality
- Optimize yields and production efficiency
- Manage nutrient programs, pH, EC, and irrigation schedules
- Ensure consistent crop performance across all production areas
Environmental Control
- Monitor and manage:
- Lighting systems
- HVAC systems
- Dehumidification systems
- Irrigation systems
- Environmental sensors
- Analyze crop data and environmental performance
- Troubleshoot production challenges
- Maintain ideal environmental conditions to maximize crop quality and yield
Team Leadership
- Recruit, train, supervise, and schedule production employees
- Lead daily production meetings
- Establish and maintain standard operating procedures
- Conduct employee evaluations
- Promote a positive, safe, and accountable work environment
Food Safety & Quality Assurance
- Maintain sanitation programs and cleaning schedules
- Lead food safety and quality assurance initiatives
- Ensure traceability and recordkeeping standards are met
- Oversee inspections and compliance requirements
Operations Management
- Maintain production records and KPI reporting
- Monitor inventory of seeds, nutrients, growing media, packaging, and supplies
- Coordinate preventative maintenance programs
- Manage labour efficiency and production budgets
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility
- Work closely with ownership to align production plans with forecasted sales volumes
Qualifications
Required
- Diploma or Degree or 5 years experience supervising
- Horticulture
- Plant Science
- Agriculture
- Crop Science
- Greenhouse Production
- Related field
- Commercial growing experience
- Supervisory or management experience
- Experience with hydroponic or controlled-environment production systems
- Strong leadership and organizational skills
- Excellent problem-solving ability
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and production recordkeeping
Preferred
- Vertical farming experience
- Greenhouse production experience
- Food Safety Certification (CanadaGAP, HACCP, SQF)
- WHMIS Certification
- First Aid / CPR Certification
- Experience managing leafy greens and culinary herbs
- Experience with fertigation, irrigation, and environmental control systems
Compensation
Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience. A comprehensive compensation package will be discussed with qualified candidates during the interview process.
- Additional incentives available for KPI performance
- Paid vacation
- Professional development support
- Relocation assistance (if applicable)
- Future advancement opportunities within a growing organization
Ideal Candidate
You are a hands-on operations leader who enjoys working with plants, optimizing systems, leading teams, and solving problems. You understand that success in a controlled environment farm requires a balance of horticultural expertise, operational discipline, employee leadership, and attention to detail.
You are motivated by accountability, continuous improvement, and building a high-performing indoor agriculture operation that consistently delivers exceptional product quality.
To Apply
Please submit:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- References upon request
- Summary of relevant production and management experience
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$26 per hour
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