Director of Specialty Crops (Vegetables & Fruits)
Full Time – Clarence, NY
Salary Range: $98,500 – $125,000 annually
Salary Range: $98,500 – $125,000 annually
The Director of Specialty Crops is responsible for the full lifecycle of specialty crop production with a heightened focus on post-harvest handling, packing operations, cold-chain management, and logistics coordination. This role ensures that crops are grown, harvested, cooled, packed, transported, and delivered to customers at the highest quality standards.
The Director leads production activities from planting through harvest while managing the complex post-harvest flow of product across multiple farm locations, warehouses, and distribution partners. This position blends agronomic expertise with operational leadership to consistently achieve high-yield, high-quality, and market-ready produce.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Post-Harvest Operations, Quality, & Logistics
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Lead all post-harvest activities, including harvest timing, crop maturity evaluation, labor planning, equipment deployment, and real-time QC decisions.
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Oversee cooling, washing, grading, packing, palletization, labeling, and staging for shipment.
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Ensure proper cold-chain management, including temperature standards, airflow, humidity requirements, and compatibility of crops during storage and transport.
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Establish SOPs for packhouse operations, including food safety, traceability, and handling protocols.
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Coordinate logistics, trucking, dock scheduling, and third-party carrier management to meet strict customer delivery windows.
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Evaluate which crops can be transported or stored together and maintain standards to preserve shelf life and product quality.
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Troubleshoot post-harvest issues (e.g., temperature deviations, load rejections, moisture/decay concerns).
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Maintain detailed harvest logs, QC reports, yield data, and shipping records to support accurate forecasting and continuous improvement.
Crop & Fertility Management
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Develop and implement fertility, soil health, and nutrient management plans to support optimal crop quality and post-harvest durability.
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Monitor crop conditions, adjusting plans based on soil tests, tissue samples, weather, and crop performance.
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Coordinate multi-site crop rotations and ensure alignment with customer demand, harvest timing, and packing capacity.
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Collaborate with the Crops Technician to execute fertilizer and crop input applications accurately and on schedule.
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Diagnose and address nutrient deficiencies, pest pressures, and disease issues.
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Stay current on agronomic innovations that improve yield, quality, and post-harvest performance.
Team Leadership & Coordination
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Lead, train, and manage daily field and post-harvest teams.
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Oversee planting, cultivation, irrigation, fertility applications, pest management, and harvest execution.
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Partner with the Crops Operations Manager to align labor resources with peak field and packhouse workloads.
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Foster a culture focused on safety, productivity, accountability, and high-quality output.
Demand Planning, Forecasting, & Customer Communication
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Lead demand planning by reviewing customer contracts and delivery timelines to reverse-plan planting schedules.
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Provide in-season customer updates on crop maturity, expected yields, and delivery timing.
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Use field and post-harvest data to accurately predict volume, quality, and supply constraints.
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Serve as the customer-facing liaison, delivering proactive communication and exceptional service.
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Collaborate with internal teams, warehouses, and carriers to execute efficient and cost-effective distribution plans.
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Conduct regular reviews to track operational performance and implement process improvements.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
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Strong understanding of post-harvest physiology, cold-chain handling, storage compatibility, and produce quality management.
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Experience with logistics, packhouse workflows, and operational problem-solving.
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Deep knowledge of soil science, crop nutrition, and agronomy.
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Ability to lead large seasonal teams and coordinate high-volume workloads.
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Strong communication, organization, and collaborative leadership skills.
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Skilled in diagnosing equipment or process issues and proposing effective solutions.
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Willingness to work long or irregular hours during peak seasons; ability to perform physical outdoor tasks.
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CDL-A preferred (or willingness to obtain).
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
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Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Agriculture, Supply Chain, or related field preferred (or equivalent hands-on experience).
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3–5 years of crop production and/or post-harvest operations experience, ideally with exposure to large-scale vegetable and fruit handling, cooling, and logistics.