Produce Pool Manager

Location – This is a hybrid role, which means that you will have the flexibility to work both onsite and at a distance. You will collaborate onsite at either our Cashton, WI or La Farge, WI offices for 3-5 days per week, and the rest of the time you can choose to work remotely or onsite.

Employee Type – Salaried

Bonus Eligibility – No

Safety Sensitive – Yes

If a company is going to make a difference in today’s world, it’s going to have to think differently. At Organic Valley, our philosophy and decisions are based on the health and welfare of people, animals and the earth. We’re a mission-driven cooperative, owned by family farmers, and we’ve been leaders in organic agriculture from the very beginning. Once pioneers of organic agriculture, we’re now an established leader. Organic is all we do. We are driven by our mission to promote regional farm diversity and economic stability by the means of organic agricultural methods and the sale of certified organic products.

Summary Of Role

The Produce Pool Manager is a strategic leader responsible for overseeing and executing produce farmer relationships, production information, and sales efforts. This role includes leading farmer procurement, production management, managing direct reports, policy enforcement, meetings, and training. The manager ensures product quality and provides training on standards and best practices. This is a safety-sensitive role.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead and develop production procurement strategies to meet sales demand.
• Communicates performance expectations by evaluating performance, providing timely feedback, training, and coaching, and recommending personnel actions for assigned staff
• Manage the strategic farmer sign-up process, coordinate supply regions, and monitor compliance.
• Organize and lead monthly Pool and Produce Executive Committee meetings.
• Implement and oversee quality safeguards for member production.
• Participate in the creation and enforcement of pool policies, ensuring strategic alignment and compliance.
• Support cost of production and fair market pricing, providing strategic oversight and guidance.
• Develop and lead the achievement of annual budgeted sales and production goals.
• Increase revenue, profit margin, and cost-effectiveness through strategic initiatives.
• Maintain and build customer relationships, develop new opportunities, and oversee strategic client interactions.
• Strategize supply opportunities by collaborating with external growers and manage these relationships to expand sales through seasonal products.
• Engage with and strategically develop new broker relationships.
• Collaborate with Produce Production on product procurement and strategic initiatives, supervising their execution.
• Prepare the annual program budget, forecast goals, and oversee strategic financial planning.
• Track inbound product availability and outbound order fulfillment, ensuring efficiency with strategic oversight.
• Maintain and oversee department processes, ensuring strategic alignment.
• Track market trends around pricing and availability, providing strategic insights and oversight.
  
  

Additional Duties And Responsibilities

• Attend and represent the organization at produce/organic grower conferences.
• Draft strategic articles for membership and Pool Department meeting reports.
• Assist with new product development and supervise the strategic process.
• Foster positive relationships with the OV Sales Force and manage strategic collaborations.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• 10 years of business and leadership experience, with at least 5 years in the produce industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Agri-Business, Marketing, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• Proven ability to lead a team to deliver results.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Discretion in decision-making.
• Team player with excellent verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work evening hours during peak season and flexible scheduling.
• Practical vegetable production experience and knowledge of organic practices required.
• Knowledge of USDA produce grade standards.
• Experience in the produce industry and with organic farming preferred.
• Experience working with farmers.
• Ability to promote cooperative values.
• Willingness to travel and work in the field.
• Strong people skills and excellent communication, both verbal and written.
• Knowledge of the organic food marketplace preferred.
• Negotiation and trade experience preferred.
• Motivated to maintain and increase trade knowledge through industry contacts and resources.
• Working knowledge of Excel, Outlook & Word and familiarity with general business systems and databases.
• Occasional travel to attend trade shows or meet with customers.
  
  

Base salary range: $92,768.00 - $127,338.00 per year

This salary range is exclusive of fringe benefits. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of discretionary bonuses. If you are hired at CROPP, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, and/or experience. Additionally, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that entry-level candidates to this role should expect to be at the lower end of the salary range and hiring at the maximum of the salary range is not typical.

Benefits

We believe when our people are strong, our mission is strong. Therefore, we offer a comprehensive and holistic Total Rewards package meant to strengthen employees’ and their family's total wellbeing. Here are some of the great benefits offered:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance - Choice of plans for you and your family, including some that can be paired with an HSA (which CROPP contributes to on your behalf)
• Supplemental insurances: we offer accidental insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• Time Off – 136 hours in the 1st year of employment prorated by start date. Plus 9 paid holidays, plus one floating holiday to use at will.
• 6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave – For all gendered partners in childbirth or adoption.
• Vision & Dental Insurance – Free annual eye exam, discounts on glasses/contacts, flexible dental network, adult ortho.
• 401k – We match 100% up to the first 3% of an employee’s contribution, and then 50% for 3.1%-5.0% of employee contributions.
• Free services at five local Neighborhood Family Clinics.
• Tuition Reimbursement – Up to $1,500 per year to support continuing higher education.
• Life Insurance - $50,000 policy funded by CROPP for each employee. Supplemental voluntary coverage available for employees, spouses, and children.
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability/AD&D Insurance - $50,000 of life insurance coverage of $50,000 of AD&D coverage funded by CROPP for each employee.
• Employee Assistance Program - Free and Confidential for employees, spouses, and dependents.
• Free onsite fitness centers available 24/7
• Free biometric screenings (cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure) and health coaching.
• Financial advisors and seminars
• Annual $360 Lifestyle Spending Account
• Flexible Scheduling
• On-site all-organic cafeterias