Senior Farm Production Lead

Join Our Team!

We are hiring a Senior Farm Production Lead! This is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing the cultivation, harvest, and overall farm operations to ensure the highest quality floral crops. We are looking for an experienced individual with a strong background in horticulture, farm management, and team leadership to drive efficiency, maintain sustainable farming practices, and produce exceptional flower yields.

About Us

Nehemiah Group, dba Southside Blooms & Chicago EcoHouse, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit farm-to-vase florist based on the South Side of Chicago. We specialize in unique, fashion-forward floral arrangements while maintaining an unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and community impact. By offering employment and training opportunities for at-risk youth, we strive to create a lasting positive impact in the communities we serve, to find out more click here.  

While resumes, work experience, and education are important, we prioritize talent, passion, and creativity—hiring individuals who can help us create extraordinary moments for our customers and shape the future of our floral business

Role

As a Senior Farm Production Lead, you will be responsible for managing all aspects of farm production, from crop planning to harvest. You will lead the farm team, develop efficient workflows, maintain high-quality production standards, and ensure the farm operates sustainably. Additionally, you will mentor junior farm staff and youth apprentices, fostering a collaborative and educational work environment.

Your Core Contributions To The Team

• Oversee & Optimize Farm Production: Supervise all aspects of farm production, ensuring high-quality floral crops and efficient processes.
• Supervise & Train Staff: Lead farm team members, including Junior Farm Leads, Assistants, and Youth Apprentices, by providing training, mentorship, and clear expectations.
• Monitor & Maintain Farm Equipment & Infrastructure: Oversee irrigation systems, greenhouses, hoop houses, and tools to ensure proper function and safety.

About You

• Extensive experience in farm production, horticulture, or a related field, with a strong understanding of crop management and sustainable farming practices.
• Proven leadership abilities, including experience managing teams, training staff, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot farm challenges and implement effective solutions.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate across teams and ensure farm operations run smoothly.
• Attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high-quality standards for crop health, productivity, and sustainability.
• Physically capable of performing farm labor, including lifting up to 50 pounds and working in various weather conditions.

Job Description

The Senior Farm Production Lead is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing sustainable agriculture operations, including crop and livestock management, infrastructure upkeep, and team leadership. This position is ideal for individuals with experience in sustainable farming who are passionate about environmental stewardship, problem-solving, and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee Daily Farm Operations: Manage and coordinate farm tasks, ensuring all activities—such as planting, watering, weeding, fertilizing, and harvesting—are completed efficiently and on schedule.
• Schedule & Manage Shifts: Responsible for creating and maintaining the farm team’s work schedule. Ensure adequate staffing levels, approve shift changes, and monitor attendance. Ensure all team members properly clock in and out.
• Monitor Crop Health & Growth: Regularly inspect crops for pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. Report findings to the farm lead and assist in implementing corrective actions.
• Maintain Farm Equipment & Infrastructure: Ensure farm tools, machinery, and facilities are properly maintained, cleaned, and in working order. Report repair needs and assist in basic maintenance.
• Actively Participate in Farm Work: Engage in all aspects of daily farm activities, including planting seeds and seedlings, watering, weeding, fertilizing, and harvesting crops to ensure efficient production
• Training & Mentorship: Provide guidance and hands-on training to farm assistants and new team members. Support knowledge-sharing on best farming practices and workplace safety.
• Enforce Workplace Policies & Corrective Action: Monitor team performance and adherence to farm policies, including attendance, safety, and work quality. Address performance or behavioral issues as they arise, providing feedback and implementing corrective action in coordination with leadership and HR.
• Ensure Compliance with Farm Safety Protocols: Adhere to and enforce safety regulations, ensuring that all farm work is carried out safely and efficiently.
• Contribute to Overall Farm Efficiency and Cleanliness: Support sustainable farming practices and assist in optimizing workflows to increase productivity while minimizing waste.Maintain the overall cleanliness and organization of the farm, ensuring all work areas are kept in a safe and efficient condition.

Requirements

• Weekend & Holiday Availability: The floral industry experiences peak demand during weekends and holidays. The ability to work during these times is essential to meet customer needs and ensure smooth farm operations.
• Physical Stamina & Strength: This role requires lifting and carrying buckets of water, bags of soil, and other heavy objects, as well as standing for extended periods.
• Reliability & Commitment: Consistent attendance is crucial to maintaining farm operations. Team members are expected to adhere to their scheduled shifts, clock in and out on time, and provide timely notice for any necessary absences.
• Leadership & Communication Skills: Must be able to motivate and guide team members, delegate tasks effectively, and provide clear instructions. Responsible for scheduling shifts, monitoring attendance, and ensuring all staff members properly clock in and out.
• Problem-Solving & Attention to Detail: Ability to monitor crop health, identify issues like pests or nutrient deficiencies, and report them to the farm lead. Must be detail-oriented and able to follow instructions accurately.
• Teamwork & Adaptability: Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment, adjusting to changing tasks and priorities as needed.
• Education & Experience:
  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Valid Drivers license with a clean driving record
  • Formal education or training in agriculture, horticulture, or a related field is preferred but not required.
  • Previous experience working with flowers, plants, greenhouses, or farm settings is a plus.

All The Other Stuff

This position reports to the Operational Supervisor. However, in the Operational Supervisor absence, the Chief Operating Officer  will provide oversight and direction as needed. This is a non-exempt position.

The Nehemiah Group  is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce. We are committed to building an environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination and harassment, where opportunities are available to everyone based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. 

The job functions listed above represent the primary duties and responsibilities of this job and in no way state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by you. Other duties and responsibilities within the scope of this job may be assigned.  You will be required to follow all instructions and to perform all duties requested by your manager, subject to reasonable accommodation and within the scope of the position.

Salary : $23