Horticultural Production Manager

Delaware Valley University is accepting candidates for Horticultural Production Manager.

About the University

Founded in 1896, DelVal is an academically rigorous interdisciplinary university dedicated to the sciences and liberal arts. Today, its more than 1,000 acres of land is a testament to the University‘s mission to provide a functional, hands-on learning environment for students, serving as an outdoor classroom for several fields of study. DelVal offers students a wide array of undergraduate, graduate and continuing education degree programs and is one of the few higher education institutions that requires an experiential learning component that is award-winning. DelVal has received numerous accolades including being named to Princeton Review’s 2022 “Best in the Northeast” and U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 “Best Regional Universities-North” lists. Nestled in Bucks County, PA, known for its picturesque landscapes, DelVal is only 30 miles north of Philadelphia, and is easily accessible by regional rail located on campus.

Job Summary:

The Horticultural Production Manager is responsible for the oversight of all fruit and vegetable production at DelVal, as well as production ground utilized for education, research, and outside partner use. Working with the Dean of Agriculture & Environmental Science, Director of Ag Operations and the Director of Agricultural Operations, faculty, staff, and students, the Horticultural Production Manager is tasked with providing fruit and vegetable production for education, revenue production, and donation.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversees all daily workflow of student workers
• Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains new student workers
• Provides constructive and timely performance feedback
• Sets goals and initiatives for direct reports

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepares, plants, maintains, and harvests all fruit and vegetable plantings according to normal agronomic practices.
• Prepares and maintains ground used in conjunction with outside partners.
• Provides an educational environment safe for student, faculty, and staff use.
• Derives revenue through external sales of fruit and vegetables through various avenues.
• Provides fruit and vegetable production for donation.
• Maintains timely and accurate budgetary control.
• Provides class Lab support year-round.
• Supports Faculty to facilitate horticultural labs in the field.
• Participates in post-season orchard and field clean-up to promote sustainable farming year after year. This includes the elimination of pest and disease pressure by removing old material (done post-season during dormancy).
• Participates in pruning – both peaches and apples need to be pruned when dormant in January and February.
• Participates in spraying, including early winter and early spring treatments, to ensure maximum growth and yield and decrease disease.
• Plants starter plants for field grows in January/February and continues planting through the season to ensure all parties are supplied with needed material (Teaching Lab needs, Roth Farm Market, Terrain Farm Market, Terrain Pick Your Own, Parkhurst and BCOC.
• Provides support to student workers year-round to promote a learning and work environment where students can always excel.
• Ensures machinery and equipment maintenance year-round.
• Supports Greenhouse and Crop Production.
• Supports current partners, as well as additional future opportunities with current and new partners.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must possess a current PA Pesticide Applicators License
• Extensive knowledge of fruit and vegetable production
• Knowledge and experience operating and repairing production equipment: tractors, application equipment, and harvesting equipment
• Knowledge of applying chemical pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers
• Ability to keep detailed records

Education and Experience:

• B.S. in Fruit and Vegetable Production or related field
• Minimum 3 years fruit and vegetable production
• Minimum three years personnel supervision

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequently lifting 25 lbs or more
• Typically standing or walking
• Typically bending, crouching, stooping
• Climbing ladders, scaffolds
• Using tools requiring high dexterity
• Outdoor exposure to weather
• Exposure to chemicals
• Exposure to moving machinery
• Exposure to unpleasant odors
• High noise environment
• High dust, dirt, grease environment
• Must hold valid driver’s license
• May have an alternative work schedule
• Occasional travel

Delaware Valley University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce.