Paprika Production Manager

Morning Dew Farm is hiring for the Paprika Production Manager position in Damariscotta, ME. This hands-on role supports the operation's day-to-day production and care work. Reliable execution and early communication matter because the work directly affects plants, animals, equipment, coworkers, customers, or the surrounding property. What you will do • Plan and direct seasonal crop, orchard, livestock, labor, equipment, material, and facility priorities for the assigned farm. • Train and supervise staff while also working alongside the crew during planting, cultivation, harvest, animal care, maintenance, and other time-sensitive work. • Track production, quality, safety, staffing, and resource needs and communicate decisions and exceptions across the farm's operating teams. • Coordinate the farm-grown pepper crop from harvest intake through drying and grinding, organizing people, batches, equipment, sanitation, quality checks, and production priorities. • Package and jar paprika and chile flakes, maintain batch, inventory, and fulfillment records, and ensure finished product is labeled, stored, and counted accurately. • Oversee online-order fulfillment and support product promotion or Common Ground Country Fair work when assigned, communicating crop, equipment, food-safety, or supply issues promptly. How the work fits together Farm management joins seasonal planning with daily field judgment. The manager turns crop, livestock, weather, labor, market, and maintenance information into clear priorities; confirms that people and resources are ready; checks execution and records; and adjusts the plan without losing sight of safety, quality, stewardship, or cost. At Morning Dew Farm, the employer also makes these role-specific priorities clear: Coordinate the farm-grown pepper crop from harvest intake through drying and grinding, organizing people, batches, equipment, sanitation, quality checks, and production priorities. Package and jar paprika and chile flakes, maintain batch, inventory, and fulfillment records, and ensure finished product is labeled, stored, and counted accurately. Oversee online-order fulfillment and support product promotion or Common Ground Country Fair work when assigned, communicating crop, equipment, food-safety, or supply issues promptly. What the employer is looking for • Strong organization, accurate record keeping, and ability to lead a concentrated seasonal workflow in which hundreds of pounds of heirloom peppers may need timely handling each week. • Comfort working independently and with a small farm crew, following food-safety and sanitation procedures, maintaining inventory discipline, and adapting as harvest volume and drying capacity change. • Dependable attendance, direct communication, and willingness to follow the employer's safety, quality, and customer- or production-care procedures. • Ability to complete the role's active, in-person work and to ask for instruction before using unfamiliar tools, equipment, products, or animal-handling methods. Schedule, conditions, and compensation Paprika work runs from approximately August 1 through January 1. The employer notes that this leadership role may be paired with greenhouse or other farm work for longer or year-round employment, but does not publish numeric pay, guaranteed weekly hours, a fixed daily schedule, or conventional benefits for this position. The employer does not publish a numeric wage range on this page, so no compensation has been estimated. Applicants should confirm the final hours, overtime treatment, starting assignment, travel or reporting point, supplied equipment, and benefit eligibility directly with the employer before accepting an offer. This is an in-person horticulture and outdoor position with a small operation. Daily priorities can change with weather, plant or animal condition, equipment availability, customer schedules, and the season. The successful person should arrive ready to work, communicate early when a task or condition is unclear, follow the employer's safety and quality procedures, and leave tools, vehicles, production areas, and job sites secure and ready for the next shift. Applicants should expect active work that may include long periods of standing or walking, bending, lifting, repetitive hand tasks, noise, dust, mud, pollen, heat, cold, rain, or work around moving equipment. The exact physical demands differ by assignment. Candidates should discuss any accommodation needs with the employer and confirm the final schedule, overtime treatment, training period, travel expectations, and benefit eligibility before accepting an offer. Only compensation and benefits expressly published by the employer are included here; unpublished terms have not been estimated. How to apply Use the application linked from Morning Dew Farm's employment page and submit the completed application with a resume and cover letter, clearly naming the Paprika Manager position.