Vineyard Operations Manager

Chateau Grand Traverse is recruiting a year-round vineyard operations manager for its estate on northern Michigan's Old Mission Peninsula. The family-owned winery describes this as a development-track leadership position, not a seasonal assignment: the person hired will take on broad operational responsibility now and work toward full vineyard-management authority over a defined one- to two-year period. It is an opportunity for someone who wants a long-term future in cool-climate estate viticulture and is ready to combine vine care, equipment work, crew oversight, and careful recordkeeping. What the role covers • Lead vineyard programs during both the growing season and winter dormancy • Organize annual work plans and translate seasonal priorities into clear day-to-day operations • Direct contracted vineyard labor and hold crews accountable for quality, efficiency, and safe execution • Monitor vine health, recognize emerging issues, and recommend improvements that support the long-term condition of the estate • Work with ownership and the winemaking team to align vineyard decisions with fruit-quality and production goals • Operate and maintain tractors, loaders, sprayers, and other vineyard equipment • Keep spray records, operational logs, and compliance documentation complete and current • Support winter snow removal and maintain access around the property during northern Michigan weather • Protect equipment, vineyard assets, and work areas through attentive maintenance and responsible use • Grow into broader decision-making authority as knowledge of the estate and demonstrated capability increase Who should apply Chateau Grand Traverse is looking for a reliable, mature operator with a strong work ethic, sound judgment, mechanical aptitude, and genuine interest in estate farming. Experience or education in viticulture, horticulture, agronomy, turfgrass, agriculture, or a related field is preferred. Candidates should be comfortable working independently, leading outside labor, solving problems in the field, and communicating closely with winery leadership. A valid driver's license is required. Hours and development path This is a stable, full-time position throughout the year. The expected workload is approximately 40–50 hours per week during the growing season and harvest, then 35–40 hours per week in winter and other slower periods. The employer has not published a compensation figure; it states that responsibility and compensation will expand as the successful candidate demonstrates capability and advances toward full vineyard management. Applicants should use the form on Chateau Grand Traverse's own employment page to submit their information directly to the winery.