Senior Manager - California Farming & Operations

About this role

Description Sun World International is a leading agricultural research, licensing, and marketing company focused on developing and commercializing premium fruit varieties that deliver value across the global fresh produce supply chain. Through world-class breeding programs, advanced technologies, and a global network of growers and partners, Sun World is committed to accelerating innovation and delivering exceptional fruit experiences to consumers worldwide.

About the Department: The Farming & Operations team provides the foundation for Sun World's global breeding and research programs. The team is responsible for creating and maintaining high-quality table grape and fruit tree crops that enable breeders and scientists to evaluate, select, and advance the next generation of proprietary fruit varieties. Through expert crop management, operational excellence, infrastructure development, and continuous innovation, the team ensures that Sun World's research farms consistently deliver reliable, high-quality results that support the company's long-term breeding objectives.

The Senior Manager - California Farming & Operations is responsible for leading farming & operations across Sun World's California research and trialing locations, including the company's flagship R&D headquarters in Wasco and additional research sites in Cutler and Coachella, California.

This role holds a critical leadership position within the R&D organization, leading through the Farm Manager, Specialists, and external farm-management partners to ensure research crops are managed to the highest standards in open-field and greenhouse environments, while maintaining facilities in excellent condition to provide a safe, functional, and professional work environment. Success in this role requires strong technical expertise in crop production, exceptional leadership and communication skills, sound business judgment, experience in site operations activities, and the ability to solve complex agricultural and operations challenges in a dynamic research environment while delivering results against agreed goals and KPIs set by the team and leadership.

Why This Role Matters The Senior Manager - California Farming & Operations is responsible for creating the growing environments and ensuring optimal facilities that enable Sun World's breeding programs to succeed. By leading people, optimizing operations, and ensuring exceptional crop performance, this role directly contributes to the development of future Sun World varieties and the long-term success of the company's global innovation pipeline.

Responsibilities:

1. Leadership & Team Development · Provide leadership, direction, and coaching to farming teams across Sun World's California operations. · Directly manage key personnel at the Wasco research site, including the Farm Manager, technical specialists, Facilities and Procurement Specialist and other operational staff. · Establish a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement. · Develop talent, succession plans, and professional growth opportunities for team members. · Promote strong communication and alignment across Farming & Operations, Breeding, and Business functions.
2. California Farming & Operations Leadership · Provide overall operational leadership for Sun World's California research and trialing locations in Wasco, Cutler, and Coachella. · Oversee crop production plans, resource allocation, operational scheduling, and field execution. · Responsible for maintaining our sites, including laboratory, offices, show rooms, at a high standard to allow researchers, employees and visitors to operate in safe, first-class facilities. · Partner with breeding teams to ensure field operations support research objectives and breeding strategies.
3. Safety and Health · Lead Safety and Health efforts in our California R&D facilities and fields. · Identify risks, create contingency plans and procedures and all OSHA requirements that will keep our team members safe and healthy. · Compliance with OSHA requirements. · Implement a culture of safety · Training related to safety, including vehicle safety · Liaison with safety related vendors and service companies, such as fire and alarm systems · Ensure compliance with pesticide regulations, re-entry intervals, storage requirements, and application protocols.
4. Research Crop Management · Ensure crop management practices are tailored to the unique needs of breeding populations, trials, and advanced selections. · Maintain healthy, uniform, and high-performing plant material that enables accurate evaluation and selection by breeders. Oversee the implementation of best practices in irrigation, nutrition, pest management, pruning, canopy management, and other cultural activities.
5. Third-Party Farm Management & External Partnerships · Provide strategic direction and oversight to external farm management companies supporting research locations. · Establish clear expectations, performance standards, and operational objectives. · Develop strong working relationships with external partners, vendors, consultants, and service providers. · Serve as the main point of contact for external farming-related collaborations and services.
6. Operational Excellence & Innovation · Identify and implement opportunities to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability. · Lead initiatives focused on automation, mechanization, and digital transformation of farming operations. · Promote adoption of emerging technologies, agricultural sensors, precision agriculture tools, and data-driven management practices. · Foster a culture of innovation and modernization across farming operations.
7. Data, Technology & Performance Management · Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to crop performance, operational effectiveness, resource utilization, and farm productivity. · Drive digitization of critical farm records and operational data, including irrigation, crop protection, weather, fertility, and cultural activities. · Leverage data, analytics, and technology to improve decision-making and operational outcomes.
8. Financial & Capital Management · Develop, manage and execute annual operating budgets for California farming and operations. · Monitor expenditures and ensure resources are used effectively and responsibly. · Identify capital investment opportunities that improve operational capability and efficiency. · Lead planning and execution of capital projects related to farm infrastructure, irrigation systems, equipment, and research facilities. · Support long-term planning and investment decisions that strengthen Sun World's research platform.
9. Facilities Management: · Facilities, including office, labs, sheds, to be maintained at the highest levels of safety, ergonomics, and professional standard that allow team members to conduct their tasks in a safe, functional and efficient setting. · Focus on preventive maintenance to keep down times to a minimum · Develop list of vendors that can solve maintenance issues in a prompt and cost-effective manner · Identify opportunities for improvement related to facilities.
10. Procurement: · Oversee all procurement activities and strategy, with the day-to-day being managed by their team · Strategic sourcing approach: re-order points, supplies inventory management · Development of procurement suppliers that can deliver quality products in a responsive way with the lowest cost · Planning of supplies for the season · Manage warehousing needs and procedures · Identify and implement software solutions to manage supplies

Required Qualifications: · Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Plant Science, Horticulture, Agricultural Science, Biology, or a related field. · A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in agricultural operations, farming, horticulture, or research farm management, including at least 5 years of people leadership experience managing and developing teams. · Demonstrated success leading complex agricultural operations and cross-functional initiatives. · Strong understanding of crop production systems, irrigation, nutrition, pest management, and farm operations, safety and facilities management. · Excellent communication, leadership, problem-solving, and organizational skills. · Proven ability to collaborate effectively with scientific, technical, and operational stakeholders. · Strong business acumen and experience managing budgets and operational resources. · Ability to travel regularly between California research locations. · Fluent in English.

Preferred Qualifications: · Experience supporting agricultural research, breeding programs, or trialing operations. · Significant expertise in perennial crop production, with demonstrated experience in grapes and fruit trees. · Fluent in Spanish. · Experience managing external farm management companies or contract farming operations. · Experience with farm automation, mechanization, precision agriculture, and digital farming technologies. · Experience with operational performance metrics and data-driven farm management. · Knowledge of California agricultural regulations and compliance requirements. · Experience managing capital improvement and infrastructure projects.

Compensation: Base salary range of $150,000 - $185,000 (depending upon experience) plus a target annual bonus of 20%. Full benefit package including insurance coverages and a 401(K) with company match, flexible vacation time.

Work Schedule: Based in Wasco, CA. Onsite.

Sun World International LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity. The company does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic forbidden under federal, state or local law.