Vineyard Foreman, Central
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )
Full Time
Kelowna,
British Columbia
Established in 2017 with the purchase of the historic Bennett property in West Kelowna, BC, Canada, Frind Estate Winery blends agriculture with technological opportunity. Markus Frind’s family has a farming history spanning 500 years, both in Germany and northern BC. After the successful sale of plentyoffish.com, Markus is focusing his efforts on pairing technology with agriculture to produce terroir-driven British Columbia wines of exceptional quality.
The Role
The Vineyard Foreman, Central for our Central Okanagan vineyards is responsible for supervising all vineyard labour to ensure best efficiency and practices on the vineyards. This role involves supervising and/or directing various aspects of related work including but not limited to pruning, pulling brush, tying, shoot positioning, moving wires, leaf removal, cluster thinning, hand hoeing, tractor operations and harvesting. The Vineyard Foreman, Central will manage vineyard acreage over multiple locations across central Okanagan and will oversee and control the vineyard activities of local employees and employees under a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program as well as business resources.
Responsibilities:
● Collaborates with the Interim Department Head to control expenses and costs. Makes recommendations on cost and time savings, quality enhancements or safety improvements
● Manages fertilizer, chemical, equipment and supplies inventory
● Trains, oversees, motivates and mentors vineyard labour
● Oversees and controls all vineyard duties and ensures adherence to best practices, including regularly working in the field
● Maintains accurate records of tasks completed by the crew and the time taken for each.
● Schedules staff work plans and submits payroll information accurately and on time.
● Follows safe operating procedures, support safety programs and policies to safeguard personal safety, company property and team members safety
● Reports any potential problems with employees, equipment, or other resources to the appropriate personnel
● Monitors Vineyard health for disease, deficiencies, stress, weed control, fertilization, irrigation, and reporting potential problems to the Vineyard Manager and/or Viticulturist
● Maintains and tracks all tools and supplies as related to the field crew assigned tasks
● Ensures that vineyard equipment and machinery is properly maintained, including the necessary preventative maintenance
● Oversees, reports, maintains and repairs irrigation scheduling and system
● Hauls fruit from Central Vineyards including contract vineyards to the winery and aids with other division hauling needs as necessary
● Aids with duties in other divisions when needed, fruit hauling, crew supervision etc.
● Spends majority of the time in the vineyards, hands-on with the crew, and the remainder of time performing administrative office duties as necessary
● Responsible for being “on-call” and tending to site as necessary
● Other duties as assigned
Requirements:
● Certificate, diploma or degree in Horticulture or Agriculture preferred, plus a minimum 2 years experience working in a supervisory capacity leading a vineyard crew or equivalent combination of education and experience.
● Experience working with employees under a Temporary Foreign Worker program is an asset
● Valid Class 5 Drivers License is required
● Valid Class 3, or Endorsement 20 is required or the ability to obtain such license
● Basic knowledge of vineyard operations and horticulture
● Basic Health & Safety knowledge (WCB & WHMIS)
● Ability to lift up to 50lbs.
● Ability to work in all weather conditions
● Ability to be “on-call” and work long hours as required
● Excellent interpersonal, organizational and verbal communication skills
● Previous experience operating applicable vineyard tools and related equipment
● Strong record keeping, estimating and organizational skills
● Ability to communicate on an on-going basis and motivate team to perform to their maximum level of productivity
● Tractor operation experience is an asset
● First Aid Certificate and/or Pesticide applicator course are an asset
● Spanish language considered an asset
Why Work for Us?
· Join a team of dedicated individuals who are passionate about wine and committed to excellence in every aspect of our operations.
· Whether you're just starting your career in the wine industry or are looking to take the next step, we offer opportunities for growth and development and learning at every level.
· We embrace innovation and creativity in everything we do, from winemaking techniques to customer experiences.
· Our commitment to excellence runs through everything we do, from vineyard management to customer service.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the position to [email protected].
Frind Winery is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.
Join us at Frind Winery Ltd. and be a part of our journey to create exceptional wines and unforgettable experiences for our customers!
The pay range for this position is $67,500 to $80,000. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role. Actual placement within range will be contingent upon a number of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s qualifications, education, experience, internal equity, and alignment with market data.
