Production Shift Manager (Indoor Vertical Farming)

Farm Shift Manager

We grow the world’s BEST Strawberries & that wouldn’t be possible without our Production Operations Team!

We are seeking a Shift Manager who will lead our production operations team spanning multiple farms, and a packaging team on multiple shifts within our vertical farming facility. Each Shift Manager is responsible for a specific shift and owns driving execution of all production functions with a team of farm and/or pack operators. Take ownership of all aspects of production including team development, equipment understanding/readiness, sanitation, health & safety, food safety & quality, cost, and product yield. 

This role works a fixed Sunday–Wednesday schedule, with shift hours rotating every 6 months between a set day shift (6:00 AM-6:00 PM) and a set night shift (6:00 PM-6:00 AM). Rotation dates are predetermined.

What you’ll be responsible for: 

• Drive Production KPIs, such as pruning or packaging speed, bruise rate, IPM task completion, cost reduction, increased yield, quality, and other key metrics contributing to team success measured in cost, quality and productivity. 
• Operate and troubleshoot new farming and/or packaging technologies. 
• Analyze real time reporting and data to interpret information to guide decision making. 
• Keep your shift at peak performance by ensuring safety guidelines, IPM risk management, and sanitation adherence at all times. The health of your team and our farms depend on this.
• Communicate promptly, effectively, and respectfully with all associates to ensure clear expectations and align any upcoming changes. 
• Work closely with cross functional partners throughout the facility such as maintenance to ensure a cohesive operation amongst different functions. 
• Coordinate and troubleshoot with cross functional partners throughout the facility to identify and resolve any potential issues with your team, including system malfunctions, plant health issues, environmental issues, etc. Escalate gaps as necessary. 
• Expected to understand, implement, and enforce food safety policies, including worker hygiene, sanitation, and maintaining proper documentation.
• Serve as a people manager directing work, providing feedback, evaluating work, assigning tasks, goal setting, coaching team members, resolving issues, and ensuring consistent staffing levels. 
• This is a highly hands-on role where you are expected to spend the majority of your time in the farm or pack environment, observing operations in real time, ensuring processes are followed, and stepping in to drive performance when needed. You will audit team execution against established standards and provide immediate coaching and feedback when gaps are identified.
• Develop a deep understanding of all farming and packaging processes so you can effectively assess performance, identify inefficiencies, and coach team members to meet expectations consistently.

Qualifications

Who will love this job: Individuals who identify with our Core Values and exhibit skills within those values will thrive at Oishii.

• One Team, One Fight!
  • Ability to quickly shift priorities to meet deadlines and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, clearly, concisely and with purpose at various levels of the organization.
  • Ability to work cross functionally at all levels including across locations, and collaborate with a focus on supporting & understanding the evolving business needs of a startup environment.
  • Ability to lead through others and develop teams with a diverse level of experience to succeed.
• Focus.
  • Ability to remove obstacles in order to prioritize which could include problem solving, working through ambiguity and using fact based or sound judgment in the absence of process or policy. We are building it, but need to manage through the process with good judgment and a bias for action.
  • Ability to synthesize information quickly to aid in the troubleshooting process.
• GSD (Get Sh** Done!)
  • Possessing an entrepreneurial mindset with the tenacity to develop ideas, process, and policy and implement them rapidly.
  • Capable of prioritizing tasks and considering the resources available when doing so.
  • A bias for action! Ability to hold yourself accountable and take ownership of driving results that impact company outcomes.
  • Track record of effectively handling complex employee relations issues, and addressing sensitive information and difficult situations with tact, discretion, and confidentiality.

What we look for in a Shift Manager:

• High school diploma or GED; a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field is preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in a farming, production/manufacturing, warehouse, or similar environment.
• 5+ years of progressive management experience leading operations teams, including frontline or hourly associates, with a track record of making sound, independent decisions when issues arise on shift
• A proven track record of using real-time reporting and data to improve productivity, quality, yield, and cost metrics..
• Working knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices such as GMP or HACCP, with a related certification (PCQI, HACCP, SQF) a plus.
• Experience handling complex employee relations issues with tact, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methods is a plus.
• Solid computer literacy, including Google Suite, Slack, Notion, or similar tools.
• Availability for the Sunday–Wednesday 12-hour schedule, including the 6-month day/night rotation and occasional off-hours emergency response.

Additional Details:

• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs, climb ladders, and crouch, kneel, reach, and stretch as needed.
• Hand dexterity required.
• Comfortable in an active, non-sedentary role for 5–6 hour stretches, including extended time in cold storage areas.
• This role requires regular direct physical contact with bee colonies as part of pollination work. Candidates must not be allergic to bees.
• There may be times when you need to respond to emergencies or issues outside your shift hours that impact the facility or your team.

Perks at Oishii:

• Compensation: $72,000 - $85,000 and Equity
• Medical, dental, vision, 401(K)
• 100% Employer Paid Life Insurance + Long Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Parental leave, Paid Time Off, Paid Sick Time
• Paid Training
• Office social events including happy hours, events, and parties
• Employee activity groups for basketball players, Yoga Enthusiasts, runners…

About Us:

Oishii (which means “delicious” in Japanese) is the innovative company behind the world’s largest indoor vertical strawberry farm. On a mission to transform the agriculture industry through the power of smart farming, Oishii harmoniously marries nature with state-of-the-art technology to create the ideal elements—rain, air, heat, light, nourishment and natural bee pollination—for growing in-season produce all year round. Oishii’s beloved Omakase, Koyo and Nikko Berries are grown in pesticide-free vertical farms in the U.S. and proudly bear the Non-GMO Project Verified seal. Founded in 2016, Oishii’s investors include SPARX Group, NTT, Yaskawa, McWin Capital Partners, and Resilience Reserve. Oishii was recognized as one of Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2022.

Today, Oishii operates farms and research facilities across the United States and Japan, bringing together expertise from both countries to advance the future of agriculture. As a Japanese-founded company with global ambitions, we are building a world-class team dedicated to transforming how premium produce is grown and delivered. For more information, visit www.oishii.com.