Production Assistant

About the role

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Production Manager, the Production Assistant oversees daily operations of the Production Department, serving as a key liaison between production teams and other departments to ensure efficient production processes, effective labor management, crop health, and timely procurement of materials and tools. The position is based in Salinas/Nipomo within the Operations Management department and reports to the Assistant Production Manager.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all production activities, including seeding, irrigation management, grower coordination, pesticide applications, tray movement and loading, thinning, germination counts, and other production processes.
• Ensure all tools, equipment and materials are available to various production teams and order as needed in a timely manner.
• Communicate issues related to crop quality, labor, employee safety, equipment, and housekeeping to the appropriate department.
• Develop, improve, and enforce production control processes to maximize efficiency and quality at the assigned facility.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the labor teams and production managers to support production planning, especially during peak seasons.
• Identify production challenges, analyze root causes, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Coordinate with adjacent departments to ensure adequate inventory of production materials, including peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and other growing media.
• Analyze operating performance and explain production variances to management.
• Prepare and maintain Plant Ready Reports and Crop Health Reports, communicating potential production concerns to the Operations, Production, and Sales teams.
• Assist in developing and maintaining master planting schedules and communicate updates to Operations and Production teams.
• Inspect facilities and coordinate with internal departments and outside vendors to maintain infrastructure, equipment, and grounds.
• Participate in internal and external audits, including accounting, county, organic certification, pesticide, and other governmental inspections.
• Monitor and report available indoor and outdoor growing space accurately and in a timely manner.
• Identify quality deviations and non-conformances quickly, implement corrective actions, and communicate issues to the appropriate department.
• Ensure compliance with organic production standards and prevent commingling of organic and non-organic materials.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe production facilities in accordance with good housekeeping practices.
• Report on equipment conditions, repair needs, and the status of company vehicles and rolling stock promptly.
• Plan and coordinate labor requirements with Production Management, Leads, and Crew Leaders to maximize productivity and operational efficiency.
• Minimize horticultural waste and plant losses while reporting waste as required.
• Lead, coach, train, and supervise production employees while promoting safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Assign work responsibilities, establish priorities, and monitor project completion.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company policies, procedures, regulations, and best practices.
• Perform all duties in accordance with company environmental, food safety, and workplace safety policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Valid CA Driver’s License; must maintain eligibility for company vehicle insurance.
• Physical requirements: regularly required to sit; frequently required to talk or hear; occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities: close distance and color vision.

Qualifications

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
• Must be proactive, energetic, a self-starter who can work independently.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.