Position Summary

The Harvest Optimization Manager is responsible for overseeing daily harvesting operations to ensure mushrooms are harvested efficiently, safely, and in accordance with established quality standards and production targets. This role provides leadership and direction to harvesting supervisors and team members, monitors productivity and labour utilization, and ensures harvesting activities align with growing schedules, customer requirements, and overall operational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

· Harvesting Operations: Oversee daily mushroom harvesting activities, ensuring production targets, harvesting schedules, and quality standards are consistently achieved.

· Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop harvesting supervisors and employees, establishing clear expectations, promoting accountability, and fostering a productive team environment.

· Production Planning: Coordinate harvesting activities with growing, packing, and production teams to align labour resources, crop availability, and operational priorities.

· Performance Management: Monitor harvesting volumes, productivity, labour costs, attendance, and other key performance indicators (KPIs); identify performance gaps and implement corrective actions.

· Quality Control: Ensure mushrooms are harvested at the appropriate stage of maturity and meet company specifications for size, appearance, freshness, and handling.

· Health & Safety: Enforce workplace health and safety procedures, safe equipment practices, sanitation requirements, and company policies throughout harvesting operations.

· Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve harvesting efficiency, reduce waste and product damage, optimize labour utilization, and strengthen operational processes.

· Communication & Reporting: Maintain accurate production and labour records, communicate operational updates to management, and collaborate with other departments to resolve issues and support business objectives.

Qualifications

· Post-secondary education in agriculture, horticulture,



food production, operations management, or a related field is an asset.

· Demonstrated experience in agricultural production, mushroom harvesting, greenhouse operations, food manufacturing, or a comparable production environment.

· Previous supervisory or management experience leading large, diverse teams in a quick-paced operational setting.

· Strong understanding of production planning, labour management, quality control, and performance measurement.

· Experience monitoring KPIs, interpreting production data, and implementing process improvements.

· Knowledge of workplace health and safety requirements and food safety practices.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office and production or workforce management systems is an asset.

· Excellent communication, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

· Ability to work flexible hours, including early mornings, weekends, or holidays as operationally required.

What We Offer

At Windmill, we believe culture meets cutting-edge technology. We are committed to creating a workplace where employees can contribute, grow, and take pride in their work while being part of an innovative agricultural organization.

- Salary: $80,000-$90,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications
- Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package
- Schedule: Monday to Friday, some weekends, 6:00 AM–Until production ends
- Employment Type: Full-time

Windmill Farms is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals. We thank all applicants for their interest: However, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If chosen to participate in the selection process, accommodations are available upon request. We will consult with the applicant to provide or arrange suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant's accessibility needs.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00-$90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Vision care

Experience:

- crop harvesting: 4 years (required)

Work Location: In person

📌 Harvest Optimization Manager (Port Perry)
🏢 Windmill Farms
📍 Port Perry