Vegetable Production Manager

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies

Vegetable Production Manager

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is a non-profit environmental science education organization with three locations in the Roaring Fork Valley: Hallam Lake, Rock Bottom Ranch, and the Catto Center at Toklat. Since 1968, ACES has been meeting its mission of educating for environmental responsibility. 

Making more than 125,000 educational contacts annually, ACES reaches Colorado residents and visitors through guided hikes, environmental science lessons in schools and in the field, kids' camps and adult classes, public lectures, and community events.  Our programs focus on ecological literacy, regenerative agriculture, forest and ecosystem health, land restoration, and environmental civic leadership.      

Position Summary 

ACES seeks a mission-driven professional to support our regenerative agriculture program as the Vegetable Production Manager  at our Rock Bottom Ranch (RBR) site in Basalt, Colorado.  Rock Bottom Ranch’s livestock and vegetable products are featured at our summer dining events, seasonal farmers’ markets, local restaurants, and on-farm sales.  

Natural systems inspire Rock Bottom Ranch’s vegetable and livestock production, and the ranch is continually working toward more regenerative and sustainable practices. The 113-acre site dedicates approximately 70 acres to natural wildlands and 35 acres to pasture-based, rotationally grazed livestock systems.  To maximize production and extend the growing season at our mountainous 6,400 feet elevation, our 2/3 acre of outdoor vegetable and cut flower production is supported by four season extension structures (a stationary hoop house, mobile hoop houses, and a passive solar greenhouse).  

Our production farm and educational site is open to the public six days a week during the summer and offers daily farm tours, youth and adult programs, and food events.  Agricultural staff are given the opportunity to become involved in a diverse array of agricultural operations in addition to  customer service, numerous events, and educational experiences. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:  

1. Vegetable Production: 

• Execute and lead vegetable and cut flower production plans, including all steps from seed to sale.  This includes soil preparation, seed propagation, watering, transplanting, cultivation, harvesting, washing, packaging, and sales.
• Working with the Ranch Director, plan and execute all vegetable and cut flower production..
• Ensure vegetable and cut flower production is clean, presentable, and attractive at all times.
• Provide education and instruction on organic, sustainable market gardening to staff and visitors.
• Support marketing plans including weekly farmers’ markets, restaurant,  wholesale, event sales, and on-farm store.
• Serve as the Lead for Aspen Farmers Market, including communication with the market manager, scheduling, and any other responsibilities associated with the Carbondale Farmers Market.
• Maintain production records (including seeding, transplanting, harvest, and sales) and organize to share with the entire team; 
• Organize and/or assist with weekly deliveries.
• Lead and participate in various production transition projects to prepare the site for upcoming seasons.
• Lead Apprentices and Ag Stewards in daily vegetable tasks.  
• Assist in the growth of the RBR farmstand, including: keeping the farmstand properly stocked, creating value-added products, and assisting with sourcing other pertinent products.
• Responsible for lawn care inside of vegetable production fencing, including perennial production areas and around season extension structures.

2) Agriculture Administration and Customer Service 

• Contribute to the execution of the ACES Farmer Training Program; lead at least two pertinent trainings.
• In conjunction with the marketing team, develop content and contribute to the website and digital online resources, by posting 1 Instagram post per week.
• Schedule all on-site time commitments for the ag team.
• In conjunction with the Ranch Director, lead and schedule the Aspen Saturday Farmers Market.
• Assist in hiring Vegetable Apprentices and Agriculture Stewards.

3) Livestock production: 

• Assist with the rotating weekend livestock care of cattle, sheep, pigs, laying hens, meat chickens, turkeys, rabbits, and bees.  Notify manager and director of any illness, abnormal behavior, or predator pressure.
• Care may include providing feed and fresh water, ensuring living conditions are dry and clean, creating electric fencing paddocks and moving animals through a multi-species rotational grazing system, mucking out stalls and houses, and collecting and washing eggs.
• Participate in all on-property, humane animal slaughter of chicken and turkeys as needed.
• Assist with daily winter chores and lambing needs. 

Secondary Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Site maintenance, including cleaning, mowing, weed whacking, fence repair, event preparation, and other site duties that may arise at the Ranch Director’s discretion;
• Work three Farm-to-table and all burlap dinners at Rock Bottom Ranch.
• After hours, on-call responsibilities may include animal emergencies, animal birthing, or site maintenance issues.
• Assist with annual project lists to enhance site cleanliness and improvement.
• Other duties as assigned to further the mission of ACES. 

Qualifications: 

Candidates must embody the following characteristics: 

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in commercial vegetable production. With at least 1 year of experience as a crew lead or in a managerial capacity.
• Strong work ethic and understanding that farm work is rewarding, yet physically demanding.
• Enjoy working outdoors in varying weather conditions.   
• Able to lift heavy items. 
• Ability to work with a sense of urgency. 
• Friendly, inviting personality and positive attitude. 
• Respect for farm products, fellow crew members, and ACES staff. 
• Strong willingness and desire to learn. 

Preferred but not required, candidates will have the following:  

• 3-5 years of farming experience with 2-3 years in management preferred.
• An interest in pursuing farming as a career. 
• Experience working with a variety of livestock. 
• Bilingual, particularly conversational Spanish. 
• Able to drive a manual transmission and comfortable with towing large trailers. 
• Construction/woodworking skills. 
• Culinary and/or food service experience. 

Reporting Relationship:  This position reports to the Rock Bottom Ranch Director.. 

Location:  This position is located at ACES’ Rock Bottom Ranch site in Basalt, Colorado.  

Work schedule: 5 days per week, 8 or more hours per day, two consecutive days off per week. This is a full-time, exempt position. We value a healthy work/life balance, and farming has peak demands and occasional times of unpredictability where we will be challenged to work through physical and mental exhaustion.   

Benefits and Compensation:

Compensation based on qualifications and experience.  This position is eligible for the ACES benefits package which includes health insurance, paid time off and holidays, and retirement plan. Some evenings and weekends are required. This position is based out of ACES’ Rock Bottom Ranch site. Salary Range starting at $38,000 based on experience, plus housing.