JOB: Salt Spring Island, BC – Orchard Manager, Salt Spring Apple Company

Salt Spring Apple Company is looking for a committed, hardworking orchard manager interested in taking a leadership role at our small certified organic apple orchard, which is among Canada’s most diverse. We are growing more than 333 varieties of heritage and connoisseur apples and have 3,356 trees planted on our spectacular five acre property on Salt Spring Island, B.C.

We’re looking for someone to work with us starting immediately for a one-year term, with the possibility of renewal for an additional term. The successful candidate will be someone who’s smart, dedicated, flexible, good-natured, passionate and willing to work outdoors in all kinds of weather. You’re healthy, willing to work hard and able to supervise and manage others in a positive manner.

This position is both supervisory and hands-on, so be prepared to manage farm volunteers (WWOOFers) as well as working directly in our orchard and nursery on an every-day basis.

This position is for you if you love the idea of getting your hands dirty in our orchard and our nursery, want to be involved in serving our customers at the farm gate and local farmers markets and like the idea of providing leadership to an always-changing crew of WWOOFers. We’ll teach you what we know and count on you to share what you learn with our WWOOFers.

 

Our Orchard Manager will be involved with the entire process, from creating new trees in our nursery to caring for the ones already planted in our orchard, dealing with the harvest and with the sale of apples, apple trees and value-added products. We are also working toward the establishment of a cidery and expect our Orchard Manager will have some involvement with that project.

In exchange for your full-time-plus efforts five days per week, we provide compensation valued at $24,700 per year. Part of this is in the form of room and board (valued at $450 bi-weekly) and the rest is in the form of a cash payment of $450 bi-weekly, plus bonuses after successfully completing six months ($300) and one year ($1,000) in the position. The first three months on the job are probationary.

The room and board portion includes private and comfortable accommodation in a compact, fully furnished space (with heat, lights, wi-fi and a kitchenette all included) and shared use of our main house’s kitchen, bathroom and living area. You prepare your own breakfasts, lunches and snacks and the three of us take turns preparing each night’s dinner for the whole crew.

As a salaried management position, there is no additional payment for overtime. We do guarantee you two days off each week and provide two weeks per year of paid vacation.

This is a new position on a young and growing farm, so it’s a great opportunity for you to make the job your own and help us do something creative, exciting and memorable here on Salt Spring.

For more information, including a copy of a detailed list of duties, or to apply (include a resume and covering letter), please email us at admin@saltspringapplecompany.com.

Find Salt Spring Apple Company online: www.saltspringapplecompany.com