Sod Farm Superintendent

SodStar (operated by Buy Sod), a multi-state agribusiness company with sod farms in the Carolinas, Tennessee Georgia and Florida, is currently seeking to hire a motivated Full Time Farm Superintendent to assist in leading our Soperton, GA location. Relocation candidates will be considered.

Farm Superintendent Benefits:

• 90% company paid single medical coverage.
• Medical Dental and Vision single and family coverages available
• Employee and Family supplemental life insurance options
• 401k with company match
• Paid time off
• 9 Paid holidays

Farm Superintendent Responsibilities:

• Ensure all location employees operate within safety parameters.
• Cultivate, grow and maintain an effective team.
• Ensure a consistent and prioritized departmental recruitment and retention plan in accordance with company policies and initiatives.
• Manage recruitment, hiring, training, performance, corrective action, and termination processes for all farm employees (Domestic and H2A) on a daily basis.
• Manage all aspects of employee scheduling to include accountability for working hours, overtime, PTO/ other scheduled time off (to include number of employees who can be out concurrently).
• Manage all farm leadership, direct reports and operations on a daily basis.
• Display sound judgement in managing and controlling expenses. Consistently seeks to understand the company’s finance policies and procedures.
• Ensure that resources are properly managed to operate within the farm budget.
• Escalate key activities/initiatives outside of budget parameters to upper management.
• Ensure that each person has been properly trained how to safely operate each piece of equipment wearing all required PPE on a daily basis.
• Ensure each Production and Harvest Crew members under his/her supervision perform all pre-start checks (oil, hydraulic, water, clean air filters, etc.) and any necessary preventive maintenance.
• Ensure daily that all Production and Harvest equipment is calibrated, functioning properly and working at optimum conditions and work with Farm Mechanic and vendor equipment technicians to troubleshoot any issues.
• Request purchase orders for parts and supplies and submit for approval.
• Ensure that employee issues are promptly addressed through training, coaching and corrective action.
• Lead on-site investigations for production accidents/incidents/violations.
• Ensure accurate and timely inventories are submitted to Sod Central when/as requested.

• Execute planting plan in a manner that meets Buy Sod standards.
• Manage relationships with certification association(s) to ensure pre-planting, field inspections and all certified product requirements are met/sustained.
• Work with Farm Mechanics on issues concerning safety and condition of all equipment and consult for resolution with Regional Repair and Maintenance Manager.
• Communicate quality issues in a timely and professional manner to Director of Specialty Turf/Research Development.
• Participate in company-wide leadership training, meetings and continuing education as needed.
• Partner with Sod Central for: HR, Accounting, Logistics, Sales & IT for shared service needs.

Production

• Regularly inspect fields for problem areas and report to supervisor.
• Perform in season/as needed soil, nematode and tissue samples in stressed/weak areas and applies foliar/granular application of deficient nutrients as recommended.
• Review soil samples with supervisor.
• Coordinate/perform regular planting maintenance (burn down, pre-plant inspection, disking, pre-plant variable rate fertilizer, cultivating, leveling, rolling planting, pre-emerge herbicide application, netting, etc.).
• Coordinate/Aerify and roll harvested areas in coordination with fertilizer and lime applications. Adhere to field reclamation process (in conjunction with Harvest Manager where applicable).
• Communicate field harvest status to supervisor.
• Maintain primary responsibility for mowing parameters and schedule.
• Ensure proper mower maintenance (blade sharpness), HOC (height of cut) and mowing frequency as required by grass classification.
• Manage and coordinate irrigation on production and harvest grass. Properly manage water supply and proactively report any potential concerns.
• Ensure proper maintenance/repairs for farm irrigation systems (pivots, pumps, etc.).

• Purchase and maintain proper fertilizer and chemical inventory within budget guidelines.
• Manage and coordinate fertility/chemical applications according to annual plan outline and as needed for weed/pest control.
• Ensure pesticide records within Department of Agriculture regulations and PPE for applicators are properly maintained.
• Ensure proper disposal of containers in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Ensure that roads, field edges, loading areas, pivot points, pump areas and dry corners are clean and maintained.

Irrigation

• Manage and coordinate irrigation on production grass.
• Ensure proper maintenance/repairs for farm irrigation systems (pivots, pumps, etc.)
• Properly manage water supply and proactively report any potential concerns.

Harvest

• Communicate any quality issues (weeds, water, tensile strength, pests, mowing, scalping and paint) to supervisor.
• Monitor harvest availability and pallet weights and ensure information is promptly communicated to support, logistics and sales staff.
• Perform regular quality control inspections of harvested sod, to include correct roll length, pallet presentation, flags in sod.
• Ensure proper HOC (height of cut) for variety and purpose on outgoing product.
• Ensure proper ½ inch soil pad unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure the correct number of pallets are harvested per variety and report quantities daily for crop improvement.
• Assist supervisor with inventory projections as requested.
• Ensure “cut-ahead” process is leveraged in winter season. Harvest amount to be determined by supervisor.
• Submit Daily Harvest Report as requested.
• Coordinate and manage the field reclamation process = clean, scrape and warlord/koro to prepare fields for aerification, lime, fertilizer, etc.
• Maintain proper levels of pallet and tube inventory.

Specialty Turf

• Oversee and ensure proper Specialty Production and Harvest practices.
• Oversee and ensure proper Specialty Grass cultural practices are met (verticut, koro, etc.).
• Oversee and ensure proper maintenance is met for Specialty Grass mowing equipment (reel mowers, blade sharpness, bed knives etc.)

• Oversee and ensure proper Specialty Grass soil type (sand based and rock free).Farm

Superintendent Position Requirements:

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Previous experience in agriculture or the turf industry preferred.
• Working knowledge of golf course grade specialty turf practices.
• Previous experience in a leadership/management role preferred.
• Values relationships and results.
• Must demonstrate the ability to be a team player and build positive working relationships with others.
• Ability to be physically/consistently present for critical onsite collaboration.
• Ability to communicate effectively and keep business records.
• Ability to discern what issues need to be brought to upper management.
• Ability to understand the concept and consequences of grass cross-contamination.
• Working knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions of the profession.
• Basic technology skills and ability to learn/utilize company software programs.
• Must have attention to detail and the ability to assert ideas, solve problems, communicate issues and positive experiences.
• Ability to work flexible hours to include, but not limited to, early AM/PM, nights and weekends and hours that could fluctuate day-to-day.
• Ability to work in adverse weather conditions required.
• Ability to sit, climb and balance as well as bend and kneel frequently.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds or more occasionally. Twisting with weight as needed.
• Manual dexterity, coordination and constant movement and use of limbs required.