Spray Manager

Fundamental Objective: The Spray Manager is responsible for planning, leading, and executing all agricultural spray operations to ensure safe, compliant, accurate, and timely application. This role ensures consistent spray standards through effective management of people, equipment, chemicals, and records while collaborating with farm leadership to protect crop health, maximize production, and meet regulatory requirements.

Essential Functions:

A) Spray Operations - Oversees all spray operations ensuring strict discipline,   accuracy, and safety. Take full ownership of spray quality and timing,   managing Spray Supervisor and Spray Crew Leads, mixers, nurse truck   operators,

sprayers, and all spray-related activities.

1. Develop spray budgets by October 1st and create dynamic spray schedules, adjusting for agronomic requirements, weather conditions, and operational readiness. Ensure timing is coordinated with the Agronomist and Farm Manager.
2. Ensures processes are in place to conduct daily briefings and debriefs covering assignments, equipment status, drift risks, weather, and issues from the previous shift.
3. Collaborate with the Shop Supervisor and Farm Manager to ensure all spray rigs are properly staged, calibrated, fueled, flushed, and field-ready, while also verifying that portable restrooms and shower stations are fully functional—eliminating preventable downtime and supporting safe, efficient operations.
4. Ensure processes are in place to monitor wind, humidity, inversion risk, and make go/no-go decisions to ensure drift-free, compliant applications.
5. Align chemical recommendations, product staging, and spray timing with Agronomist, Warehouse Supervisor, and Admin Assistant, to ensure zero downtime.
6. Reviews and approves to ensure every spray packet meets standards for accuracy, PPE, maps, sensitive sites, safety; Reviews and approves all spray packets to ensure compliance with accuracy, PPE, mapping, sensitive site, and safety   standards, with zero tolerance for preventable errors and clear corrective action when issues occur and enforce zero tolerance for mistakes.
7. Ensure a process is in place to maintain complete daily spray records including chemical volumes, operator names, block lists, rates, drift notes, and weather conditions.
8. Ensures a   process is in place to accurately maintain complete daily spray records, including chemical volumes, operator names, block lists, application rates, drift observations, and weather conditions, in compliance with regulatory requirements.
9. Verifies correct application rates, coverage, and application practices are followed by block.
10. Ensure spray standards are consistent, repeatable, and reliably executed through documented processes, proper training, and field-level accountability.
11. Oversees chemical inventory, delivery, and warehouse standards to ensure safety, accuracy and compliance.
12. Works closely with the Farm Manager, Agronomist, and Farm Supervisors to plan and schedule spray activities to ensure critical spray windows are met.
13. Manages and leads spray staff to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality execution through clear expectations, training, and accountability.
14. Evaluates spray efficiency and overall performance against standards to identify issues and drive continuous improvement.
15. Ensures processes and procedures are established, documented, and consistently followed; creates and implements transparent processes where gaps exist.

B) People and Supervision

1. Ensure full compliance with DPR, WPS, REI/PHI regulations, proper labeling, and safe chemical handling practices, and immediately stops any unsafe behavior. 
2. Train, develop, and hold spray crews and Crew Leads to division standards.
3. Manage operator scheduling and coordinate staffing with the Farm Manager.
4. Maintain field presence to verify coverage, PPE use, drift conditions, and operator performance.
5. Enforce safe, compliant operations with zero tolerance for unsafe behavior or deviations.
6. Set clear expectations, apply discipline, and require retraining when needed.
7. Stop operations immediately for any safety or compliance concern.
8. Lead with professionalism, accuracy, and high operational standards

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Ag. Business or related agricultural or science-based field of   study, or 5+ years' experience managing agricultural projects over a large   geographic region.
• Valid QAL and expert knowledge of pest biology, application timing, chemical handling, droplet control, and equipment calibration.

 Minimum Qualifications & Work Experience:

• Valid California driver's license and motor vehicle record acceptable according to Company auto insurance carrier's guidelines.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English and Spanish including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Knowledge of agricultural regulations with experience in spraying and chemical application compliance.
• Ability to train or teach others in the operation of agriculture equipment.
• Must be able to work around chemicals that may emit a strong odor for long periods of time.
• Demonstrated strategic management of agriculture operations.
• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Ability to work long hours including weekends or during special projects.
• Must be able to work around honeybees without having an allergic reaction when stung.
• Traveling: Ability to regularly travel to the various ranch locations, and to safely operate motor vehicles and basic farm equipment.