General Manager

Job Description

General Manager – Sod Farm Operations

Position Title

General Manager

Position Summary

The General Manager is responsible for the overall management of sod farm operations, including field production, harvesting, equipment maintenance, employee supervision, inventory control, purchasing, and logistics. This position oversees the Harvest Crew, Production Manager, and Field Maintenance Employee, ensuring that all farm operations are completed efficiently, safely, and according to company standards.

The General Manager is accountable for maintaining all equipment used in planting, field maintenance, harvesting, and material handling; assigning daily work schedules; managing employee performance; ordering parts and supplies; overseeing vendor relationships; approving invoices; and ensuring customer orders are harvested and delivered on schedule.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Personnel Management

• Oversee a sod harvesting crew of approximately seven employees.
• Oversee the Production Manager responsible for fertilization, pesticide applications, mowing programs, and turfgrass production.
• Oversee the Field Maintenance Employee responsible for general farm and field maintenance activities.
• Works with Production Manager to assign daily work schedules and responsibilities to all operations personnel.
• Monitor employee productivity and work quality.
• Train employees on equipment operation, safety practices, and company procedures.
• Conduct employee performance evaluations and provide coaching and corrective action when necessary.
• Maintain a positive and productive work environment.

Dispatch Collaboration Activities

• Daily collaboration with the Dispatch Department to evaluate incoming orders and determine the quantity of sod pallets needed to ensure customer orders are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Oversee daily harvesting operations to ensure the orders are fulfilled accurately.

Harvesting Operations

• Ensure harvested sod meets company quality standards.
• Coordinate harvest schedules with customer delivery requirements.
• Monitor labor efficiency and production goals during harvesting activities.
• Inspect fields and determine harvest schedules based on sod maturity, quality, and customer demand.
• Coordinate with the Production Manager regarding field availability and harvest planning.
• Work closely with harvesting crews to maximize efficiency and maintain product quality.

Production & Field Operations

• Work closely with the Production Manager to maintain healthy, high-quality sod fields.
• Oversee annual production planning and field preparation activities.
• Monitor field conditions and harvest readiness.
• Assist in planning crop rotations, field development, and long-term farm improvements.

Equipment & Fleet Management

• Responsible for maintaining all equipment used to plant, maintain, and harvest sod fields.
• Develop and manage preventative maintenance schedules for tractors, harvesters, mowers, forklifts, trucks, trailers, irrigation systems, and support equipment.
• Diagnose equipment needs and coordinate repairs.
• Schedule outside service providers when necessary.
• Maintain equipment maintenance records and service histories.
• Ensure all equipment remains operational, safe, and compliant.

Purchasing & Inventory Management

• Order repair parts, tools, supplies, fuel, and operational materials.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support uninterrupted operations.
• Establish and maintain vendor relationships.
• Review and manage deliveries to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Verify, approve, and manage invoices related to equipment repairs, parts purchases, and operational supplies.
• Control purchasing costs while maintaining operational efficiency.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote and enforce workplace safety policies and procedures.
• Conduct regular safety meetings and equipment safety inspections.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, state agricultural regulations, and pesticide handling requirements.
• Maintain records required by regulatory agencies.
• Investigate accidents and implement corrective actions when necessary.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Track labor utilization and productivity.
• Maintain records for equipment maintenance, inventory, pesticide applications, and production activities.
• Assist ownership with budgeting and operational planning.
• Prepare reports regarding production, equipment costs, labor performance, and operational efficiency.
• Recommend process improvements to increase profitability and efficiency.

Qualifications

Education

• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Turfgrass Management, Equipment Management, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent industry experience may be substituted for formal education.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of management experience in agriculture, sod farming, landscaping operations, or related industries.
• Experience supervising employees and managing field operations.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and equipment maintenance experience.
• Experience with agricultural purchasing, parts inventory, and vendor management preferred.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and supervisory skills.
• Excellent organizational and planning abilities.
• Knowledge of agricultural equipment maintenance and repair practices.
• Understanding of turfgrass production and harvesting operations.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and operational recordkeeping systems.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to walk fields and inspect operations regularly.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work extended hours during peak harvest and growing seasons.
• Ability to operate farm equipment when necessary.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Equipment uptime and maintenance compliance.
• Harvest productivity and efficiency.
• Sod quality and field readiness.
• Employee productivity and retention.
• Purchasing and inventory cost control.
• On-time order fulfillment.
• Safety performance.
• Overall operational profitability.