Location: Laughing Child Farm – Pawlet, VT
Schedule: Full-time, 40–45 hours/week (4 days × 10–11 hours)
Compensation: $24–$28/hr depending on experience
Start Date: January 2026
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About Laughing Child Farm
Laughing Child Farm is a small, family-run farm focused on producing high-quality sweet potatoes for regional markets. We wash, cure, sort, and pack thousands of pounds weekly and pride ourselves on consistency, efficiency, and a supportive work environment. We value hard work, kindness, clear communication, and the well-being of our team.
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Position Summary
The Wash & Pack Barn Manager oversees all daily operations of the wash/pack barn, ensuring that sweet potatoes move smoothly from raw product to finished, ready-to-ship cases. This role combines hands-on production work with team leadership, workflow coordination, equipment oversight, and quality control.
You’ll manage a small crew, guide daily priorities, monitor product quality, and ensure orders are packed accurately and on schedule. The ideal candidate is organized, calm under pressure, and enjoys creating structure and efficiency in a fast-moving environment.
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Key Responsibilities
Daily Operations & Workflow
• Plan and execute the daily wash/pack schedule in coordination with farm leadership.
• Maintain steady throughput for washing, drying, grading, sorting, and packing.
• Oversee setup and cleanup of washing barn equipment each day.
• Ensure orders are packed accurately, labeled correctly, and meet customer specifications.
Team Leadership
• Supervise a crew of 3–5 employees in the wash/pack barn.
• Train new team members on equipment use, quality standards, and workflow expectations.
• Maintain a positive, respectful, and efficient work culture.
• Provide ongoing feedback and help crew members develop their skills.
Quality Control
• Monitor sweet potato quality and enforce grading standards.
• Spot defects, maintain consistency across grades, and ensure product entering the pack line meets standards.
• Communicate with field, curing, and storage teams about any recurring quality issues.
Equipment & Facility Management
• Operate and maintain washing, drying, sorting, and packing equipment.
• Perform basic troubleshooting and coordinate repairs when needed.
• Ensure the pack barn is clean, organized, and compliant with food safety practices.
Recordkeeping & Communication
• Track daily output, shrink, labor metrics, and inventory movement.
• Communicate effectively with the farm owners about progress, issues, and needed adjustments.
• Help implement systems for smoother workflow, improved efficiency, and reduced waste.
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Qualifications
Required
• Leadership or supervisory experience in a production, warehouse, or agricultural setting.
• Ability to manage a small team with clarity and fairness.
• Strong organizational skills and comfort with planning and pacing workflows.
• Ability to lift 40–50 lbs repeatedly and work on your feet all day.
• Reliability, punctuality, and a positive attitude.
Preferred
• Experience in produce handling, food safety, or pack house operations.
• Equipment operation experience (wash lines, conveyors, baggers, etc.).
• Familiarity with HACCP or other food safety systems.
• Comfort with basic spreadsheets or simple tracking systems.
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Working Conditions
• Fast-paced work environment with repetitive motion and variable temperatures.
• Standing for long periods and working in a humid wash area.
• 4-day workweek with occasional need for flexibility during peak periods.
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Why Work With Us?
• Be part of a stable, supportive, and family-run farm.
• Help lead a team and shape a key part of our operation.
• 4-day workweek for good work-life balance.
• Opportunities to grow with the farm as we expand and refine our systems.
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How to Apply
Send a short note about your experience and interest in the role, along with a resume if available, to:
[email protected] . Please include “Working at LCF” in the subject line of your email.