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Fermentation Manager Position 

Position Details

The fermentation manager will be an integral part of the farm team and will work closely with the farm owners, staff, and interns to convert raw veggies into delicious high-value products. This position can start out part-time (up to 16 hours per week) and morph into full-time as the business grows and depending on the interests of the candidate. Let’s talk about your career hopes and dreams and how Small Acres can support your goals. The following is a starting point for discussion.

Desired responsibilities:

• Manage the production of lacto-fermented products (kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, pepper sauce)

• Work with the Farm Manager to develop the year’s processing plan and schedule

• Research methods and tools needed to streamline our fermentation operations and improve efficiency and cost effectiveness of products

• Procure supplies for the production periods and make sure inventory is maintained (jars, labels, ingredients, tools, etc)

• Lead processing activities at the nearby Cloud Mountain Farm Center processing facility, including scheduling staff and reserving facility time

• Share processing best practices, lessons learned, recommendations for improvement with the management team

• Get feedback from team and customers on products and tweak recipes as needed

• Create standard operating procedures and standard recipes for each product

• Work with Business Manager to maintain documentation needed for food processors license and create documentation for new products to be added to the license

• Attend annual inspections required for food processors license

• Ensure cleanliness and organization of processing room and equipment

Other potential responsibilities depending on skills and interests:

• Develop new recipes and ideas to use the raw products that we produce on the farm

• Create enterprise budgets for each product, suggest retail and wholesale pricing

• Staff farmers markets to sell and promote value-added products, including a sampling table

• Network with restaurants, grocery stores, or other potential wholesale markets to increase sales

• Organize educational fermentation workshops or tasting events

• Prepare a weekly meal for farm staff that showcases the use of fermented products in recipes

• Prepare social media posts or newsletter articles with tips/recipes on how to use our fermented products 

Compensation and Benefits

The position will be paid $22 to $25 per hour depending on experience. Some of these hours will be pre-scheduled, others could be flexible. The position will be a temporary seasonal employee of Small Acres and will receive all benefits required by Washington State (workers compensation insurance, Family & Medical Leave, paid sick time). Paychecks will be issued by the fifth of the month. Free access to farm-grade/seconds.

Skills Required

• Experience making lacto-fermented products, ideally in a commercial setting

• 2-3 years of food service experience

• Excellent work ethic, self-motivated, ability to work both alone and in a team
• Good communication skills: able to give and receive constructive feedback, comfortable asking questions, enjoys talking about the farm and food with customers
• Able to work within a dynamic, fluid, fast-paced environment

• Highly organized, attention to detail

• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record

• Ability to work while standing for long hours 

Skills Desired

• Experience with commercial food packaging and processing

• Experience with other food preservation methods (dehydration, canning, freezing)

• Experience creating standard operating procedures around food safety, sanitation, and recipes 

• Farmer’s market or other retail sales experience, ability to provide exceptional customer service

• Understanding of WSDA food processors license requirements

• Degree in culinary arts or nutrition 

To Apply
Send a cover letter, resume, and at least two references to [email protected]. We are hoping to have someone onboard in May/June 2024. Background checks may be performed, an exciting past is not an exclusion for working with our team. We ask applicants to be open to discussing any findings with us as we may have questions. We believe in grace, forgiveness, and second chances.