Job Description
Job Description
About Lokal Harvest USA
Lokal Harvest USA is a controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) company operating a 30-acre, state-of-the-art glass greenhouse in Early Branch, South Carolina, dedicated to year-round production of premium, sustainably grown tomatoes for retail and foodservice customers across the Southeast and Eastern Seaboard. We combine advanced growing technology, rigorous food-safety standards, and a committed local workforce to deliver consistent quality at commercial scale — and we are building for growth.
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Managing Director / Site Manager to lead all aspects of our Early Branch operation. This is a true general-management role with full profit-and-loss (P&L) responsibility for the site. The successful candidate will own production, sales execution, facility maintenance, labor, food safety, and financial performance — accountable to ownership for yield, quality, cost, and profitability. This role suits a proven greenhouse operator who thinks like a business owner: equally comfortable walking the crop rows, negotiating with buyers, managing a maintenance budget, and presenting monthly results to a board.
Key Responsibilities
Business Leadership & P&L
- Own the site's full P&L: develop annual operating budgets, forecasts, and capital plans; manage costs and margins; and deliver against revenue and EBITDA targets.
- Report site performance to ownership and the board on a regular cadence, with clear KPIs covering yield, quality, price realization, labor efficiency, energy, and cost per unit.
- Identify and execute continuous-improvement initiatives across production, packing, energy, and logistics to improve unit economics.
Greenhouse Production
- Direct year-round hydroponic tomato production across the 30-acre facility, including climate, irrigation and fertigation strategy, crop planning and registration, labor scheduling, and harvest execution.
- Partner with the senior grower and cultivation team to hit yield, quality, and pack-out targets while managing integrated pest management (IPM) and crop health programs.
- Oversee packing operations, cold chain, inventory, and outbound logistics to ensure on-time, in-spec deliveries.
Sales & Commercial
- Drive commercial performance: support retail and foodservice programs, manage customer relationships and service levels, and align crop planning with demand.
- Contribute to pricing strategy and sales planning; monitor market conditions and competitive dynamics to maximize price realization.
- Represent the site with customers, auditors, vendors, lenders, and community stakeholders.
Facility & Maintenance
- Own preventive and corrective maintenance programs for all greenhouse systems: structures, screens, heating and CO2, irrigation/fertigation, water treatment, climate computers, packing equipment, and site utilities.
- Manage maintenance staffing, contractors, spare-parts inventory, and capital projects on schedule and on budget.
- Ensure site security, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance (environmental, water, chemical storage/handling).
People, Safety & Food Safety
- Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing team across growing, packing, maintenance, and administration; foster a culture of safety, accountability, and respect.
- Oversee workforce planning and labor programs, including seasonal and H-2A labor and worker housing where applicable.
- Maintain and continuously improve food-safety and quality systems (SQF/GFSI, GAP), ensuring audit readiness at all times.
Qualifications
Required
- 7+ years of progressive leadership in commercial greenhouse or CEA operations, including multi-acre glasshouse vegetable production (tomatoes strongly preferred).
- Demonstrated P&L ownership of a production site or business unit, with a track record of hitting budget, yield, and profitability targets.
- Hands-on knowledge of greenhouse systems and maintenance — climate control, irrigation/fertigation, heating, CO2 — and of hydroponic crop management and IPM.
- Commercial experience selling into retail and/or foodservice produce channels, or working closely with sales/marketing organizations on pricing, programs, and service levels.
- Strong leadership of large hourly workforces; experience with recruiting, training, and retention in an agricultural or manufacturing setting.
- Working knowledge of food-safety certification systems (SQF, GFSI, GAP) and OSHA-compliant safety programs.
- Strong financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, cost accounting, and KPI-driven management; confident communicating results to owners, boards, and lenders.
- Willingness to be based on-site in the Early Branch / Lowcountry area of South Carolina.
Preferred
- Degree in horticulture, agronomy, agricultural business, engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Experience with high-wire tomato crops and Dutch-style Venlo glasshouse operations.
- Experience managing H-2A programs and worker housing.
- Familiarity with ERP and greenhouse management/climate systems (e.g., Priva, Hoogendoorn) and labor-tracking software.
- Spanish language proficiency is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
Lokal Harvest USA offers a competitive base salary plus a performance-based bonus tied to site results, along with a comprehensive benefits package. Relocation assistance is available for the right candidate.
Lokal Harvest USA LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Company DescriptionSupplying the Southeast!
Pioneering the future of sustainable, locally grown produce for the Southeastern USA.
A groundbreaking transatlantic partnership blending cutting-edge Dutch horticultural expertise with American innovation, our 1,200+ acre master-planned campus in Hampton County, SC delivers premium, pesticide-free tomatoes and vegetables, harvested fresh and delivered to Southeast retailers within 24 hours.
Fresh from vine to shelf. Locally grown for superior flavor, nutrition, and environmental impact. Serving over 94 million people across the region with year-round consistency, 95% less water, zero residues, and reduced food miles
Company Description
Supplying the Southeast!\r\n\r\nPioneering the future of sustainable, locally grown produce for the Southeastern USA.\r\n\r\nA groundbreaking transatlantic partnership blending cutting-edge Dutch horticultural expertise with American innovation, our 1,200+ acre master-planned campus in Hampton County, SC delivers premium, pesticide-free tomatoes and vegetables, harvested fresh and delivered to Southeast retailers within 24 hours.\r\n\r\nFresh from vine to shelf. Locally grown for superior flavor, nutrition, and environmental impact. Serving over 94 million people across the region with year-round consistency, 95% less water, zero residues, and reduced food miles