Director, Vineyard Operations - Napa Ranches (Agriculture)

Job Description

Position Summary

Responsible for providing leadership and expertise to the Vineyard Operations team.  Responsible for planning and directing, on an annual and multi-year basis, all grape growing necessary to achieve high quality wine production, and a balance inventory with maximum yields. Responsible providing direction on viticulture practices, monitoring grape maturity, identifying and addressing problems, and overseeing harvest activities.  Manages hiring & monitoring of Farm Labor Contractor's (FLC's) as well as day to day operations in vineyards.  Manages budgets for vineyards to ensure that actual spend comes in below budget.  Manages Capitol Development projects for timing and spend.  Maximizing efficiency will be done in conjunction with viticulture practices which match the price point targeted along with sustainable property management. Develop farming strategies to ensure long term efficient farming of high quality grapes.

Responsibilities

• Leads the Vineyard Operations team, provides focus as required, and ensures accountability for job responsibilities.

• Assure that grapes are grown for optimum quality and exhibit the characteristics typical of the variety, region, vineyard and/or any other specifications established for a blend or brand.

• Maintain a database of grape production, crop estimates, and other information with the purpose of monitoring ongoing activities as well as developing future grape supply strategies.

• Provides the expertise required to analyze and facilitate grape supply development, which will lead to the recommendation for and implementation of new and innovative viticulture programs.

• Provides leadership in the evaluation of grape quality for the purpose of grape improvement

• Ensures adherence to the highest quality standards for each vineyard, an orderly flow of work, and the integrity of the final product.

• Works closely with multiple Growers, Winemaking, and Consultants to achieve high quality grape supply, and a balanced inventory.

• Responsible for compliance with CBI sustainability policies, and practices which are economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound.  This is done by supporting programs at each location for conservation, energy efficiency, and recycling, which are critical for our operations to achieve tangible environmental results.

• Responsible for protecting and developing all vineyard assets, including identifying, developing, and implementing effective programs to accomplish grape quality and quantity objectives for different programs

• Develops and recommends short and long term plans for vineyard operations, in conjunction with CBI goals and all legal and regulatory requirements.

• Responsible for selecting and managing sub-contracted seasonal labor for hand work, equipment operations, pest control, and harvest.

• Hires, and develops vineyard staff; on vineyard activities, including establishing vineyard procedures and training staff in the implementation of new procedures. Makes sure all safety procedures and requirements are followed.

• Ensures development and management of training and safety programs to enhance job performance and knowledge.

• Responsible for implementing training to vineyard staff in accordance with State and Federal safety regulations.  Makes sure that required chemical reports for the State of California are filed on a timely basis and directs management on monitoring protocols.

• Responsible for making sure that crop estimates are performed and achieves accuracy within 10% on a block by block basis for each location.

• Responsible for organizing harvest in concert with winemaking teams as a means to achieve winemaking goals for each program.  Works with other wineries out of the area to meet their product demands.

• Trains and develops vineyard supervisors and managers in effective growing techniques, including production planning, determining labor needs and continual process improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree

• 8 years of career progression in vineyard or agriculture operations

• 3 years of relevant supervisory experience

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

• Well-developed organizational and communication skills

• Ability to use MS office, and Computer Database's

• Exceptional communication skills written and verbal

• Participate in Capital projects as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with super luxury wines

• Knowledge of LEAN Manufacturing practices

• Knowledge of Ag Code, SAP IDE

• Experience with Precision Viticulture

• Proven ability to communicate and influence internal and external stakeholders including regulators, industry organizations and Company stakeholders.

• Ability to form, facilitate and maintain internal and cross functional teams.

• Should possess strong leadership, training, problem solving, and decision-making skills

• Experience and ability to coach operational and Viticulture leaders.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Must be at least 21 years of age. Must be able to sit and/or stand for long periods of time and work on a computer for extended periods. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to stand, walk, sit

• Use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms

• Climb or balance stairs/ladders

• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk and hear

• Must have close vision, distant vision, and ability to adjust focus, peripheral vision

• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time

• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to drive a car and travel via plane/train as needed

• Works outdoors/indoors

• Works in warm/cold climates

• Works in high places

• Works on wet surfaces

• Is exposed to loud noise, fumes and/or toxic chemicals

• Works near moving, mechanical parts and lift truck traffic

• Must be able to move up to 55 lbs

Location

Napa, California

Additional Locations

Job Type

Full time

Job Area

Viticulture & Winemaking

The salary range for this role is:

$109,700.00 - $171,600.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, any collective bargaining agreements, and business or organizational needs. We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and any other benefits to eligible employees.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Equal Opportunity

Constellation Brands is committed to a continuing program of equal employment opportunity. All persons have equal employment opportunities with Constellation Brands, regardless of their sex, race, color, age, religion, creed, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics), marital status, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), familial status, military or veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related conditions (or any other group or category within the framework of the applicable discrimination laws and regulations).