Vineyard Manager, South Okanagan

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At Andrew Peller Limited (APL), we deliver the perfect brand experience for every lifestyle, occasion, and generation. Through collaboration, open communication, honesty, drive to win, and accountability, we inspire teammates to be extraordinary every day.
Who We Are
We are one of Canada's largest and oldest wine companies with a rich heritage in quality winemaking.
We produce some of Canada's most recognized brands and offer our teammates a challenging and rewarding employment experience.
Located in Oliver, BC, the Vineyard Manager, South Okanagan role is a hands-on management position responsible for overseeing the day-to-day farming operations of company vineyards. The Vineyard Manager will direct workflow within their team, supervising staff to facilitate vineyard safety, efficiency, and fruit quality. Working with the Senior Viticulturist, the Vineyard Manager will prioritize workflow with the intention of growing premium fruit. In addition, this role also directs and supervises team members and contractors working for the business to achieve overall business goals.
This teammate will be responsible for:
Vineyard Operations

• Lead a team of full-time vineyard tractor drivers, seasonal workers (SAWP/AgStream) and casual staff to implement all machinery and hand operations.
• Collaborate with the Senior Vineyard Manager and Vineyard Manager- North Okanagan to balance workflow of labour requirements.
• Implement machinery operations tasks including: equipment maintenance, staff training and timely execution of vineyard tasks including: mowing/mulching, spraying, trimming, leafing and harvesting.
• Facilitate all hand operations that include canopy management (pruning, tying, tucking, harvesting) and irrigation maintenance/operation.
• Prepare and manage vineyard schedules (staff, vineyard ops and seasonal milestones)
• Organize and manage all vineyard machinery and hand labour on internal and externally managed satellite managed vineyards (owned, crop share and leases).
• Organize all South Okanagan development infrastructure builds including irrigation (sub-surface and above ground), trellis installation and planting.
• Work with the Senior Viticulturist and Senior Vineyard Manager to design and plan all new vineyard development builds.
• Drive all harvest logistics for all contract grower and contract managed vineyard fruit that will be delivered to southern wine estates. This will be done in collaboration with the Vineyard Operations Manager to ensure quality and timely delivery of fruit (picking to hauling).
• Support and implement sustainability initiatives driven by the Vineyard Operations Manager, BC
• Facilitate vineyard specific farming programs (conventional, organic, or sustainable).

Vineyard Financials + Planning

• Responsible for building, tracking, and maintaining annual vineyard PMC budgets in conjunction with the Senior Viticulturist.
• Participate in capital process as required.
• Track and report efficiency metrics to the Senior Viticulturist, with the intention of driving greater vineyard efficiencies across all vineyards of responsibility utilizing vineyard management software.
• Build and facilitate annual vineyard management block plans to facilitate fruit quality and yield parameters in conjunction with the Senior Viticulturist and Senior Vineyard Manager.

Vineyard Safety

• Instill a culture of safety across all APL vineyard teams.
• Implement and train all full-time and seasonal staff on equipment operation and maintenance.
• Work with the Vineyard Operations Manager, BC, to build and facilitate a strong vineyard safety program that ensures all staff are signed off on appropriate SOP’s prior to facilitating workflow.

Dimensions

• Support management and development of 73 acres of APL owned vineyard in the South Okanagan. Gara (14), Sharprock (25), Lena (11), Tinhorn (23)
• Management of vineyard operations and workflow for vineyard crop shares and leases in the South Okanagan. 50 acres
• Compliance with APL Grape Policy and adherence to APL grape specifications and VQA regulations
• Proactive engagement of internal and external stakeholders to reduce WG quality and supply risk
• Participate as required in brand initiatives as required in the South Okanagan.

Working Environment

• Physical Effort - Position will require extensive field work within Southern APL corporate vineyards.
• Physical Environment – This position requires work in an office, remotely and in the field (vineyard) environment. Seasonal requirements will determine time spent and location of work, some exposure to agrochemicals in accordance to REI and PHI.
• Mental Stress – The pressure for results is high as this role requires collaborative decision making, interacting with internal and external partners. This position involves seasonal pressures resulting in high pressure and longer work hours during the table and icewine harvest season.

We are looking for a teammate with:

• 5+ years vineyard management experience
• Experience leading a dynamic team
• Hands on experience, self-motivated and an effective team player
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
• First aid, spray applicator, forklift, tractor safety
• Knowledge and familiar with Regulatory Requirements pertaining to Agri business

We are conducting an internal and external search simultaneously. We wish to thank all applicants for their interest; only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
Accommodation:
Andrew Peller Limited is committed to meeting the needs of persons with temporary and/or permanent disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We are happy to discuss any need for accommodation in the workplace and will make an effort to meet those needs in a timely manner by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility in the areas of information, communications, and employment. If you require an accommodation to apply or interview for a position, please email people.culture@andrewpeller.com
Equal Opportunity Employment:
At Andrew Peller Limited, we are committed to creating and celebrating a culture of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to employment without discrimination or harassment because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability.