Vegetable Farm Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Description:

Title: General Manager

Reports To: Regional VP of Operations

Location: Benton Harbor, MI

Type: Full-Time | Onsite | Exempt

LOCATION AND COMPANY SUMMARY

Nestled along the scenic shores of Lake Michigan, Benton Harbor offers a unique blend of affordability, opportunity, and lakeside living that’s hard to beat. Just minutes from the charming waterfront community of St. Joseph (less than a 20-minute drive), residents enjoy easy access to sandy beaches, boutique shopping, and year-round festivals. The area is also within a short drive of South Haven (about 30 minutes) and under two hours from Chicago, making weekend getaways effortless.

With nearby wineries, golf courses, and outdoor recreation, plus a growing local food and arts scene, Benton Harbor delivers a laid-back lifestyle with big-city access—perfect for professionals looking to grow their careers without sacrificing quality of life.

Pero Family Farms is a market share leader with over a century of dedication, commitment, and integrity. Operating since 1908, Pero is the farm trusted by retailers and consumers alike. We are a fully integrated farming operation, with departments that specialize in organic farming, logistics, global supply chain management, national sales operations, food processing operations, and strategic marketing functions. Our operation includes over 35,000 acres spanning across the East Coast of the United States from Florida to New York, with distribution and production facilities in several different states. We pride ourselves in maintaining a strong family heritage and tradition that has been dedicated to quality, innovation, and excellent customer service that has been feeding America’s families for over a century. Our family’s passion for farming remains unwavering, with a vision to continue the tradition for many generations to come, whilst maintaining the reverence and trust it has established with the American consumer. As we expand our offering to include an assortment of organic vegetable options; we have become one of the largest organic vegetable growers in the country and we are looking to grow our workforce family. Join us in continuing and strengthening our position as a market share leader dedicated and trusted by retailers and consumers alike.

POSITION SUMMARY

The position of General Manager for Pero Family Farms Food Company, LLC is located in Benton Harbor, MI at our fully integrated facility. This is an all-encompassing position that is important to the continued success of the company. This position exhibits strong communication and leadership. Overseeing all aspects of the operations while working closely with Pero Family Farms Corporate Supply, Operations, Distribution, and Sales Teams.

Requirements:

JOB OVERVIEW

• Oversee daily/weekly schedules and shifts.
• Will be responsible for monitoring and controlling all costs associated with the Benton Harbor, MI regional facility including: the facility, equipment, production, supplies, and transportation.
• Accountable for general management of Benton Harbor, MI regional facility: Production, Quality Assurance, Inventory Control, Sanitation, Maintenance, Purchasing, and Supervision of employees.
• Will work closely with the Food Safety Manager to ensure compliance with internal procedures and external third-party audits performed on a regular basis and to ensure all areas follow OSHA Guidelines and Primus Lab requirements.
• Will ensure all Famous (Warehouse Management System) procedures are followed and documented.
• Participate as a member of the company product recall team.
• Provide leadership and direction for facility personnel such as: Motivation, Evaluation, Guidance, Employee Relations’ Issues, and Attendance.

Safety, Health and Quality:

• Comply, maintain and enforce all company policies, procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Ensure safety is the cornerstone of the operational facility, characterized by high operator awareness and involvement, and results in zero lost or accidents.
• Assure good housekeeping and organization is in place in the operational facility.
• Maintain safe and healthy work environment by establishing, following and enforcing standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations.
• Communicate with Legal Counsel and safety department to ensure all processes remain compliant with OSHA and other governmental regulations.
• Initiate corrective actions to audit deficiencies.

Manufacturing:

• Ensure order fulfillment, product traceability, and product quality measures are being met daily.
• Will be responsible for the training of personnel on proper use of equipment.
• Participate in operational problems resolution.
• Prepare an annual budget and schedule expenditures.
• Ensure preventive/predictive maintenance systems is routinely used to plan/schedule equipment and facility maintenance.
• Track vendor pricing and service levels.
• Develop, implement, enforce and evaluate policies and procedures; follow SOP’s for all manufacturing operations (receiving product, equipment utilization, production, inventory management or shipping).
• Meet or exceed labor budget KPI’s such as labor cost, per pound, bags per minute, etc.
• Review and approve all operational invoices and ensure they are submitted for payment.
• Serve as primary point of contact when there are customer issues related to equipment quality, customer service, or accidents on-site.
• Communicate customer issues with operations team and devise ways of improving the customer experience, including resolving problems and complaints.
• Minimize shrinkage of product and maximize yield

Workforce Management:

• Recruit, select, train, assign, schedule, coach, counsel, and discipline direct reports.
• Communicate job expectations; communicate effectively at staff meetings, conduct employee reviews, etc.
• Manage staff levels, wages, hours, contract labor to revenues.

Direct & Indirect Reports:

• Direct Reports: Operations Manager, Production Manager, Maintenance Manager
• Indirect Reports: Shipping, Transportation, Quality Control, Human Resources, & Purchasing.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Primarily a production floor and office-based role, with frequent presence on-site to oversee operations.
• Standard business hours apply, though extended hours, early mornings, evenings, or weekends may be required to meet operational goals.
• Fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with responsibility for overall operational efficiency, product quality, safety, and profitability.
• Frequent interaction with production staff, QA/QC teams, supply chain, procurement, and senior management.
• Exposure to production and warehouse environments, including refrigeration, cutting lines, packaging areas, and industrial equipment.
• May require occasional travel to supplier sites, customer facilities, or other company locations.
• Requires strict adherence to safety protocols, food safety standards (HACCP, FSMA, GMPs), and company policies.
• Exposure to chemical components such as chlorine, etc.
• Constant exposure to temperature of 36-45 degrees or below.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to stand, walk, and move around production and warehouse areas for extended periods.
• Occasional lifting, carrying, or moving of moderate weights (typically 25–50 pounds) when handling samples, documents, or equipment.
• Manual dexterity for handling tools, paperwork, or monitoring equipment.
• Ability to bend, reach, kneel, or climb when accessing production areas, storage, or machinery.
• Vision (corrected or uncorrected) sufficient for inspecting operations, reviewing reports, and monitoring production.
• Hearing and speech ability sufficient for clear communication with staff, management, and external contacts.
• Ability to work in varying temperature environments, including cold storage and heated production areas.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Agriculture, Food Science, or a related field. A Master's degree is a plus.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of experience in a leadership role within the fresh produce or food manufacturing industry.
• Proven experience as a General Manager or in a similar leadership role.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, quality control, and supply chain management.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in financial management and budgeting.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations and compliance requirements.

COMPANY BENEFITS/PERKS

• 401(k)
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance and more
• Paid Time Off (PTO)

Due to the nature of the position, the General Manager will be required to sign a binding non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement.

The company (Pero) reserves the right to alter, amend, expand or contract these duties and responsibilities as the companies needs evolve.