Row 7 Seed Company
Row 7 Seed Company is an organic food company built to reimagine food from seed to table. Working in collaboration with chefs, farmers and plant breeders, our mission is to introduce new plant varieties that bring unique culinary, nutritional and ecological value to consumers. Through our online marketplace, Row 7 sells seeds that are organic and unpatented. In 2022, Row 7 launched a line of branded organic vegetables for sale in grocery stores, with plans to expand throughout the Northeast in 2023.
Job Description
The Seed Contract Manager oversees every aspect of stock and commercial seed production, working to expand our grower network and ensure that targeted goals are met with high-quality organic seed.
Responsibilities include
- Forecast multiyear seed needs to meet retail and wholesale fulfillment
- Oversee seed multiplication strategy
- Conduct outreach and visits to new and existing seed growers to expand our production network in the Americas
- Review and update existing seed contract templates, developing metrics to incentivize seed quality and address crop loss
- Negotiate with suppliers to ensure fair pricing and timely contract execution
- Maintain signed production contracts and certifications in our database and ensure timely payments
- Monitor the agricultural cycle for all seed crops across all of our plantings to ensure delivery of high-quality of seed for the sales season
- Highlight any timeline or quality risks to team and serve as a thought partner for any creative solutions that are needed
- Collect and manage variety-specific data on seed production traits and provide guidance for new producers
- Work with breeders to gain knowledge of seed production traits for new varieties
- Collaborate with Breeding R&D Manager to plan and maintain foundation and stock seed and ensure seed needs are met throughout supply chain
- Visit stock seed production sites and assist with data collection and roguing
- Refine seed production goals and protocols for Row 7 Research Farm
- Support the evaluation of experimental materials, including analysis of seed production COGS, and make recommendations for commercialization of new varieties
- Oversee any necessary cleaning and testing of incoming commercial and stock seed lots in collaboration with Row 7 warehouse team
- Acquire necessary crop phytosanitary certifications for international productions
- Manage budget for seed productions
Required education and experience
- 5+ years of experience in Agronomy and/or Procurement preferred, including deep knowledge of organic farming practices
- Experience in seed production
- Supply and inventory planning experience
- Team development and leadership experience in a high-growth organization
- Contract growing and/or agricultural growing experience
The ideal candidate is
- Eager to learn, build, and grow with an expanding company
- Detail-oriented with exceptional follow-through
- Proactive and can work independently with minimal guidance
- Highly organized and accountable, able to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects and priorities
- A skilled verbal and written communicator who facilitates knowledge sharing and continuous systems improvement
- Able to travel regularly, especially in and around the United States
- Invested in building a diverse network of stakeholders
- Committed to lasting food system change
Details
- Annual salary from $85k commensurate with experience
- Benefits including
- 401(k)
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Employee Discount
- Paid Time Off
- Volunteer Time Off
To apply please send a cover letter, resume and two references to [email protected] with Row 7 Seed Contract Manager in the subject line. Row 7 is committed to centering equity and justice in our work and community. We encourage LGBTQIA+ , BIPOC candidates and members of other historically marginalized groups to apply.
