KELOWNA BC

Position: Operations Manager
Organization: Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Board
Location: Kelowna, BC

• Terms: Full Time or Part Time, Permanent, Monday to Friday, Flexible Hours
• Start Date: March 2024
• Salary: $38-$45 per hour, based on experience

About Us

We are an environmentally friendly codling moth control program in the beautiful fruit growing region of the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. Since the Program started more than 20 years ago, the amount of pesticides used in the valley against codling moth has dropped by 96%. Our Program breeds and sterilizes codling moths at our state-of-the-art facility in Osoyoos, and we release them into orchards where they mate with wild moths to prevent the population from reproducing all over the Okanagan. Our Program also provides trapping and monitoring, education, and enforcement services for orchardists.

This position is based out of beautiful Kelowna, British Columbia. Working out of our Head Office located at the Regional District of the Central Okanagan on KLO Rd. SIR offers a great RRSP matching program, excellent medical/dental coverage, paid vacation, and a welcoming, positive work environment.

About You

You like working as part of a team and have a good sense of your own management style. You have great planning and organization skills. You accomplish work in a timely manner and can establish a realistic and systematic course of action for self and others to accomplish specific goals. You have excellent communication skills and must be outcome oriented. You are proactive, self-disciplined, organized, and have a strong attention to detail.

You show commitment and dedication to complete tasks on time and with minimal supervision, and you demonstrate a high level of dependability in all aspects of the job. You are sensitive to the communication levels required by varied audiences, and can adapt accordingly (Politicians, the Public (ie Growers & Orchardists), Managers and Supervisors, and Field Staff).

You will be fully engaged and busy from the first day. You would work mainly onsite at our Kelowna Head Office, with regular travel during the agricultural season to our field offices in the Okanagan (Vernon to Osoyoos). Being part of the team means heading out into the orchards when its needed.

About The Position

In the role of Operations Manager, you will oversee and provide leadership for the day-to-day operations of the OKSIR Field Program. You will make important planning and strategic decisions for the success of each field season. You are the direct supervisor for (6) field supervisors and (2) urban supervisors and you will communicate daily with these staff. The Operations Manager works closely with the Program Entomologist to ensure program operations are scientifically sound, and they must maintain close working relationships with the rest of the senior leadership team including the Facility Manager and Office Manager.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide leadership for and oversee all aspects of the field program including transport and release of moths, collection of field data, ensuring grower and homeowner compliance.
• Work collaboratively with the senior leadership team to ensure the success of both the field operations and the OKSIR program as a whole.
• Ensure satellite field offices are safe and productive while fostering a positive and collaborative work environment through continuous communication and by promoting a culture of excellence.
• Forecast seasonal field requirements with detailed plans and work with the general manager to produce the annual field budget. Ensure field expenditures are in line with budgeted amounts.
• Lead team of field and urban supervisors, including hiring, training, motivating, daily supervision, and annual performance evaluations.
• Work with the Office Manager to manage the hiring and onboarding of seasonal field staff.
• Support field supervisors to trouble shooting operational challenges and emergency responses.
• Implement, regularly review, and when required, improve operational policies and procedures.
• Maintain a close working relationship with the Facility Manager to coordinate field operations with facility production schedules and constraints.
• Coordinate vehicle and ATV fleets including ensuring regular maintenance, timely repairs, and compliance with insurance and other permitting requirements.
• Oversee ongoing implementation and maintenance of OKSIR’s Pest Monitor database, including working with the OKSIR GIS Technician.
• Act as Safety Coordinator for the Occupational Health and Safety Program, ensuring the OH&S Program is compliant with Worksafe BC requirements and ensuring field operations are compliant with the OH&S Program.

Requirements and Skills

• Relevant education and/ or experience
• Management experience
• Project management experience
• High proficiency with a variety of computer platforms and software
• Excellent knowledge of office procedures and ability to multi-task
• Excellent verbal and written communication and documentation skills
• Ability to work well with a variety of stakeholders, including board directors, local government and industry staff, growers, vendors, and general public
• Valid BC Drivers License

Benefits

• SIR offers a great RRSP matching program, excellent medical/dental coverage, paid vacation, and a welcoming, positive work environment.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, please submit your resume, with a cover letter that clearly demonstrates why you’re the one for the job, to jobs@oksir.org .

Please indicate you saw this posting at GoodWork.

Please understand that due to the anticipated volume of responses, we will contact only those candidates who most closely match our requirements.