Vineyard Manager

Vineyard Manager/Director, RTP North Carolina

UGF is seeking a dedicated and experienced Vineyard Manager to join our team in the thriving region of RTP North Carolina. This is a unique ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ for a California-based or East Coast Vineyard Manager looking to relocate and contribute to an innovative, certified regenerative vineyard. Our new and expanding vineyard has been developed over the past 5 years with the expertise of a world-renowned table grape specialist, with support from national experts in various key fields.
We specialize in growing world first varieties of delicious, seedless muscadine grapes, unsurpassed in antioxidants and nutrients.
From 70 acres in 2024, we plan to reach 350 acres within five years, and upwards toward 1000 acres. We need a skilled Vineyard Manager who can develop into a Director role, to oversee multiple sites and manage a growing vineyard operations team.

Primary Responsibilities:

Implement and manage soil health practices, vine nutrition management, and grazing strategies.
Vineyard operations: Overseeing vineyard tasks such as pruning, canopy management, harvesting, and post-harvest handling, while adhering to regenerative principles and minimizing environmental impacts.
Employ integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that emphasize biological and cultural control methods over synthetic pesticides.
Coordinate planting, maintenance and spraying activities with vineyard staff.
Water management: Implementing efficient irrigation systems and practices that conserve water resources.
Enhance data collection and record-keeping processes.
Oversee and lead the planning and development of the next phases of expansion – across multiple sites
Provide leadership and accountability for management employees in vineyard operations.
Staff management and training: Supervising and training vineyard managers, supervisors and workers on regenerative practices, ensuring compliance with regulations, and promoting a culture of sustainability.
Record-keeping and data analysis: Maintaining detailed records of vineyard practices, inputs, yields, and environmental conditions to monitor progress and inform decision-making.
Oversee the profit and loss (P&L) aspects of vineyard operations.
Essential Background Requirements:

Formal education: A bachelor’s degree in viticulture, agriculture, horticulture or a related field is often preferred, although extensive practical experience may be considered as a substitute.
5-10 years of experience in vineyard management.
Knowledge and interest in regenerative agriculture principles: An understanding of soil health, integrated pest management, water conservation, biodiversity, and other key aspects of regenerative agriculture.
Business and management skills: Strong leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, and communication abilities are essential for managing vineyard operations, staff, and stakeholder relationships.
Continuous learning: A commitment to ongoing education and professional development to stay updated with the latest regenerative agriculture practices, research, and technologies.
Proficiency in grapevine pruning and training techniques for table or wine grapes.
Experience and/or interest in vineyard support technologies, AI and automation.
Knowledge or interest in holistic, intensive rotational, and adaptive sheep grazing.
Working knowledge of agricultural and vineyard informational databases, farm software, and mapping platforms is highly advantageous.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, along with excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
 

Join us and be part of an exciting journey to create a regenerative and sustainable future in viticulture in North Carolina and USA

Compensation Package

Opportunity to earn up to $80,000 – $100,000 remuneration package (to include house, vehicle, phone, laptop) dependent on experience level and ability to step up into the expanded Vineyard Director role.