Work With Us

We’re Hiring…

“We are growing food, farmers, and community.”

Regenerative Farming Manager

Location: Aspen, Colorado

Compensation: $70,000-$80,000 base salary plus provided on-site housing in Aspen worth $36,000 and health benefits

 Schedule: Full-time, year-round.

About the Role

We’re seeking a skilled and passionate Regenerative Farming Manager to lead our on-the-ground agricultural efforts and help bring our farm into its full expression of productivity and ecological resilience. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone deeply familiar with regenerative farming principles, especially in high-altitude, cold-climate environments.

As a core member of our nonprofit team, you'll be responsible not only for producing high-quality food for our on-site store and local markets, but also for stewarding our land in a way that restores soil health, supports biodiversity, and revitalizes riparian ecosystems. You’ll lead seasonal crews, facilitate our farmer apprenticeship, and work closely with education, operations, and store staff to ensure the farm functions as a thriving, integrated part of our mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Farm Leadership & Production

• Manage and improve all aspects of year-round crop production

• Achieve specific revenue targets annually. Revenue will be expected to grow, and the manager will help set ambitious but attainable goals. In the first year, revenue target based on what was accomplished in previous years

• Plan and implement planting schedules and regenerative soil-building strategies

• Oversee pest and disease management using ecological practices

• Manage all daily post-harvest operations and supervise staff, ensuring the proper and safe washing, grading, packing, and cold-chain management of all farm products from harvest to final storage.

• Food Safety: support, implement, and enforce the farm's comprehensive Food Safety Plan, ensuring full compliance with all FSMA, USDA, and state regulations for the handling of produce, eggs, and meat.

• Maintain and improve farm infrastructure and equipment

• Lead seasonal farm staff and apprentices and support their development

• Ecosystem Stewardship

• Contribute to and implement strategies for riparian ecosystem restoration

• Enhance biodiversity and habitat across the farm landscape

• Work with team members to align farm practices with long-term land health goals

•  Team Collaboration 

• Work closely with the General Manager and Executive Director, alongside the Farm Store Manager and Education Director, as well as other departments to align farm work with educational, retail, and organizational goals

• Support and mentor farm production associates and apprentices

• Participate in cross-departmental planning and shared responsibilities

• Participate in annual fundraising and community events, including, but not limited to the community Earth Day event, Annual Farm to Fridge event and annual Regeneration Ball fundraising event.

APPRENTICESHIP

The Farm Collaborative has served Aspen and the greater Roaring Fork Valley with education programs, community events and a Farm Park for 15 years. In 2019, after receiving 14 additional acres from the City of Aspen, we started over an acre of vegetable production beds. With the help of  two greenhouses we are able to push the potential of our harsh climate at 7,400 ft elevation. We rotationally graze sheep and laying hens to increase the fertility and health of our pastures and produce meat and eggs. 

Location: Cozy Point, Aspen, Colorado 

Time Commitment: May/June through late October/early November, 4 days/week 

Compensation: Apprenticeship participants receive a monthly program stipend, on-farm housing including utilities (or an additional stipend for housing if farm provided housing is not required). There is additional compensation through farm produce, protein, and some staple pantry foods. The farm housing is located on the farm at 220 Juniper Hill Rd, Aspen CO 81611.

Application Deadline: Positions are open until filled.  

Requirements:

• No previous farming experience necessary 

• Strong, demonstrable work ethic 

• Curiosity, commitment to treating internship as learning experience

• Flexibility, patience, and a positive attitude 

• Ability to safely and successfully perform manual labor in varying weather conditions at an altitude over 7,000ft 

• Interest in organic agriculture

• Flexibility to do multiple on-farm tasks.

• The apprentice must arrange their own transportation to the apprenticeship if not living in provided housing on-site.

Application Instructions

Please attach a copy of your current resume which includes your education and employment history, as well as two references - one that can vouch for your positive attitude, work ethic, or any prior farming experience (an advisor or prior employer).

Please email completed applications to francesca@thefarmcollaborative.org. After receiving your completed application, if it is determined that you may be a good fit for the position, we will schedule a phone interview.

Application Deadline: Positions are open until filled.  

Testimonials

“I will forever cherish my experience working with the Farm Collaborative. Coming in, I had a minimal background in regenerative agriculture. I had no intention of studying it in school or becoming a farmer. Little did I know that my summer gig would leave me with a foundation of passion, knowledge, and skill to live a more sustainable and conscientious lifestyle. A moment that stands out in particular and resembles the organization's "beyond sustainable" mission is when I took part in building a mobile bunny house. This was a design used to remove the grass (as the rabbit ate) while simultaneously nourishing the soil (as the rabbit pooped) to prepare for the next bed of crops. I was blown away by the land and animals' ability to create a self-sustaining environment. While I expected my job to entail chores like planting and weeding, little did I know that each day would look different and require a diverse number of tasks. Some days involved assisting with the children's camp, while other days involved preparing for and running the Aspen Farmer's Markets or the butchering of a lamb who was born and raised on the farm.

My experience with this organization taught me how to never again take for granted the work of the land, animals, and farmers, that allow me and my community to live and eat more sustainably. I am eternally grateful for my co-workers, who welcomed me with an open heart and showed up every day with enthusiasm and a contagious dedication to give back!” - Lily Kraft, 2020 summer apprentice

Apprentices will support the Agricultural Programs Specialist and Site Manager in all aspects of garden work, including planting, planning, irrigation, trellising, weeding, harvesting, washing, storage, record-keeping, public events, volunteer days, and markets. They are expected to learn quickly and work efficiently, even on long, physically demanding days. Teamwork is essential. Opportunities to learn animal care, participate in butchering, and help with farm maintenance are also available. We can tailor experiences to specific interests like business planning, crop planning, or farm setup.

In the production garden our season will primarily include:

1) growing nursery starts for transplanting into production beds

2) building/maintaining soil fertility for optimal growth of production crops

3) propagating/transplanting/seeding annual row crops for market sale

4) harvesting and packing annual row crops for market sale

Other activities may include helping with daily farm chores (including care of livestock), supporting education programming, and helping complete site wide projects. We will sell our produce and meat at the Aspen Farmers’ Market, and also through programs to Lift-Up food banks and Seniors Matters (for food insecure seniors).