What are the responsibilities and job description for the Site Manager position at RESERVOIR?
Site Manager, Reservoir Farms
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Type: Full-time
Overview
Reservoir Farms is the home for startups building breakthrough technologies for specialty crops. The Site Manager is the operational leader who ensures the farm runs with excellence each day, serves as the primary point of contact for growers and industry, and supports the startups building on-site. This is a highly relational, highly operational role that blends community building, industry engagement, and on-the-ground execution.
The ideal candidate excels in dynamic agricultural environments, builds trust quickly with growers and industry partners, and maintains a high bar of organization, responsiveness, and follow-through. This person unlocks momentum: for our members, for the startup teams in residence, and for Reservoir Farms as a critical innovation platform.
Core Responsibilities
Site Operations & Daily Leadership
- Oversee all day-to-day functions of Reservoir Farms, ensuring a seamless and professional experience for startups, members, and visitors.
- Maintain farm schedules, coordinate logistics, and support experiment setup and field deployments.
- Serve as the primary on-site leader, ensuring safety, clarity, and reliability in all operations.
Industry Engagement & Community Leadership
- Actively engage growers, processors, and industry groups across specialty crops, listening to needs and facilitating valuable connections.
- Build and steward a robust local network that views Reservoir Farms as a trusted hub for innovation.
- Partner with colleges and local organizations to source talent for startup roles or project work.
- Convene community events, field days, and industry touchpoints that strengthen participation and visibility.
Startup Support & Member Services
- Serve as an embedded resource for startups in residence, helping them navigate field operations and partner interactions.
- Ensure startups have the tools, access, and support required to accelerate development and demonstrate progress.
- Maintain a high standard of responsiveness and operational clarity for all resident teams.
Sponsorship & Local Support
- Develop and manage relationships with local and regional industry partners aligned with specialty crop innovation.
- Secure financial sponsorships for startup programs from companies and organizations that want to see Reservoir Farms activate bold agtech solutions.
- Represent Reservoir professionally in conversations with local sponsors, community leaders, growers, and institutions.
Candidate Profile
- Demonstrated experience in agtech, sales, grower relations, field operations, or agricultural program management.
- Strong communicator with the ability to build trust across growers, startups, and industry.
- Organized, efficient, and comfortable juggling multiple workstreams in a fast-moving environment.
- Outgoing and energized by convening people and building community around meaningful work.
- Experience supporting or evaluating agtech solutions is highly preferred.
Cultural Alignment
Reservoirians thrive because we share a core orientation to the work:
Urgency and Focus
We approach each day with clarity and momentum, grounded in respect for the opportunity ahead.
Work as a Calling
Our team is composed of people who are curious, persistent, and energized by building things that matter.
Creative Joy in Hard Problems
Agriculture’s challenges inspire imagination and optimism. Progress should feel energizing.
Place Matters
We believe innovation grows from the ground up. Being embedded in communities and landscapes gives the work meaning and power.
Self-Sufficient and Augmented
We value independence and use AI to sharpen productivity, allowing us to focus on the work that moves the mission forward.