Vineyard Supervisor

Flint Vineyard, based in South Norfolk, is seeking a full-time Vineyard Supervisor to manage a small team and oversee all vineyard operations.

Flint is known for producing premium still wines and Charmat method sparkling wines.  Forward looking, passionate about quality and experimentation, there is always something exciting going on in both the vineyard and winery.

Vineyard Supervisor

The place

Flint now has over 100,000 vines covering 80 acres comprising both PIWI and vinifera varieties for both still and sparkling Charmat production.  All machinery and manual roles are completed in-house with an enthusiastic local team and wide range of modern viticultural equipment.

The role

Reporting to and under close supervision of the Winemaker / Vineyard Manager you will be responsible for overseeing all roles in the vineyard.  This includes the following:

• Tractor driving
• Mechanical operations to include spraying, mowing, trimming, leaf plucking
• Managing and scheduling an experienced part-time team in the efficient operation of a manual tasks to include pruning, bud-rubbing, leaf plucking, canopy management
• Taking field samples to monitor vine health, yield and ripeness
• Overseeing all harvest operations including coordinating grape monitoring, managing the picking team and the successful delivery of fruit in liaison with the winery team

The person

This role suits someone with a passion for and deep understanding of viticulture and ideally some kind of qualification in this field.  A team player with the ability to tackle large, sometimes mundane tasks with motivation that stems from understanding the bigger picture.  Ideally someone who can bring new ideas to Flint and that certainly already has an awareness of the more current techniques such as gentle pruning.  A forklift qualification is desirable.  Competency in tractor driving and handling mechanical attachments is essential and a current ‘safe handling of pesticides’ certification will be required.  Training can be provided for the right candidate but these requirements are highly desirable as you will be supervising a team, some of whom have extensive experience in the vineyard.

You will be reporting to the Winemaker / Vineyard Manager and working closely with the Operations Manager.  An adaptable approach is required as is a positive attitude and practical approach.  Confidence and some ability in handling machinery repairs and maintenance is a must.  The ability to use a range of IT applications will also be required as most of our systems are cloud-based and require a proficient level of competency.

The details

Competitive salary and benefits package

Please contact: [email protected] with a c.v. and covering letter