Vineyard Assistant (Wine Jobs: Vineyards & Cellars )

  Vox Vineyards

  Kansas City, Missouri

Located just outside of Kansas City, Missouri, Vox Vineyards grows and makes award winning wine from rare North American grape cultivars grown in our estate vineyard. Our collection, building on the pioneering work of pre-prohibition American grape breeders like Thomas Volney Munson, includes over 30 varieties grown on 6.5 acres near the Missouri river, with expansion to 13 acres already underway. Our work also includes documentation and research as many of these varieties have not previously been used in modern commercial production.

The Vineyard Assistant is required to assist in the planning and execution of all operational tasks in the vineyard, budgeting, recording and reporting, repairs and maintenance, and vine propagation. A sense of timeliness and consequential thinking, attention to detail when it counts, clear communication, and ability to assess priority of tasks are important for success in this position. It is critical that the Vineyard Assistant has the ability to work independently and at times when more labor is needed, assist the Vineyard Manager in the guidance of 2-30 vineyard workers or volunteers. The role requires oversight of 6.3 acres of established vineyard and an additional 7 acres of new vineyard expansion. Throughout the year the Vineyard Assistant will work under the direction of the Vineyard Supervisor to achieve the Vox Mission. The Vineyard Assistant will assist, as needed, with reporting at the weekly team meetings describing the progress of work done in the vineyard.

Reporting Relationships
•  The Vineyard Assistant will report daily to the Vineyard Supervisor with whom they will get their work orders
•  The Vineyard Manager will attend weekly team meets with the Owner and staff to report on tasks accomplished for the week, and to prioritize upcoming tasks

Primary Responsibilities
•  Completion of all vineyard activities: pruning, propagation, shoot thinning, leaf pulling, planting, harvesting, mowing, and any additional labor for esthetic upkeep of the property
•  Communicate with supervisors about all vineyard observations: Scouting for diseases and pests control, completing tasks like canopy management, groundcover management, spray efficacy, overall vineyard upkeep and weekly tasks as assigned
•  Assist with maintaining all spray records, spray inventory, and place spray orders when needed
•  Assist in soil sampling, analysis, and fertilizer application
•  Assist winemaker and vineyard manager in all harvest tasks including crop estimation, hand picking, and hauling fruit from vineyard to winery
•  Assist winemaker during grape processing as needed
•  Assist in the development of new strategies for better ecological practices i.e. under the vine cover crop to reduce the use of herbicide 
•  Communication with the public about the Vox Vineyards project 

Optional Tasks
•  Some sales at farmers markets, wine festivals, and events
•  Participation in Wine Club events such as allotment pickup parties and educational events

Required Qualifications
•  Minimum of 1 year of experience working in agriculture or outdoor physical labor
•  Valid driver’s license
•  Operate and maintain tractor and equipment for spraying, mowing, and weed control
•  Flexible schedule to adapt to weather, labor, and critical times in the season
•  Ability to take detailed instructions
•  The ability to work in various weather conditions 
•  The ability to repeatedly lift and carry 40 pounds
•  The ability to respond to the exigencies of season, weather, machinery and labor in producing quality agricultural product
•  Clear communication with supervisors, and support personnel

Desired Qualifications
•  Basic mechanical maintenance/repair skills
•  Speaks some Spanish
•  Appreciation for wine
•  Ability to use Excel, Word, and Google Docs

Pay is hourly with upward mobility. This is a full time position.