Description
ASF is seeking a motivated individual to assist with the day to day operations of kelp harvest season in midcoast Maine. This position would be responsible for calling into daily morning meetings to get a daily harvest assignment. Hours for the day will vary based on the activities to take place and are typically outside of a traditional 9-5. Some mornings, but primarily afternoon and some evening hours are required to accomplish the daily tasks. Full on the job training will take place ahead of solo kelp pick ups. Based on the day, activities would include going to cross-dock location, in Tenants Harbor, getting in a 26ft reefer box truck and driving to one of two local dock locations to pick up harvested kelp from ASF partner farmers. Before heading to the dock for pickup, this position will make sure they have the necessary supplies on hand (charged hanging scale, bag tags, landing sheets, pallets, harvest bags) to accomplish the job. All supplies and reefer trucks will be secured by ASF prior to the start of the position in early April. Once at the dock this position will be responsible for assisting farmers in offloading and weighing each kelp bag, assessing kelp quality, tagging and lot coding each bag, recording all landing information on a landing sheet, and loading the truck with each pallet of kelp. Once the kelp is loaded, the individual will retain a copy of the landing sheet and provide one to the farmer. Then they will drive the harvested kelp back to the cross dock location to be offloaded onto a holding drop trailer or tractor trailer truck for transport offsite. This position will make sure that food safety handling practices are followed and that kelp is stored in a refrigerated environment at all times while in their custody. At the end of each kelp pickup a photo of the landing sheet will be shared with the ASF team or will be uploaded to a traceability app for further record keeping. Kelp harvesting takes place Sunday - Thursday weekly and some quick (5- 15 mins.) communication with ASF staff can occur on Friday to wrap up any remaining tasks for the week and on Saturday afternoon/evening to plan for the following Sunday harvest day. Some harvest days may get canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions and logistics can change on short notice due to the nature of weather dependent farming and third party schedules.
Position type: Temporary Hourly
Compensation Rate: $20/hour
Weekly anticipated hours: 40 hours / week Timeframe: April 13th - May 22nd 2025 (6 weeks)
Location: Midcoast, ME (St. George, Tenants Harbor & Port Clyde)
Contact: Liz MacDonald at [email protected] or phone: (207)590-2945
Responsibilities:
- Work with the ASF supply team to coordinate harvested kelp pickups and trucked kelp shipments daily.
- Coordinate directly with kelp farmers in St. George & Port Clyde for daily pickups of harvested kelp Sunday - Thursday
- Drive 26’ refer box truck (provided by ASF) to and from cross dock location in Tenants Harbor to either Baum Rd. and/or Port Clyde co-op for kelp pick up.
- Make sure box trucks are stocked with pallets and kelp harvest bags as needed for each pickup (provided by ASF).
- Make sure scales are charged and usable for daily kelp pickups.
- Work with farmers to offload and weigh each kelp bag at the dock.
- Make sure kelp bags are square and fixed on the pallet for transport from the dock.
- Load each kelp harvest bag into the box truck with a hand pallet jack.
- Assess the quality of each kelp bag landed with the farmer and designate either a top food grade or a non food grade rating to each bag to be recorded on the bag tag & landing sheet.
- Tag each kelp harvest bag with a bag tag with the associated lot code and flagging tape as needed.
- Fill out and complete the kelp harvest landing sheet at the dock, retain ASF copy and provide the farmer with their copy.
- Share a copy of the landing sheets with ASF and/or upload to traceability app daily.
- Offload kelp bags from the box truck and load either to drop trailer and/ or tractor trailer truck at cross dock location depending on the day and schedule.
- Assist with loading tractor trailer trucks to move product out of cross dock location, complete BOL paperwork for shipments, and share a copy with ASF staff.
Qualifications:
- Valid driver's license and working cell phone
- Ability to pass a background check for auto insurance purposes
- Ability to work with a small dedicated team and independently, problem solve on the job
- Organized and detail oriented, legible handwriting
- Good communication skills
- Dedication to forming trusting, respectful, and informative relationships with farmers
- Able to lift 50 lbs and move 1,000 lb pallets with hand pallet jacks (can be assisted in teams of 2 people)
- Work in midcoast Maine in all types of weather and conditions for field work
- Capable of working on boats, in marine environments, on active working waterfronts and warehouse settings
- Experience with pallet jacks, fork trucks, and driving box trucks is preferred
- Live within 30 minutes of St. George, ME. Temporary shared housing assessed on an individual basis and needs.