Field Assistant in Arcadia, Florida at Bethel Farms

Bethel Farms is seeking a hands-on Innovations Technician (aka Field Assistant) to support and execute initiatives for Bethel Innovations. This individual will support the Innovations Director on the conversion of experimental ideas into repeatable, field-ready solutions. Join a team that values innovation, integrity, excellence, collaboration, service, and safety!

Responsibilities

Innovation Execution

• Support pilot projects, trials, and prototypes related to agronomy, automation, equipment, data collection, and process improvement
• Operate, test, and refine new tools, technologies, and workflows in real operating environments
• Document results, failures, constraints, and recommendations with operational clarity

Technology & Systems Support

• Assist with basic data collection, validation, and reporting from trials and experiments
• Deploy and maintain sensors, field devices, test equipment, and supporting software used in innovative initiatives
• Coordinate across departments like Production, Harvesting, Technology, Analytics, Operations to integrate new technologies

Field & Operational Work

• Operate equipment and tools as required for trials and demonstrations
• Work directly in farms, yards, and operational facilities to test and validate solutions
• Ensure innovations department aligns wife safety, regulatory, and operational constraints

Process Improvement

• Observe production and distribution workflows to identify inefficiencies, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Assist in redesigning processes for scalability, repeatability, and cost efficiency
• Support standardization once innovations transition from pilot to production

Collaboration & Communication

• Translate technical findings into practical operational language
• Provide clear updates to the Innovations Director and cross-functional partners
• Support training and handoff when innovations are adopted by operations teams

• 2+ years of experience in agriculture, operations, engineering support, technical services, or applied R&D
• Bachelor’s or associate’s degree in a relevant program accepted as work experience equivalent
• Comfort with ambiguity, experimentation, and iterative problem-solving
• Ability to work independently in field-based, non-office environments
• Strong documentation and observational skills
• High level of situational and self-awareness

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in agriculture, turf, greenhouse production/management, manufacturing, or logistics
• Exposure to automation, sensors, GIS, data tools, research trials, and/or equipment modification
• Experience with irrigation controllers, irrigation programming, and water management
• Basis understanding of process improvement or continuous improvement concepts
• Great mechanical, technical, or systems aptitude
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Physical Demands of the Position

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk; stand; bend; interact with equipment; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. This role involves regular outdoor and field work which will expose employees to heat, cold, precipitation, and other weather phenomenon in agricultural environments. The selected candidate must be willing to submit to a drug screen.

Position Type / Expected Hours of Work / Travel

This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Regular hours are Monday through Friday 7AM to 4PM which earlier days during summer. Schedule may change as needed. This position does not require extensive travel but may involve infrequent, in-state travel.