Farm General Manager
Location: Nosara, Costa Rica
Reports To: Venture Partner
About Shift Esperanza:
Shift Esperanza is a pioneering regenerative real estate community development in Nosara, Costa Rica, dedicated to sustainability, health, and conscious living. The project is a master-planned, multi-phase, mixed-use development spanning 108 acres in one of Central America’s most desirable destinations. Built on principles of permaculture, community, and carbon-neutral technology, Shift Esperanza is designed to create a positive impact for both people and the planet.
Shift Esperanza is a flagship project of Shift Living, the wholly-owned regenerative real estate development subsidiary of Blesso Properties, a visionary real estate and hospitality firm founded in 1998 in New York by Matthew Blesso. Blesso Properties has a strong track record of delivering creative, award-winning projects in New York, Panama, and Costa Rica that have redefined design and development standards through innovation, sustainability, and impact. Its projects have set pricing records, received numerous design awards, and been widely featured in leading global publications.
Today, Shift Esperanza is no longer only a vision on paper. Construction has begun, and the project is actively moving from planning into execution as a living example of innovative real estate in Nosara. A central part of that vision is Shift Esperanza’s working 8-acre permaculture farm, which has been in development for several years and is already producing organic food. The farm sits within a larger 108-acre community where 75% of the land is reserved for nature preservation, trails, and land regeneration, making it one of the most important platforms for demonstrating Shift’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, community, and long-term environmental stewardship.
About the Role:
We are seeking a General Manager for “Finca la Esperanza” (the “Finca”) to lead the strategic, operational, and regenerative development of the Shift Esperanza regenerative farm in Nosara, Costa Rica. This is a full-time, on-site, role responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising all farm activities, ensuring the farm team moves towards the long term vision while advancing Shift’s broader vision for permaculture, agroforestry, biodiversity, food systems, community connection, and environmental innovation.
This role is not only about maintaining a farm. It is about helping build a living laboratory for regenerative land management, climate-conscious agriculture, agroforestry systems, water management, animal integration, soil health, product development, and community education. The ideal candidate is highly organized, hands-on, bilingual (English + Spanish), curious, entrepreneurial, and deeply motivated by innovation, sustainability, and impact.
The General Manager of the Finca will report to Shift senior leadership and work closely with the development, operations, finance, sustainability, and community teams to ensure the farm becomes a productive, educational, financially disciplined, and forward-thinking part of the overall Shift Esperanza project.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the strategic and day-to-day operation of the farm, including planning, coordination, supervision, and review of all activities related to maintenance, progress, and expansion of the agroforestry systems.
Manage the farm team, including work planning, vacation coordination, payroll incident communication, performance indicators, basic HR coordination, and team accountability.
Ensure farm operations are aligned with the Shift Esperanza master plan, leadership objectives, permaculture principles, and regenerative land management goals.
Prepare monthly reports of farm expenses, monitor budget compliance, and support financial analysis related to farm operations and revenue opportunities.
Develop and implement innovative approaches to regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, water systems, soil fertility, biodiversity, animal integration, and farm-based education.
Use data to guide farm decisions, including harvest databases, tree viability, physiological indicators, system performance, productivity, and overall health of the agroforestry systems.
Lead farm tours in both English and Spanish for beginner and advanced audiences in permaculture, agroecology, regenerative farming, and the broader vision of Shift Esperanza.
Act as a relationship leader between the farm and the local community, strategic partners, educational groups, suppliers, buyers, and other local stakeholders.
Execute the revenue generation plan by identifying and developing commercial partnerships for the sale of products from the agroforestry systems.
Design, plan, and coordinate the strategic integration of animals into the farm, including chickens, melipona bees, pigs, or other appropriate systems.
Coordinate preventive and corrective maintenance for farm vehicles, tools, work areas, storage containers, recycling areas, dry bathrooms, water systems, fences, access gates, pumps, and related infrastructure.
Maintain a safe, clean, organized, and professional work environment across all farm areas, including containers/farm HQ, composting operations, workspaces, and field operations.
Review agroforestry systems regularly to define work priorities, identify tree needs, and guide the team on maintenance and improvement of each parcel.
Define and implement the annual planting strategy, including syntropic agriculture, analog forestry, biodynamic agriculture, and other regenerative methodologies aligned with the master plan.
Guide the team through pruning, light management, shade generation, and seasonal canopy strategies to support the proper evolution and stratification of the farm’s biosystems.
Plan, supervise, and follow up on formation, maintenance, and production pruning for fruit trees, ensuring health, productivity, and proper adaptation within the agroforestry systems.
Design weekly irrigation strategies during the dry season and coordinate the installation of new drip irrigation lines, tank roofs, and water harvesting systems during the rainy season.
Verify the proper performance of swales, wet crossings, water filtration systems, pumping systems, and other water management infrastructure, and plan maintenance when needed.
Supervise organic soil and crop management across all farm systems, in coordination with the fertility manager and other technical team members.
Coordinate harvest activities and post-harvest operations to ensure product quality, organization, traceability, and commercial readiness.
Identify opportunities to position the farm as an innovation platform within Shift Esperanza, including pilot projects, educational programming, partnerships, applied research, and new regenerative practices.
Role Requirements:
This position requires time and expertise in the field as well as time in an office environment. While the seasonal changes will dictate most activities, this job is roughly estimated to be 60% in the field actively managing and 40% in the office/administrative tasks.
Degree or technical background in Agronomy, Agroecology, Environmental Science, Permaculture, Regenerative Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in farm management, agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, permaculture, agricultural operations, or land management.
Strong practical knowledge of agroforestry systems, organic soil management, irrigation, water systems, tree health, crop management, pruning, harvest, and post-harvest operations.
Experience leading field teams, organizing work plans, managing priorities, and creating accountability within operational teams.
Strong interest in innovation, experimentation, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement within regenerative agriculture and land stewardship.
Ability to manage budgets, track expenses, maintain records, analyze operational information, and support financially disciplined farm management.
Bilingual Spanish and English communication skills, with the ability to lead tours, explain technical concepts, and build relationships with local and international audiences.
Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to support sales, partnerships, farm product commercialization, educational opportunities, and revenue generation.
Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail in work planning, infrastructure maintenance, team coordination, reporting, and data management.
Ability to work full-time on-site in Nosara and operate effectively in a dynamic, hands-on, outdoor environment.
High level of integrity, professionalism, curiosity, humility, and collaborative mindset.
Passion for sustainability, regenerative systems, community building, environmental impact, and the long-term vision of Shift Esperanza.
To Apply:
Please submit your CV, cover letter, and 3 professional references to puestosfinca@gmail.com. Your cover letter should answer the questions listed below. CVs will be accepted until August 31, 2026. The application process will include multiple video call interviews, and finalists will be asked to visit the site for an in person interview prior to being contracted.
Why are you interested in this position?
What do you know about Shift Esperanza?
What does innovation in farm management mean to you?
What is your ideal work environment?
Why are you a great fit for this role?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
We look forward to welcoming passionate candidates who share our vision for sustainable, innovative, and impactful development and want to grow with Shift Esperanza.
