Job Title: Grower, Greenhouse—Whately, MA
Department: Production
Job Status: Full Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Head Grower
Job Type: Regular
Amount of Travel Required: None
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, Rotating weekend duty
Positions Supervised: 0
Position Summary:
Nourse Farms is a leading player in the plant propagation industry, known for their commitment to excellence in providing high-quality plant stock. Nourse Farms is seeking a motivated and dedicated Greenhouse Grower to support the Head Grower and Greenhouse Manager in the management and care of small fruit plants at our facility in Whatley, MA. The Grower will play a vital role in maintaining plant health, implementing growing practices, and ensuring the success of our horticultural operations.
Primary Duties:
Reasonable Accommodation Statement:
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Key responsibilities:
- Greenhouse Operations: Collaborate with the Head Grower to manage all aspects of greenhouse operations. This would include monitoring environmental conditions, irrigation and nutrition management, and integrated pest management strategies. Ensure efficient and timely completion of all greenhouse activities while maintaining optimal growth conditions for plants.
- Inventory Management: Assist in maintaining accurate inventory records of all plant varieties,
- as well as grower activities such as scouting, applying pesticides and biological controls.
- Quality Control & Sanitation: Support quality control efforts to ensure that all plants meet or exceed established quality standards. Assist in greenhouse sanitation before transition to new production.
- Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with the Head Grower and/or Greenhouse Manager as well as other team members to execute growing plans, communicate plant care needs, and contribute to the success of the growing operations.
- Standard Operating Procedures and High Standards: Collaborate with Head Grower to develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the facility, ensuring the highest standards of cultivation and production are met.
- Environmental Controls Utilization and Data Analysis: Proficiently utilize Priva/Argus environmental software to monitor and control greenhouse climate conditions. Use this information to fine-tune cultivation techniques which will contribute to the optimization of plant growth.
- Equipment and Facility Maintenance: Participate in the maintenance and minor repair of equipment and facilities as needed to ensure a safe and efficient working environment.
- Training and Development: Engage in continuous learning and training to enhance horticultural knowledge and skills.
- Obtain a pesticide license within four months of hire.
- Additional Duties: Collaborate with Head Grower and/or Greenhouse Manager on other tasks and responsibilities related to greenhouse operations, as required.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, or a related field (preferred).
- 2 years experience in greenhouse operations or agricultural work.
- Basic knowledge of greenhouse operations, including Environmental Controls (Priva/Angus) experience a plus
- Attention to detail and a willingness to learn and adapt.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
- Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
- Physical ability to perform tasks such as climbing ladders, lifting 50 lb., bending, and operating equipment.
- Eagerness to contribute to a dynamic and collaborative team.