Job Title: Grower, Substrate
Department: Substrate
Job Status: Full Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Head Grower, Substrate
Job Type: Regular
Amount of Travel Required: 10%
Work Schedule: Monday–Saturday
Positions Supervised: 9
Position Summary:
Nourse Farms is a leading player in the plant propagation industry, known for our commitment to excellence in providing high-quality plant stock. Nourse Farms is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Grower to lead our facility in Whately, MA and Northfield, MA substrate operations. The Grower in Substate will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of plant production, crop management, and maintaining the highest standards of plant health and quality. This role is crucial in ensuring smooth operations and effective communication within the department and across the organization.
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:
- Responsible for the daily activities relating to crop health, irrigation, climate, pest management, and labor planning.
- Strawberry Tray Plant and Plug Program Oversight: Assist in managing strawberry tray plants and plugs, ensuring they grow optimally and conform to our stringent quality standards.
- Raspberry Long Cane Production: Oversee the full lifecycle of the raspberry long cane process, ensuring the plants thrive and meet our established quality benchmarks.
- Blackberry Long Cane Care: Aid in the nurturing and growth management of blackberry long canes, keeping in sync with our quality expectations.
- Plant Care: Monitor plants with precision for indications of pests, diseases, and potential growth issues, implementing the right remedies under the guidance of the Head Grower of Substrate.
- Resource Management: Coordinate effectively to allocate essential resources, such as tools, equipment, and materials, ensuring streamlined substrate production.
- Data Collection: Regularly gather and log data relevant to plant growth rates, health, and other critical metrics to refine our substrate methods further.
- Site Maintenance: Maintain the production spaces in pristine condition, ensuring they're organized and devoid of hazards.Safety Protocols: Strictly adhering to safety protocols, championing a safe work environment for all team members.
- Continuous Learning: Stay updated and delve deep into learning opportunities to further expertise in substrate plant propagation techniques, with a focus on our specific plant programs.
- Oversee KPI consistency, collaborate with the Labor Director on forecasting, and strategize on labor allocation and planning.
- Analyze performance data for improvement, communicate with stakeholders about labor needs, and stay updated on industry best practices for efficiency.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, agriculture, plant science, or a related field is preferred.
- Experience: 2+ years in greenhouse management, substrate propagation, farming, or relevant agriculture domain, with a focus on strawberry propagation. Previous leadership experience is highly desirable.
- Analytical Skills: Ability to collect and interpret data, make data-driven decisions, and optimize cultivation techniques accordingly.
- Leadership Abilities: Strong leadership and team management skills with a track record of building and motivating high-performing teams. Ability to motivate and inspire a diverse team. Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with various departments and other stakeholders.
- Problem-Solving: Proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges
- Physical Stamina: Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., stand for extended periods, and work in varying temperatures.