The Strong Foundation of Nourse Farms

Job Title: Commercial Laboratory Technician
Department: Lab Job Status: Full Time
FLSA Status: Non-*Exempt
Reports to: Commercial Laboratory Manager
Job Type: Regular Amount of Travel Required: N/A
Positions Supervised: 0
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, weekends as needed

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 Laboratory Technician to support our Nourse Farms Lab operations. This role is responsible for receiving, testing, analyzing, recording and reporting results of their tests.

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:

• Perform general lab duties including media prep, autoclaving and washing of glassware;
• Efficiently manipulate plants using delicate hand tools and aseptic technique (sterile conditions);
• Initiation and transfer of plant cultures
• Successful processing of initial meristems
• Involved in weekly lab cleaning chores
• Participate in company virus and disease indexing protocol
• Communicate and coordinate with related greenhouse and field staff
• Receiving, labeling and safely storing samples to be tested
• Determining and performing tests needed for the analysis and report
• Recording tests and analyses and then reporting the results
• Discussing and answering any questions regarding the results
• Organizing and storing samples in accordance with all safety and other requirements to ensure the safety of personnel and integrity of the sample
• Cleaning and maintaining lab equipment, including recalibration of equipment
• Maintaining equipment records and daily work logs
• Staying current on technical and scientific advances in their field
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education: High school diploma or GED. Degree, advanced training, or courses in biological sciences
• Experience:2+ years of related working experience, preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft office
• High attention to detail and the ability to recognize and observe small deviations
• Good hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills (hands)
• Willingness to learn new skills and be part of a team
• Attention to detail and good organizational skills
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with various departments and other stakeholders.
• Proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges
• Understanding of electronic and computerized equipment in laboratories
• Able to follow instructions and strictly follow procedures
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, stand and sit for extended periods, and work in varying temperatures.

Click here to apply now.

Job Title: Human Resources Intern (Bilingual Spanish Preferred)
Department: Human Resources 
Job Status: Part Time
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Reports to: HR Director
Job Type: Intern; unpaid internship for school credit and is available for multiple semesters
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday between 9am & 5pm; flexible based on your academic calendar and schedule

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, detailed orientated and reliable Human Resources Inten to support all aspects of the employee life cycle. The HR intern supports the HR department with administrative tasks, recruitment, and employee relations. They assist with tasks like safety training, updating employee records, screening resumes, and scheduling interviews. Additionally, they may help with payroll, employee benefits, and other HR-related functions.
 

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:

Administrative Support
Support the day-to-day operations with miscellaneous administrative tasks.
Assist guests and visitors, maintaining a professional and welcoming atmosphere.
Maintain and manage the inventory of office and general supplies, ensuring a well-stocked and efficiently organized office environment.

Training & Development
Help create organized employee training packets for regular onboarding and safety sessions.
Assist with planning and implementing trainings in both English and Spanish.
Review and select departmental training videos; prepare accompanying handouts.
Support safety culture initiatives through structured training and documentation.

Recruitment
Assist in the recruitment process, including job applications, screening resumes, and coordinating interviews.
Support new hire orientation and employee recognition programs.

Employee Relations
Addressing employee inquiries, participating in employee orientation, and potentially assisting with employee development programs.

HR Processes
Supporting payroll, benefits, and other HR-related functions.
Facilitate data collection for HR metrics and reporting to aid in strategic planning.
Maintaining accurate employee records, updating databases, and filing HR documents.
Track employee training participation records
File HR documents
Process employment verification letters.

Compliance
Assisting with ensuring compliance with HR policies and procedures.
Support Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) tracking.
Monitor pesticide information postings and maintain regulatory records
Track promotional items from vendors
Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Bilingual English/Spanish encouraged
Strong organizational and time management skills .
Attention to detail .
Proficiency in basic computer software/Microsoft office: (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Ability to work independently and as part of a team .
Knowledge or interest in HR practices and policies: (typically gained through coursework or experience).
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to maintain confidentiality
Good written, verbal, and interpersonal communication abilities
Proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, stand for extended periods, work in varying temperatures, and prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Schedule:
Start date and hours needed per week are flexible.  Available for multiple semesters. This internship is for school credit only, it is an unpaid position to gain hands-on experience. 

Substrate Grower Internship – Nourse Farms (Whately, MA)
Department: Substrate Department
Job Status: Part Time
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Reports to: Substrate Manager
Job Type: Intern; unpaid internship for school credit and is available for multiple semesters
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday between 9am & 5pm; flexible based on your academic calendar and schedule

For over 90 years, Nourse Farms has been a trusted leader in the plant propagation industry, producing and selling premium small fruit plants to commercial growers, home gardeners, and resellers across the globe. Our commitment to providing virus-indexed, highly productive plants has kept us on the forefront of innovation—testing new varieties and techniques to ensure exceptional quality.

At Nourse Farms, every team member shares a common goal: to deliver quality. From the fields to the offices, we take pride in supporting our customers’ success. As a Substrate Grower Intern, you’ll become part of a legacy rooted in excellence and contribute to the daily operations that ensure our plants thrive from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities:

• Irrigation & System Monitoring:
  Learn and assist with greenhouse and field equipment, including injection systems and computer-controlled irrigation technologies that manage crop hydration and nutrient delivery.
• Soil & Nutrient Testing:
  Participate in soil sampling and testing for fertilizer and pH levels. Help maintain logs and track data to support informed growing decisions, including any corrective actions needed.
• Crop Scouting:
  Walk crop areas to observe plant health, identify signs of stress or insect presence, and report issues to the growing team.
• Record Keeping:
  Maintain detailed records on soil conditions, crop health, irrigation cycles, and test results to support consistent, high-quality production.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Interest or academic background in horticulture, plant science, agriculture, or a related field
• Willingness to work with hands-on equipment and learn greenhouse technologies
• Strong attention to detail and observation skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team

This internship offers real-world experience in controlled environment agriculture, modern propagation practices, and crop management, making it ideal for students eager to grow their skills in a hands-on learning environment.

Start date and hours needed per week are flexible. Available for multiple semesters. This internship is for school credit only. It is an unpaid position to gain hands-on experience.

Schedule:
Start date and hours needed per week are flexible.  Available for multiple semesters. This internship is for school credit only, it is an unpaid position to gain hands-on experience. 

Greenhouse Grower Internship – Nourse Farms (Whately, MA)
Department: Greenhouse Department
Job Status: Part Time
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Reports to: Greenhouse Manager
Job Type: Intern; unpaid internship for school credit and is available for multiple semesters
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday between 9am & 5pm; flexible based on your academic calendar and schedule

For over 90 years, Nourse Farms has been a trusted leader in the plant propagation industry, producing and selling premium small fruit plants to commercial growers, home gardeners, and resellers across the globe. Our commitment to providing virus-indexed, highly productive plants has kept us on the forefront of innovation—testing new varieties and techniques to ensure exceptional quality.

At Nourse Farms, every team member shares a common goal: to deliver quality. From the fields to the offices, we take pride in supporting our customers’ success. As a Greenhouse Grower Intern, you’ll become part of a legacy rooted in excellence and contribute to the daily operations that ensure our plants thrive from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities:

• Irrigation & System Monitoring:
  Learn and assist with greenhouse and field equipment, including injection systems and computer-controlled irrigation technologies that manage crop hydration and nutrient delivery.
•  Nutrient Testing:
  Participate in testing fertilizer and pH levels. Help maintain logs and track data to support informed growing decisions, including any corrective actions needed.
• Crop Scouting:
  Walk crop areas to observe plant health, identify signs of stress or insect presence, and report issues to the growing team.
• Record Keeping:
  Maintain detailed records on crop health, irrigation cycles, and test results to support consistent, high-quality production.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Interest or academic background in horticulture, plant science, agriculture, or a related field
• Willingness to work with hands-on equipment and learn greenhouse technologies
• Strong attention to detail and observation skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team

This internship offers real-world experience in controlled environment agriculture, modern propagation practices, and crop management, making it ideal for students eager to grow their skills in a hands-on learning environment.

Start date and hours needed per week are flexible. Available for multiple semesters. This internship is for school credit only. It is an unpaid position to gain hands-on experience.

Schedule:
Start date and hours needed per week are flexible.  Available for multiple semesters. This internship is for school credit only, it is an unpaid position to gain hands-on experience.