At Solstice the Head Grower manages and leads a staff of line level employees, leads and quality control staff engaged in the growing, care and maintenance of the company’s horticultural products.
This position asks for a consistently positive, friendly, and assertive manner with partners, regulators, leadership, and the Solstice team. An organization in our type of growth mode needs to have exceptional communication skills to help support a quick-paced, and sometimes chaotic, start-up environment.
Head Grower Responsibilities:
The Head Grower directs the application of technical procedures, timing, and metering devices that control frequency, amount, and type of nutrient applications; regulate humidity, ventilation, temperature and amount of light; and dispense fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides. Monitors crop development and the removal of substandard plants to maintain quality standards. Additional responsibilities are outlined below, the but are not limited to, other responsibilities may be assigned:
- Discuss plant growing activities with management personnel to plan for growing activities that are consistent with planned production schedules
- Plan for space allocation based on production reports and cloning schedules
- Monitor growing conditions and oversees changes in humidity, moisture and temperature and cultivation procedures to ensure conformance with quality control standards
- Monitor plant development to ascertain conditions such as leaf texture, bloom size and the existence of pests or disease; removing substandard or diseased plants to maintain/exceed quality standards
- Determine rates of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides as required by the crops and applies and/or directs the application of them
- Develop and maintain standard growing procedures for current cultivars
- Develop growing procedures for new cultivars in product line and new cultivation techniques
- Maintain inventory of needed growing supplies including, but not limited to fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides
- Maintain records of growing techniques and production; review records and reports to identify trends and to forecast future space and production needs
- Plan for and requests staff on a timely basis to ensure their availability during the high volume growing seasons and schedule overtime as necessary
- Schedule staff and assigns work; maintains personnel records and provides input into performance evaluations
- Train employees in growing techniques and activities
- Maintain a current knowledge of growing techniques and technologies
- Maintain an awareness of new state of the art equipment and provides input into equipment and facilities upgrades and replacement
- Provide pesticide and safety training to all employees and maintenance of records as required by Federal or State regulations
- Assist the Director of Operations with other duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Requirements:
- 4-year degree in horticulture or related field and 5 years of related work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Must understand the use of injectors, electrical conductivity and pH meter, boom and irrigations systems
- Thorough knowledge of water lines and be aware of and monitor conditions such as ventilation, high light conditions, temperature and humidity
- Must have in depth knowledge of the safe handling and application of chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides
- Ability to calculate figures amounts, proportions, percentages and volume in relation to the application of fertilizers, chemicals and water
- Apply the principles of algebra and geometry for applications of such procedures
- Ability to use a PC and interpret/produce production reports
- Must have the ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals and technical procedures
- Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedural manuals
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from management and from employees
- Ability to maintain comprehensive records of essential growing procedures, attributes and results
- Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills to interact with team members, senior support personnel, high level personnel and investors
- Ability to define and solve problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions necessary to identify a wide variety of conditions such as plant diseases, existence of insects, etc
- Adaptability and multi‐tasking; experience working in a fast-moving environment
- Fosters positive working relationships
- Must be a team player and collaborator with ability to work independently
- Ability to provide work direction and leadership to staff
- Provide a team atmosphere to strive for a common goal of high product quality and cooperation and compatibility with peers, supervisors, and management
- Project a helpful, friendly, and cooperative attitude
- Ability to regularly work weekends
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to work in conditions typically found in an indoor production facility with high light, humidity and varying temperatures, with a fair amount of moisture present
- Ability to lift from the floor up to 15‐50 pounds
- Ability to balance, reach and grasp while climbing on a step stool and/or ladder
- Ability to crouch, grasp, and raise product above shoulders to lift product from the floor properly
- Ability to be on feet while performing job responsibilities
- Ability to sit for long periods of time depending on your position and/or getting up and down through your work shift
Compensation and Benefits:
- We offer a competitive package that rewards strong performance and is results focused. In addition there will be objectives and milestones mapped with growth factors that quantify the potential income earned each fiscal year
- We offer generous Health, Dental and Vision plans as well as company sponsored 401k plan after initial 60-day probationary per period
- Bike commuting incentive
- Monthly employee company stipend
Job Type: Full-time