Horticulture Manager

Litherland & Co.; Guelph; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Litherland & Co. is looking for a Horticulture Manager to oversee operations across multiple indoor farms in Ontario, Canada. This role involves leading a team while developing strategies for crop performance and quality. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in a related field and 5+ years of experience in hydroponic systems or greenhouse operations.

You will collaborate with various teams to drive innovation and best practices across facilities, contributing to the future of sustainable indoor agriculture.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in controlled environment agriculture or greenhouse operations.
• Experience leading technical teams in a commercial production environment.
• Strong understanding of food safety and quality assurance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute horticultural strategies to support business growth.
• Lead, coach, and develop teams of Head Growers and Technicians.
• Optimize crop performance and address production challenges.

Skills

Hydroponic production systems

Crop nutrition

Plant physiology

Environmental controls

Integrated pest management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Plant Science, Horticulture, Agronomy, Agriculture

Job description

Our client is a Canadian controlled environment agriculture (CEA) business, operating multiple innovative, indoor farms across Canada. Focused on producing fresh, high-quality produce year-round, they continue to expand operational capabilities while advancing the future of indoor food production. The Horticulture Manager provides leadership across three main production facilities, supporting crop performance, yield optimization, quality standards and innovation initiatives. This role will lead a team of Head Growers and Horticulture Technicians while serving as a key partner across all business divisions and driving the horticultural strategy. This Manager will play a significant role in establishing best practices across facilities, supporting commercialization efforts, and helping shape the future of the company's horticultural programs.

Reporting to the Vice President, R&D and Innovation, you will:

• Develop and execute horticultural strategies that support business growth, operational performance, product quality and long‑term production objectives.
• Lead, coach, and develop Head Growers and Horticulture Technicians across multiple facilities while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Drive standardization of growing practices, operating procedures, environmental controls, and crop management protocols across the production network.
• Collaborate with site teams to optimize crop performance, maximize yield, improve quality outcomes and address production challenges.
• Oversee environmental, irrigation, fertigation, lighting, and water treatment strategies.
• Establish reporting systems, performance metrics, and data‑driven decision‑making processes that provide meaningful insight into crop and farm performance.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance teams to improve system capabilities and reliability, preventative maintenance programs and overall operational effectiveness.
• Support the development and implementation of innovation initiatives designed to improve productivity, crop quality and production efficiency.
• Collaborate with R&D teams to evaluate new genetics, substrates, technologies, production inputs, and growing methodologies.
• Support commercialization efforts through participation in new product evaluations, production planning and innovation pipeline discussions.
• Work closely with Commercial, Planning, and Operations teams to align production capabilities with customer requirements and business objectives.
• Support food safety, quality assurance, GMP and SQF programs while participating in internal and external audits.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, technology providers, research partners, and industry stakeholders to identify emerging opportunities and best practices.
• Contribute to the continued development of a collaborative, safety‑focused, and high‑performance culture across all facilities.

Your background includes:

• Bachelor's degree in Plant Science, Horticulture, Agronomy, Agriculture, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience working with hydroponic production systems, controlled environment agriculture and/or greenhouse operations.
• Demonstrated success within controlled environment agriculture, hydroponic, greenhouse, vertical farming, or related crop production environments.
• Strong understanding of plant physiology, crop nutrition, environmental controls, integrated pest management, plant pathology, and production systems.
• Experience leading technical teams and developing employees within a commercial production environment, and exposure to multi‑site operations is considered a strong asset.
• Proven ability to implement process improvements, standard operating procedures and operational best practices.
• Experience leading production trials, innovation projects, new product introductions, or technology implementation initiatives.
• Familiarity with food safety and QA frameworks, including SQF, GMP, or comparable standards.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, evolving environment where adaptability and problem‑solving are essential.
• Collaborative leadership style with strong interpersonal skills, sound judgement, intellectual curiosity, and a hands‑on approach to leadership.
• Bilingual English and French communication skills are considered an asset.

This role requires 20% travel within Canada to the various facilities and to attend trade shows, industry events and other related activities, including internationally when required. This Manager will be required to work weekends, from time to time, as needed.

Litherland & Co. is dedicated to fair and equal opportunities for all applicants. Candidates are selected upon the highest level of equity, diversity, and inclusion across the organization and throughout its hiring process. If you are selected for an interview and require accommodations, arrangements will be made for your convenience throughout the recruitment.