Aquatic Plant Production Specialist

Central Garden & Pet; Ruskin (FL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Life and Disability Insurance

401k with 3% company match

Paid vacation, holidays and sick time

Education Assistance

Referral Program with cash bonus

Access to on-demand pay

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Segrest Inc. is seeking an Aquatic Plant Production Specialist to support cultivation, propagation, and production operations at our Gibsonton and Ruskin, Florida facilities.

The role focuses on maintaining healthy production systems, propagule production, inventory oversight, and coordinating plant movement to meet customer demand. The ideal candidate will have an interest in aquatic plants, horticulture, or aquaculture, with strong organizational and collaborative skills and the ability to

Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of aquatic plant biology and health.
• Ability to identify aquatic plant species and stress signs.
• Familiarity with water quality parameters and system maintenance.
• Knowledge of greenhouse/aquaculture production; hydroponics is a plus.
• Proficiency in Excel for inventory and data tracking.

Responsibilities

• Maintain aquatic plant production systems and ensure plant health.
• Monitor water quality across production systems.
• Propagate and cultivate aquatic plants for propagule production.
• Track inventory and coordinate transition from grow-out to pack-out.
• Communicate production status and issues to stakeholders.
• Coordinate activities between Gibsonton and Ruskin facilities.
• Identify process improvements to enhance quality and efficiency.

Skills

Aquatic plant biology

Plant health

Water quality

Hydroponics

Excel

Organization

Independence

Cross-departmental communication

Problem solving

Learning adaptability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's or Bachelor's in Biology/Aquatic Science/Horticulture

Practical aquatic plant cultivation experience

Tools

Excel

Job description

Segrest Inc. is seeking a knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and self-motivated Aquatic Plant Production Specialist to support aquatic plant cultivation, propagation, and production operations at our Gibsonton and Ruskin, Florida facilities.

This position is responsible for maintaining healthy aquatic plant production systems, ensuring consistent plant propagation, monitoring inventory, and coordinating the movement of plants from grow-out through pack-out to support customer demand and sales objectives.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong interest in aquatic plants, horticulture, or aquaculture, along with excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with multiple departments.

Location(s): Segrest Farms - Gibsonton, FL and Norton/Ekk Will - Ruskin, FL

MEASURES OF SUCCESS:

• Aquatic Plant Production & Maintenance
• Monitor, test, and maintain appropriate water quality parameters across aquatic plant production systems to support optimal plant health and growth.
• Perform routine maintenance, cleaning, and upkeep of aquatic plant production systems, equipment, and greenhouse production areas.
• Plant, establish, cultivate, and maintain aquatic plants to ensure consistent and sustainable propagule production.
• Propagate aquatic plants using appropriate cultivation and propagation techniques to support ongoing production requirements.
• Regularly assess plant health, growth conditions, and overall production quality, identifying and addressing issues that may impact plant development or availability.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe production environments in accordance with company procedures.
• Inventory Management & Production Planning
• Monitor and maintain appropriate inventory levels of propagules and finished aquatic plants to support sales volume and fulfillment requirements.
• Coordinate the transition of aquatic plants from grow-out to pack-out, ensuring timely availability and consistent product quality.
• Track and analyze plant growth cycles, propagation rates, production yields, and inventory trends to support production planning and operational efficiency.
• Maintain accurate and timely inventory records for aquatic plants, production materials, equipment, and related supplies.
• Identify potential inventory shortages, production delays, or quality concerns and communicate findings to appropriate stakeholders.
• Assist with production forecasting and planning to support anticipated sales demand.
• Maintain regular communication with the Marketing Manager and relevant Operations, Sales, and Pack-Out teams regarding plant availability, production timelines, and inventory needs.
• Coordinate activities between the Gibsonton and Ruskin facilities to ensure consistent production practices and efficient use of resources.
• Provide timely updates regarding plant health, inventory levels, production challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Recommend process improvements to enhance plant quality, production efficiency, and inventory accuracy.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Basic knowledge of aquatic plant biology, growth requirements, and plant health.
• Ability to identify common aquatic plant species and recognize signs of poor plant health or environmental stress.
• Familiarity with water quality parameters, testing procedures, and aquatic system maintenance.
• Knowledge of aquatic production systems, hydroponics, aquaculture, or greenhouse operations preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including maintaining spreadsheets, tracking inventory, and organizing production data.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and recordkeeping skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to product quality.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize responsibilities, and manage daily production activities with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and locations.
• Ability to identify production challenges, troubleshoot issues, and recommend practical solutions.
• Willingness to learn new propagation techniques, production methods, and operational processes.

IDEAL CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate's or bachelor's degree in Biology, Aquatic Science, Horticulture, Aquaculture, Plant Science, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent practical experience in aquatic plant cultivation, greenhouse production, aquaculture, hydroponics, or a related production environment will be considered.
• Previous experience in aquatic plant propagation, cultivation, or production preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is primarily performed in greenhouse and aquatic plant production environments, which may involve elevated temperatures, high humidity, wet surfaces, and exposure to water and plant materials.
• Must be able to perform job duties safely and effectively in varying greenhouse environmental conditions, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Duties may require prolonged periods of standing, walking, bending, reaching, and performing repetitive plant-handling tasks.
• May be required to lift, carry, and move plants, containers, equipment, and production supplies in accordance with established safety procedures.
• Must be able to work at both the Gibsonton and Ruskin, Florida facilities, based on operational needs.
• Must follow all company safety procedures and properly utilize required personal protective equipment (PPE).

WORK LOCATION AND SCHEDULE:

This position supports aquatic plant production operations at two Segrest Inc. locations:

• Norton/Ekk Will: Ruskin, Florida

The employee will be expected to work at both locations as business and production needs require. Work schedules will be established based on operational requirements.

BENEFITS PACKAGE & EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS:

• Free Life and Disability Insurance
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401k with 3% company match and annual employer discretionary contribution
• Paid vacation, holidays and sick time
• Employee Assistance Program
• Access to thousands of free online courses
• Discounts on cell phones, movie tickets, gym memberships, and more!
• Education Assistance (both college degrees and professional certifications)
• Referral Program with cash bonus
• Access to on-demand pay.
• Paid parental leave.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any othercharacteristic protected by law.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.