Cultivation Lead

Verano Holdings; Portsmouth (IA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Verano Holdings is seeking a Cultivation Lead to guide and support Cultivation Specialists across multiple grow rooms within a cannabis cultivation facility. The role focuses on plant health, quality control, and safety while enabling smooth operations and cross-department support as needed.

The candidate should be capable of training new hires, performing routine cultivation tasks, and maintaining logs and SOP adherence.

Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of plant structure and horticulture.
• Ability to follow detailed instructions and perform repetitive tasks.
• Positive attitude and teamwork.
• Willing to learn facility equipment safely.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to cultivation specialists by sharing tips, tricks, and best practices in the garden.
• Support plant management, fertilization, pest monitoring, sanitation, and overall plant health.
• Help cultivation staff understand and follow departmental processes.
• Assist Cultivation Manager with new hire training.
• Clone, trim, prune, top and train plants as directed by the Cultivation Manager.
• Monitor quality control in compliance with laws and SOPs.

Skills

Plant knowledge

Teamwork

Safety-minded

Physical stamina

Attentive to detail

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Job Summary

The Cultivation Lead provides guidance and specialized skill support to Cultivation Specialists. In addition, leads will be responsible for the regular on-site support of multiple gardens within a cannabis cultivation facility. Leads will support specialists in maintaining quality control measures and ensuring the health and safety of crop during the life stages of the plant, from propagation to pre-harvest. Cultivations Leads may be cross-trained and asked to support other departments from time to time to meet business needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to incoming and current cultivation specialists by showing tips, tricks, and best practices in the garden.
• Support plant management, fertilization, insect and disease monitoring, sanitation, and overall plant growth, health, and appearance in the grow rooms.
• Help cultivation specialists understand and follow departmental processes.
• Aid Assistant Cultivation and Cultivation Manager with new hire training.
• Clone, trim, prune, top and train plants as directed by the Cultivation Manager.
• Monitor and maintain quality control measures in accordance with State and local laws.
• Adhere to company policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment within the facility and production areas.
• Immediately inform Cultivation Manager of any system discrepancies.
• Visually inspect plants for any diseases, deficiencies, insects, and mold, reporting concerns to management for remediation.
• Follow plant scheduling to accurately project plant need.
• Catalogue, track, and organize plants from clone-to-harvest using our track and trace system.
• Work within company continuous improvement system and strive to increase productivity.
• Regularly clean cultivation equipment and tools, including light reflectors, containers, and ventilation equipment.
• Document and update cultivation logs with nutrient and/or substance application to any plants within the facility.
• Provide support to additional cultivation and harvest teams as needed to achieve facility production goals.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of plant structure and horticulture.
• Able to follow detailed instruction and capable of performing repetitive tasks.
• Must have a positive attitude and work well with others in a team environment.
• Willing to learn about, operate and maintain facility equipment in a safe manner.
• Comfortable with heights, soil and water, and tight spaces.
• Ability to safely climb, squat, bend, twist, kneel and stand for at least 8 hours per day, and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be 21 years of age or older, and able to successfully register with the state's cannabis commission as an agent.
• Must comply with all laws, regulations, and policies associated with the industry.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent preferred.
• Previous experience in a regulated production facility (food, beverage, CPG, etc.).

Physical and Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position, move and/or position oneself, communicate, operate and/or prepare, place, position objects, tools, or controls. The employee must occasionally move packages weighing up to 50 lb. Able to stand for 90% of the time. Comfortable with heights, occasionally ascends/descends a ladder to service the lights, filters, trellis netting and ceiling fans up to 25ft. Comfortable working atop and traversing scaffolding, when required. Comfortable with changing environment temperatures and humidity. Exposure to pollen, dust, dander, and other nature elements. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close observation and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Working Environment

Work is performed in a warehouse environment. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.