Head Grower

MNI Direct; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

MNI Direct in Northern Kentucky seeks a seasoned General Manager for nursery operations. You will lead production teams, develop budgets, and ensure safety and efficiency across the plant, with accountability for performance and quality standards.

You'll manage long-term development, coordinate with departments, and build a strong team culture. A Bachelor's in Horticulture and 10+ years of nursery management are required; bilingual EN/ES is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Horticulture is required.
• Minimum 10 years in nursery management.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office.
• Valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment, supervision, and training for operations team.
• Maximize production efficiency and manage plant loss within budget.
• Develop and execute production plans for potting, growing, maintenance.
• Manage production teams and ensure safety and policy compliance.
• Maintain inventory and provide information to operations, sales, plant health, propagation and other departments.
• Prepare budgets and manage expenses within approved tolerances.
• Act as successor to General Manager when needed.
• Build industry and academic contacts to support plant development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Time management

Bilingual EN/ES

Microsoft Office

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's in Horticulture

Job description

Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Primary Responsibilities:
• Be a team player and leader by participating in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring, while providing supervision, support, and training to operations team members
• Maximize production efficiency by tracking and minimizing plant loss while maintaining budget adherence
• Assist in developing a production plan and execute the plan within the area, including potting, growing, maintenance, selection, and loading
• Manage production teams by anticipating and addressing needs and tracking progress toward production targets
• Ensure consistent communication of expectations and hold team members accountable for meeting standards
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date inventory; provide information to operations, sales, plant health, propagation and other departments
• Manage employee data, attendance, and timekeeping; prepare and submit performance appraisals and disciplinary documentation as needed
• Create a positive and challenging team environment that promotes performance, teamwork, and job completion excellence
• Own an incident-free environment by promoting daily safety awareness, modeling best practices, involving all team members, enforcing clear safety policies, and maintaining excellent housekeeping
• Plan, maintain, and oversee MNI DO facilities and equipment to company standards for your area
• Communicate with management regarding personnel, policies, and procedures
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned
• Develop Departmental budgets and manage expenses within approved tolerances
• Ensure proper equipment and facilities are available or planned to meet production goals
• Secondary Responsibilities:
• This role should act as the successor to the General Manager position and will fill in for that role when appropriate, with designated authority
• Build a network of industry and academic contacts to support plant development initiatives
• Assist in other areas as needed

Qualifications:

• Education and Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in Horticulture required
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in nursery management
• Skills and Abilities:
• Strong leadership with the ability to inspire and achieve outstanding results
• Above-average knowledge of business management and horticultural practices
• Strong communication, organization, and time management skills
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
• General computer skills in Microsoft Office and ability to learn nursery-specific software
• Ability to visualize problems and develop solutions related to nursery and personnel matters
• Valid driver's license required

Physical Requirement:

• Prolonged sitting, walking, bending, standing, and use of hands
• Repeated lifting of up to 50 lbs
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including early mornings, after business hours, and weekends
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (heat, cold, wind, rain, etc.)
• Must be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as required

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.