Lead Cultivation Associate

Curaleaf; Litchfield (IL); On-site; USD 44,200 - 49,920; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Pay and Benefits

Generous PTO and Parental Leave

Life/Disability Insurance

Community Involvement

Referral Bonuses and Product Discounts

Job summary

Curaleaf is seeking a Lead Cultivation Associate in Litchfield, IL to lead a fast‑paced vegetative cultivation team. This role focuses on plant health, compliance, and daily workflow leadership, with a Tuesday–Saturday shift.

You will guide Associates through tasks, ensure quality, and maintain safety and SOP alignment while supporting continuous improvements in cultivation operations.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of hands‑on experience in a commercial cannabis, agricultural, or landscaping setting.
• Strong attention to detail and a consistent approach to quality, documentation, and compliance.
• Ability to manage daily priorities and keep teams on schedule while communicating clearly under pressure.
• Familiarity with production trackers/inventory systems and basic computer tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead Cultivation Associates through daily tasks (watering, feeding, transplanting, pruning, defoliation, cleaning).
• Support cloning, sanitation, room prep, and flower room operations.
• Monitor grow rooms, audit environmental/irrigation systems, report issues.
• Perform pest inspections and apply sanitizers and treatments per SOPs.
• Maintain canopy health and assist with harvest and post‑harvest activities.
• Train and coach team members on SOPs, safety, and cultivation standards.

Skills

Team leadership

Attention to detail

Communication under pressure

Inventory systems

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Inventory trackers

Basic computer tools

Job description

Lead Cultivation Associate

Title: Lead Cultivation Associate
Pay Range: $21.25 - $24.00
Location: Litchfield, IL
Job Type: Full Time | Non-Exempt
Shift: Tuesday - Saturday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Work with a fast‑paced, vegetative cultivation team to maintain plant health and compliance. Lead by example on the floor, support and guide Associates through daily priorities, and drive efficiency and quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead and pace Cultivation Associates through daily tasks including watering, feeding, transplanting, pruning, defoliation, cleaning, and basic equipment maintenance.
• Support cloning, sanitation, room prep, and flower room operations while maintaining plant health across growth stages.
• Monitor grow rooms daily, audit environmental and irrigation systems, and report issues outside of tolerance.
• Perform pest inspections and mitigation while safely applying sanitizers, foliar treatments, and preventative sprays in line with SOPs.
• Maintain plant structure and canopy health to support airflow and light penetration, and assist with harvest and post‑harvest activities.
• Measure, label, track, and dispose of plant material and waste in compliance with regulations while using trackers and metrics to monitor planned vs. actual output.
• Train, coach, and guide team members on SOPs, safety practices, and cultivation standards.
• Support continuous improvement, sanitation, biosecurity, and safety initiatives while communicating priorities and updates to keep the team aligned.

What You’ll Bring

• At least 1 year of hands‑on experience in a commercial cannabis, agricultural, or landscaping setting.
• Confidence managing daily priorities, pacing work, and keeping teams on schedule while communicating clearly under pressure.
• Strong attention to detail and a consistent approach to quality, documentation, and compliance.
• Comfort with production trackers, inventory systems, and basic computer tools, and confidence with measurements and scales.
• Reliability, accountability, and ownership of work and team performance.
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

Even Better If

• Experience leading or guiding a team in a commercial cannabis, agricultural, or landscaping environment.
• Previous knowledge of growing technologies including lighting, irrigation, nutrients, HVAC, or CO′⁲ systems.
• Support for sanitation programs, biosecurity protocols, or 5S initiatives.
• Understanding of different cannabis strains and their unique vegetative growth needs.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• This position has allergen warnings, potential exposure to dust, pollen, and plant pathogens, and requires daily use of provided PPE such as masks, hair nets, beard covers, respirators, boot covers, scrubs, non‑slip shoes, and Tyvek suits as necessary. Exposure to loud noises and CO′⁲ manufacturing procedures at OSHA‑approved levels is also possible.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, use hands to finger or feel, reach with hands and arms. Occasional climbing, balance, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Requirements for close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

What We Offer

• Competitive Pay and Benefits
• Generous PTO and Parental Leave
• Life/Disability Insurance
• Community Involvement
• Referral Bonuses and Product Discounts

Curaleaf is an equal opportunity employer. Curaleaf recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.