Section Grower 2

Smith Gardens, Inc.; Marysville (WA); On-site; USD 34,192 - 38,324; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Immediate PTO accrual

Medical, Dental and Vision after 30 days

Matching 401(k)

Company-Paid LTD after one year

Job summary

A leading horticultural company in Marysville is seeking a dedicated individual to manage a team in ensuring optimal crop care and productivity. Responsibilities include overseeing irrigation and fertilization, applying pesticides, and leading staff training. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture or a related field, along with significant leadership experience. Benefits include competitive pay and comprehensive health packages.

Qualifications

• 3 years of leadership experience in a horticultural setting.
• Knowledge of plant care, crop protectants, and irrigation systems.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work in various outdoor conditions.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of up to 8 people in crop care.
• Manage irrigation and fertilization systems.
• Apply pesticides and maintain safety regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Plant care knowledge

Fertility management

Pesticide application

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Horticulture or related field

3 years of leadership experience

Job description

Opened in 1988, our Marysville location is the largest site of the Smith Gardens family consisting of 60 acres, with 500,000 square feet of greenhouse space. Marysville is the primary site for perennial production, but also grows mums, hanging baskets and annuals.

Responsible for daily irrigation, fertilization, crop protectants, and overall crop care . Accountable for crop needs including environmental controls, support with IPM , and sanitation / housekeeping with support from Growing Leadership .

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead a team of up to 8 people, managing human resource situations with foresight, as well as training and developing staff and ecting activities.
• Responsiblefor more technicalcrops or locations
• Use and teach the “Language of Watering” to communicate detailed instructions to staff. Explain how to water considering multiple factors such as genera, age, and location.
• Support staff with creating task lists for the next day in order of priority, walking crops and basing decisions on workload, other dept tasks, and weather.
• Follow Crop Library and/or rotations set in plan.
• Assist in building, using,and maintainingourCrop Library.
• Understand and teachvolume/ sqfttargets as well as the importance of uniform application to achieve quality crops.
• Recognize and adjustmanualvents and/or adjust environmental control programming(Argus)toachieveatarget if necessary.
• Create graphs using Argus to ensure environments are correct.
• Understand technical greenhouse environment management such as DIF, DIP, and humidity management.
• Follow and create ections regarding activities such as watering decisions, feeding decisions, EC levels, and application rates.
• Measure EC, pH, and alkalinity of water and soil in field tests. Recognizing discrepancies, troubleshoot, and reporting results to management.
• Monitor EC over time and providesuggestionstoboostorleachEClevels orapplications for pHmanagement.
• Manage and program automatedwateringsystems (BaseManager, mist systems)
• Work with the team to manage fertilizerinjectortanks,checkingfor airinlines,andotherbasictroubleshooting.
• Calibrate, maintain, and teach the use ofportableinjectors to avoid common issues.
• Scout, identify, and use cues to scout formajorpests and diseases.Ableto find and identifyproblemsproactivelyand trainingstafftodothesame.
• Perform and lead others with applications of pesticides, fungicides, growth regulators efficiently while following all safety regulations.
• FilloutWPSformsandhaslabelknowledgeforchemicalsmostused,providesWPStrainingforSpanish-speakingemployees.EducatesstaffofWPSrulesandactiveinpolicing them.
• Ability to maintain accurate inventory records of a type of equipment or resource.
• Supportand enforceallcompanypoliciesandrules.
• Willingnesstoworklongerhoursseasonallyascropsrequire.

COMPETENCIES

• AbletofollowtheCrop Libraryinordertoproduce quality crops on time.
• Recognizeand adjustwhenemvironmentsare not correct.(Venting, fans, heating, lighting, black cloth, shade cloth, etc.)
• Understand the basics of plant care and bedding plant identification.
• Aware of fertilizer types, crop protectants, and the importance of rates. (Pesticides, fungicides, bactericides, etc.)
• Abletousespraying equipment.
• A valid pesticide applicator’s license must be obtained within 90 days of starting this position and kept current.
• Knowledgeofgrowth regulators and crop protectants. Awareofapplication windows,rates, and effectivenesson certaingenera.
• Recognizewhen aplantis intheincorrect environmentandwhat to doto mitigatetheproblemuntil thecropcanbemoved.
• FamiliarityofpH and EC rangesforallcropsinarea.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Respectful,timely, and direct communication.
• 3yearof leadershipexperience
• Positive customerserviceattitudeandworkethic.
• Self-motivatedwiththeabilitytoprioritizeinafast-paced workingenvironment.
• Bachelor's degree in Horticulture or related field, three or more years work experience, or an equivalent combination.
• Three or more years supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Knowledge of assigned genera grown that are requiring lighting, shading, cold, or special irrigation or feeding in order to flower on time.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work indoors and outdoors, in seasonal temperatures and conditions.
• Liftup to50poundsinanenvironmentthat isoften hot.
• Continuouslywalk,stand,bend,kneel(and remainworking belowknee-level)aswellasreachingoverhead,and fromsidetosideforlongperiodsoftime.

WAGE RANGE

$24.82 - $27.82 per hour

BENEFITS STATEMENT

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package including immediate PTO accrual, Medical, Dental and Vision after 30 days, plus matching 401(k) and Company-Paid LTD after one year.

Smith Gardens is in the Top 10 Privately Owned Companies in Whatcom County. Our business is growing, so you can find career opportunities that match your goals and fuel your passion. Plus, we promote from within every chance we get!

Smith Gardens is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion,transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, applicants may request accommodations needed to participate in the application process. To make this request please email [e-mail]