Technical Services Manager
Altman Specialty Plants
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Job summary
Altman Specialty Plants is seeking a Technical Services Manager to lead the plant health program at the Grainville facility. You will oversee IPM scouting, testing, and written action plans while coordinating with Growers to ensure timely interventions and regulatory compliance.
You will manage the budget for crop protection, supervise pesticide applications, and maintain records to support farm-wide health and quality.
Qualifications
- Requires leadership of Technical Services; IPM, scouting, and reporting.
- Experience with pesticide programs, regulatory compliance, and recordkeeping.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
Responsibilities
- Lead plant health program across the facility via IPM scouting, testing, and reporting.
- Develop and manage budget for crop protection, biology, and supplies.
- Schedule and supervise pesticide applications and records for compliance.
- Maintain pest/ disease detection with written action plans and follow-through.
- Coordinate with Head Growers and Section Growers on scouting and production timelines.
- Ensure licensing, safety training, and 5S storage standards are met.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Full Time Exempt Grainville, IL, US
Salary Range: $70,000.00 To $80,000.00 Annually
Job Title:Technical Services Manager
Department:Technical Services
Reports To:General Manager
FLSA Status:Exempt
Summary: The Technical Services Manager is responsible for the plant health program across the entire Granville facility: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) scouting and reporting, pesticide and biological application scheduling and supervision, pesticide recordkeeping and regulatory compliance, in-house media and water testing, outside laboratory sampling and diagnostics, and chemical and fertilizer storage and inventory. The Technical Services team is the early-warning and quality-control system for the growing operation, giving the Head Growers and Section Growers accurate, timely information so pest, disease, and nutrition problems are corrected before they affect saleable product. As a member of the Granville leadership team reporting directly to the General Manager, the Technical Services Manager sets the standards for scouting, testing, and application; builds the team, schedules, and records that deliver them; and ensures every finding is turned into a written action plan with the growing team and followed through to completion. This is a new management position that assumes all plant health duties previously performed by the Technical Services Supervisor, with expanded responsibility for program development, staffing, budget, and compliance. Success in this role rests on the fundamentals of entomology, plant pathology, and plant nutrition; attention to detail and consistency across the team; and a strong sense of urgency for time-specific tasks.
- Be a key cultural ambassador and champion of the company – always promoting and articulating our company values.
- Lead, coach, and develop the Technical Services team – scouts, testing technicians, and licensed pesticide applicators/spray teams – and build a culture of accountability, consistency, and complete documentation.
- Determine, hire, and develop the proper number of technicians and applicators to complete scouting, testing, and application work on schedule. Train and cross-train irrigators and Section Growers on delegated tasks (hanging sticky cards, tagging soil-test results, maintaining indicator plants) and build redundancy to cover absences or changes in workload.
- Develop and manage the Technical Services budget – crop protection chemicals, biological controls, fertilizer, testing supplies and meters, outside laboratory fees, PPE, and application equipment – and forecasted results.
- Participate in staff meetings and be a key solution-oriented contributor.
- Own the facility-wide IPM scouting program. Establish and publish the scouting schedule by zone and crop so every house is scouted on a defined cadence, with sensitive crops and any compliance-agreement crops scouted at a higher frequency.
- Perform and supervise daily scouting for insects, mites, diseases, and physiological disorders. Mark any crop issue in the house with a red-and-white checkered flag and report the problem the same day.
- Manage the sticky-card monitoring program – four cards per house (about one per 10,000 sq ft), yellow and blue cards placed, dated, counted, and replaced on schedule – and record counts by location, crop, week, and pest so pest pressure trends and the effectiveness of control measures can be tracked over time.
- Maintain indicator (bean) plants and distribute them through the growing zones on schedule for early detection of mites and thrips.
- Enter all scouting and testing results into the Technical Services record file (Excel) and email the scouting report daily per schedule. Keep the records complete and organized so they can be used for trend analysis and future crop planning.
- Meet with the Head Growers and Section Growers to review scouting and testing findings and ensure every scouting report of concern receives a written action plan; follow up to confirm the action was completed and effective.
- Develop the facility's crop protection program with the Head Growers – integrating chemical and biological controls, rotating modes of action (IRAC/FRAC groups) to manage resistance, and selecting products that are safe for each crop and compatible with the biologicals in use.
- Build the daily and weekly spray schedule and pesticide postings based on the scouting reports and the Head Growers' action plans; schedule and supervise the spray teams.
- Verify rate calculations, tank mixes, water volumes, sprayer calibration, application technique, and coverage for every application, and confirm that the correct crop, house, and target were treated.
- Maintain all application equipment – hydraulic and electrostatic sprayers, foggers, backpacks, and respirators and other PPE – in clean, calibrated, working condition.
- Lead the use and release of biological controls, and evaluate new products, biologicals, and practices through documented trials.
- Maintain the chemical record file: a complete application record for every treatment (date, time, location, crop, product, EPA registration number, rate, volume, applicator, REI) as required by the EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
- Keep the 30-day central posting of pesticide applications current, post restricted-entry intervals (REIs) at treated areas, and ensure the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) library and WPS safety poster and decontamination supplies are in place.
- Maintain the chemical storage area to 5S standards – labeled, organized, inventoried, with secondary containment, restricted access, and proper disposal of obsolete product and containers.
- Submit the weekly order request for chemicals, fertilizer, and testing supplies; manage stock levels so scheduled applications are never delayed for lack of product.
- Complete the month-end chemical and fertilizer inventory and reconcile usage against application records and budget.
- Ensure every applicator holds a current Illinois pesticide license, completes annual WPS handler training, and is current on respirator medical evaluation and fit testing; track continuing education and renewal dates for the team.
- Test clear-water alkalinity, pH, and EC weekly (Monday) for all irrigation water sources; record and report results and alert the growing team to any change.
- Collect and test media from the planting line daily per the planting schedule – pH, EC, and saturation (“sit”) tests – and report out-of-range results immediately to the Production and Growing teams so mixes can be corrected before planting.
- Run the scheduled in-house crop media testing (pH and EC) by zone and crop; record results on white tags with yellow flags in the crop, enter them in the record file, and email results the same day.
- Prepare and send media, tissue, water, and plant pathology samples to outside laboratories with the Section Growers; complete the paperwork, track results, and review the findings with the growing team.
- Assist the growers in verifying fertilizer injector accuracy and stock-tank mixes, and oversee fertilizer mixing and distribution where assigned.
- Serve as the facility's first-line diagnostic resource for pests, diseases, nutrient disorders, and phytotoxicity, using laboratory results, reference materials, and university extension and supplier technical resources.
- Inspect incoming young plants, cuttings, and liners with the growers for pests and diseases, and document and report quality issues to Scheduling & Production for follow-up with the supplier.
- Maintain pest and disease identification guides and training materials, and train growers, irrigators, and crews to recognize pests, diseases, and early symptoms during their daily work.
- Support Illinois Department of Agriculture nursery inspections and any compliance agreements; maintain the required records and coordinate corrective actions.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in scouting, testing, application methods, and records, and implement them across the facility.
- Work daily with the Head Growers and Section Growers so scouting, testing, and spray schedules support each crop's production plan and finish dates.
- Partner with Scheduling & Production on planting-line media testing and incoming plant material inspection.
- Partner with Facilities Maintenance on application equipment, water treatment, and the chemical storage facility.
- Coordinate with Collection & Order Fulfillment and Distribution so treated crops are not collected or shipped inside a restricted-entry interval and product leaves the facility clean and pest-free.
- Communicate significant pest, disease, or nutrition risks immediately to the General Manager and Head Growers, including the action plan and the impact to the crop or potential sales.
- Ensure a safe workplace for all with a focus on eliminating injuries and accidents, and ensure the safety program is followed by every member of the team.
- Ensure the pesticide program is compliant with all local, state, and federal laws, including the product label (FIFRA), the EPA Worker Protection Standard, the Illinois Pesticide Act and Department of Agriculture regulations, and OSHA Hazard Communication and respiratory protection standards.
- Ensure all testing and application equipment is used and maintained properly.
- Lead weekly safety topics on pesticide handling and WPS, and deliver WPS worker and handler training for new and transferred employees.
- Other duties may be assigned.
The Technical Services Manager is accountable for completing and reporting the following to the General Manager:
Scouting completed per schedule; scouting report emailed and crop issues flagged in the house
Daily
Scouting and media-test results entered in the Technical Services record file
Daily
Planting-line media pH, EC, and sit-test results reported to Production and Growing
Spray schedule and pesticide postings issued; spray teams assigned and supervised
Daily
Application records entered and 30-day central posting updated
Daily, as applications occur
Written action plan agreed with the Head Grower or Section Grower for every scouting finding of concern
Within 24 hours of the report
Clear-water alkalinity, pH, and EC tested and reported
Weekly (Monday)
Sticky cards counted, recorded, and replaced; indicator plants refreshed
Chemical, fertilizer, and supply order request submitted
Weekly team labor plan and schedule completed
Chemical storage area inspected to 5S standard
Month-end chemical and fertilizer inventory completed and reconciled
Monthly
Pest, disease, or nutrition issues reported, with the action plan and the impact to the crop or potential sales
Immediately when found
Emails answered in a timely manner – a simple “Thanks” or “OK” is acceptable
Ongoing
- Strong sense of teamwork and customer service
- Proven supervisory or lead experience directing technicians, applicators, or growers; prior management experience preferred
- Thorough knowledge of greenhouse IPM – insect, mite, and disease identification, life cycles, action thresholds, biological control, and chemical mode-of-action rotation (IRAC/FRAC)
- Working knowledge of plant nutrition, growing media and water chemistry, and pH/EC testing and interpretation
- Knowledge of pesticide regulations and recordkeeping – FIFRA labeling, the EPA Worker Protection Standard, and Illinois pesticide licensing requirements
- Uses data to make decisions – scouting trends, sticky-card counts, media and water test results, and inventory and usage records
- Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and a strong sense of urgency for time‑specific tasks
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate in a professional environment
- Respect for and ability to communicate with a diverse labor force
- Skilled in problem solving; self-directed with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Computer literate: Proficient with Excel (data entry, record files, and trend tracking), Microsoft Outlook, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word; experience with ERP systems preferred
- Mathematical skills, including pesticide and fertilizer rate, dilution, ppm, injector ratio, and sprayer calibration calculations
- Be reliable, responsible, and dependable in fulfilling obligations
- Be open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace
- Able to work a varied schedule, including weekends and some holidays, and assist the weekend irrigation team as scheduled
- Bilingual English and Spanish is preferred
- Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Plant Science, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
- 3+ years of commercial greenhouse experience in IPM, technical services, or growing, including experience supervising or leading others, preferred
- Illinois Pesticide Applicator license, or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire
- Respiratory Fit Testing and medical evaluation
- EPA Worker Protection Standard Train-the-Trainer certification preferred, or ability to obtain after hire
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; lift boxes; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Extensive walking is required.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, extreme cold, and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee regularly handles and works around agricultural chemicals and fertilizers and must wear the personal protective equipment required by the product label, including a respirator.
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