Greenhouse Supervisor

Job Description

Job Description

Walla Walla Nursery Co

Greenhouse Supervisor Job Description

Job Title: Greenhouse Supervisor

Reports To: Assistant Washington Grow Manager

Position Status: Full Time Regular

Compensation: $24.75 - 28.75 (DOE)

General Job Description:  

Assist the assistant WA Grow Manager with the day-to-day care of rooted plants in all programs making sure that plants receive correct levels of nutrients, water and light following best practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Works closely with WA Grow Manager and Assistant Grow Manager with developing grow plans for all rooted material.
• Controls young plant rooting environments to meet the needs of newly propagated and establishing crops. Balances environmental variables including humidity, temperature, leaf surface wetness, shade, ventilation, light requirements, and soil moisture content to minimize plant stress and hasten rooting times and plant development.
• Develops an intimate understanding of plant needs through close observation, ongoing education, accessing vendor partner experience (culture Sheets), self study, experience, and experimentation.
• Supports plant health and growth by supplying nutrients and irrigation at gradually increasing levels as required by the establishing crops as they progress through establishment and weaning.
• Identifies the optimum rooting environments for each species and groups compatible plant types together in appropriate environments.
• Uses automation to full advantage including but not limited to iGrow consoles, fog machines, booms, side wall and roof vents, bottom heat, etc. Ensures environmental controls are in good working order.
• Ensures sanitation of rooting areas. Surfaces are disinfected pre-prop and regularly thereafter to be kept free of algae and slime.
• Dead or dying cuttings are removed daily. Propagation environments are 100% weed free at all times.
• Scouts daily for disease and insect outbreaks. Assists IPM with control measures.
• Promotes good structure on actively growing plants via trimming and PGR applications where appropriate. Use Universal Mechanical pruning- hedge trimmer/ trimming machine where possible.
• Determines when plants are ready for relocation from rooting to weaning areas (if necessary) and finally to finishing areas. Coordinates with the greenhouse grower in moving plants to growing/finishing areas.
• Carefully documents and reports inventory changes, overall counts, losses, transfers, and plant status changes. Establishes baseline metrics for measuring future improvements. Understands, identifies and records reasons for failure consistently.
• Trains backup and support staff to ensure continuity of plant environments across shifts, weekends etc..
• Assist in other departments when needed
• Works weekends on rotation to perform watering duties as assigned

Production expectations to be maintained within propagation

• Receiving and collection of material should only take a duration of 1-4 hours (depending on production load and type of material being produced.)
• Calculating cuttings per container - 1-10 minutes per variety
• Pruning of material approximately 1-3 hours depending on production quantity and weather conditions
• Receiving vendor material can take a duration of 15 minutes if 1-5 varieties. 1-3 hours for 1-5 boxes, or 4-7 hours if 5+boxes

Production expectations to be maintained within propagation

when assisting in sticking or TTA

• Sowing by hand 15-20 trays of 128/72 per employee per hour
• Sticking tissue culture 45-90 trays of 72 per house, 25-50 trays of 128 per hour
• 4000-8000 cuttings per 8 hour shift, or 500-1000 URC per hour

Production expectations when assisting in Growing or Phase II departments

• Grading cuttings from calluses or semi rooted material 720-1000 plugs per hour
• Weeding and consolidation
• Light weeding: 30-40 trays per hours
• Standard consolidation/weeding: 20-30 trays per hour
• Heavy weeding/consolidation: 15-20 trays per hour
• Pruning liners:

-Mechanical pruning (hedger, weed wacker with hedger attachment, Agronomic pruning machine):19200+ units per 8 hour shift

-Hand pruning expectation: 5600-7200 units per 8 hours

Training and Testing

• Must be willing to receive training in regards to practices and critical thinking needs for position.
• Pass (in class and hands on) modules 1-7, 9. With a minimum score of 60%+ on each module
• Willing to take extra training in areas that pertains but doesn’t directly correspond with role: modules 8, 10

Skills and Abilities:

• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent knowledge
• Strong skills with verbal and written communication
• Basic computer skills and strong math skills
• Horticulture knowledge a plus but not required
• Skills and ability in time management and task prioritization
• Ability to be self-motivating while paying close attention to detail
• An adaptive personality with an ability to remain flexible

Physical Requirements

• Extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheelbarrows, containers, etc.
• Sit and/or walk for extensive periods of time while sorting, picking, examining, weeding, transporting, spacing, pruning, etc.
• Stoop and/or bend over while performing farm balfour such as weeding, irrigating, pruning, spacing, picking, removing debris, etc.
• Performing repetitive movements such as picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding, etc.
• Lift or load up to 50 pounds
• Fieldwork begins at an assigned time shortly after daylight
• Work may be performed during environmental extremes including but not limited to light rain and in high humidity and in freezing or high temperatures.
• May be required to work when crops are wet with dew/rain and should have suitable clothing for variable weather conditions
• Must be able to walk across uneven terrain.

Professional Mindset:

• Develops a working knowledge and awareness of LEAN principles and actively participates in building a culture of continuous improvement. Strives to ensure workflow processes and stations are set up to minimize waste, improve working conditions and safety, and maximize productivity and value to the customer.
• Demonstrates commitment to learning and upholding company policies including safety and quality standards, and the mission, vision, principles and ethics of WWNC.
• Develops a strong understanding of industry and WWNC quality standards and consistently delivers work that meets or exceeds those standards by following procedures, checking work for accuracy, and promptly addressing defects or issues.
• Takes initiative for personal growth by actively “learning the business”, seeking feedback from peers and supervisors, and engaging in relevant educational, training or professional development opportunities.

Other requirements

• Must go through annual WPS training
• Private applicator license optional

Direct Reports:

• Greenhouse Leads

Employee Benefits:

• Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance
• 401 (k)
• Paid time off
• Aflac & LifeFlight options