Speedling Incorporated is a global leader in the production of transplants for seeded vegetables, ornamentals, and vegetative propagated products with locations in Florida, Georgia, Texas and California. Our team is passionate about agriculture and what we grow. Speedling 50 decades of sustainability is based on our values and a vision focused on consistent quality and cost efficiency. We see customer satisfaction, the personal and professional growth of each employee, safety in the workplace, a commitment to our stakeholders, employees, and communities, and profit as a measure of our performance.
Our Nipomo, CA location boasts over 660,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art sub-irrigation growing facilities. We primarily grow vegetable transplants, but for the holidays the houses are full of poinsettias. The successful Grower Manager is responsible to grow horticultural-specialty crops, such as ornamental plants, vegetable seedlings, and energy crops, under environmentally controlled conditions and in outside growing areas, applying knowledge of plant culture, environmental control and labor management to meet consistently the quality standards of each customer. Key Responsibilities include ensuring all work is performed in accordance with safety policies and regulations to promote a safe working environment.
- Responsible for day to day production of top quality plants within specifications that exceed customer expectations. This includes pesticide application and schedules, irrigation, lighting, fertilization, nutrition, monitoring and overall health of plants.
- Regulate environmental conditions to ensure optimum growth when the crop is grown inside a greenhouse.
- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, cost management, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of top quality plants.
- Meet plant quality requirements and produce plants on schedule, control costs, and manage operations for continual improvements to achieve increases in production efficiencies and crop quality.
- Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Explain and demonstrate growing techniques and cultivation to coworkers and subordinates.
- Hire workers, assign duties, and monitor activities to assure adherence to established procedures.
- Explain and enforce policies and procedures ensuring “People are our #1 Asset”.
- Ensure that accurate crop records are maintained for all crops and locations.
- Proactively alert proper staff of any potential issues or concerns with equipment.
- Willingness to travel based on company needs
Qualifications
- Bachelor degree in Agronomy, Plant Science or Horticulture (or equivalent direct work experience)
- Minimum of 5 years experience in horticultural production.
- Current State pesticide license.
- Microsoft Office proficient.
- Advanced knowledge of concepts about greenhouse operations, quality and productivity.
- Valid Driver License, clean criminal history and drug-free
- Good physical condition and able to work outdoors for extended periods of time.
- Must demonstrate high ethical standards and set a positive example for crew members.
- Current first aid/CPR certification, or ability and willingness to obtain one.
- Excellent communication skills; able to speak effectively to employees, managers and customers
- Outstanding organizational skills
- Bilingual – English/Spanish highly preferred
- Attention to detail and accuracy, problem-solving, managing processes and delegation of responsibilities.
- Ability to read, comprehend and interpret operating instructions, training and procedure manuals, government regulations, agreements and contracts.
- Ability to run/calibrate irrigation, fertilization and spray equipment required to achieve desired results.
- Ability to test or have tested any plant, water or media to maintain the health of each plant variety.
- Ability to test/interpret pH & Electrical conductivity and how these, along with alkalinity affect the crops.
- Willingness to work nights and/or weekends, hours will change based on business needs.
- Ability to tolerate exposure to greenhouse elements such as heat, cold, water and dirt.
- Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and able to stand for prolonged periods of time.
- Ability to take initiative and work with minimum supervision, self-motivated.