Job Title: Lead Horticultural Cultivator Job Type: Full-time Reports to: Chief Operations Officer Role Overview: The Lead Horticultural Cultivator is responsible for managing all aspects of plant health, growth, and horticultural best practices within the cultivation process. This role focuses on optimizing the environmental conditions, nutrient regimes, pest management, and overall horticultural protocols to ensure healthy, high-yielding plants. Key Responsibilities: - Plant Health Management: o Monitor and manage the overall health of plants through each growth stage. o Develop and implement protocols for watering, feeding, pruning, and pest control. o Identify and mitigate plant health issues such as pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. - Environmental Control: o Oversee and fine-tune environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, etc.) to optimize plant health. o Manage PRIVA systems. o Work with facility technicians to maintain and adjust climate control systems as needed. - Nutrient and Irrigation Management: o Develop and manage feeding schedules and nutrient formulations based on plant growth stages. o Ensure irrigation systems are functioning correctly and perform regular maintenance checks. - Pest and Disease Control: o Develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines. o Regularly scout for pests and diseases, implementing preventative and corrective measures. - Record Keeping and Compliance: o Maintain detailed records of plant health, environmental conditions, feeding schedules, and pest control measures. o Ensure compliance with all regulations and internal quality assurance processes. - Team Leadership: o Supervise and mentor the Horticultural Assistant, delegating tasks and ensuring training in best practices. o Coordinate daily tasks and schedules for the horticulture team. - Collaboration: o Work closely with the broader team to align horticultural practices with overall cultivation goals. o Provide regular updates and reports to senior management. - Continuous Improvement: o Identify opportunities to improve plant health, yield, and efficiency. o Stay up to date with industry trends and new horticultural techniques. - Crop Scheduling and Planning: o Develop and maintain detailed crop schedules to ensure continuous and efficient production. o Plan and coordinate the timing of each growth stage to align with overall production goals. - Soil and Growing Media Management: o Monitor and optimize the composition and quality of soil and growing media. o Implement soil conditioning and amendments to ensure optimal plant health and nutrient uptake. - Nutrient Solution and pH Management: o Regularly test and adjust nutrient solutions to ensure proper pH and nutrient levels. o Implement protocols for flushing or resetting nutrient systems to prevent buildup or deficiencies. - Irrigation System Oversight: o Oversee the design, maintenance, and efficiency of irrigation systems. o Troubleshoot irrigation issues and ensure uniform water distribution. - Lighting and Photoperiod Management: o Manage lighting schedules for vegetative and early flowering stages to optimize plant growth. o Oversee supplemental lighting systems and ensure consistent light intensity and coverage. - Environmental Data Analysis: o Analyse environmental data trends (e.g., temperature, humidity, VPD) to fine-tune growing conditions. o Use data-driven insights to make improvements to climate control and plant care protocols. - Sustainability Practices: o Implement and promote sustainable cultivation practices, including waste reduction, water conservation, and energy-efficient techniques. o Identify opportunities to reduce the facility’s environmental impact. - Inventory and Supply Management: o Monitor and manage stock levels of horticultural supplies, such as nutrients, growing media, and pest control products. o Coordinate with procurement to ensure timely ordering and replenishment of supplies. - Facility Sanitation and Hygiene: o Oversee cleaning and sanitation protocols to maintain a disease-free growing environment. o Ensure all tools, equipment, and grow areas are properly sanitized and maintained. Qualifications: - Degree or certification in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience). - 3 years of experience in a horticultural role, preferably in a controlled-environment agriculture setting. - Experience managing pest and disease control programs. - Experience with PRIVA and nutrient management. Preferred Skills (Lominger Competencies): - Technical Learning : Quickly grasps technical details and applies horticultural knowledge to plant care. - Problem Solving : Identifies issues with plant health and develops effective solutions. - Attention to Detail : Ensures accuracy in plant care, record-keeping, and compliance. - Planning and Organizing : Efficiently plans daily tasks and long-term horticultural strategies. - Developing Others : Coaches and mentors the horticultural team to improve skills and knowledge. - Action-Oriented : Takes initiative and follows through on plant care responsibilities. - Collaboration : Works effectively with other cultivation specialists and team members to achieve goals.