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HEAD GROWER - JUPITER, FLORIDA

Fernlea Nurseries is a family-owned producer and supplier of wholesale bedding plants with its head office located in Delhi, Ontario, and two locations in Florida. Fernlea has grown to become one of the largest suppliers of garden plants in North America. We are looking for a Head Grower for our location in Jupiter, Florida. Job Purpose The Head Grower is accountable for the overall performance of the growing department at the Jupiter, Florida location, including plant production, crop quality, timing and availability, leadership of the growing team, and execution of the production plan. The ideal candidate will bring progressive commercial growing and management experience, strong attention to detail, sound decision-making, and excellent organizational and communication skills. The role works closely with Operations, Production, Sales and Maintenance to achieve production, quality, labor and business objectives. Requirements 1. University degree or college diploma in Horticulture preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant commercial growing experience. 2. Successful completion of a pesticide course and/or required pesticide licensing/certification. 3. Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in commercial greenhouse, nursery, agricultural production or related growing operations, including management experience. 4. Strong knowledge of commercial plant production, crop scheduling, propagation, irrigation, fertilization, pest management and production planning. 5. Demonstrated leadership experience developing, coaching, evaluating and holding employees accountable. 6. Strong problem-solving, analytical, organizational, communication and decision-making skills. 7. Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office programs. 8. Bilingual English and Spanish is an asset. Key Responsibilities 1. Overall Plant Production and Crop Performance

• Lead overall plant production and ensure the production plan is executed to meet crop quality, timing and availability requirements.
• Manage crop shrink/loss and take action to improve production outcomes.
• Use sales budgets, production plans and management input to plan and order seeds, plants, fertilizer, chemicals and other production inputs.
• Oversee plant propagation, seeding, watering, fertilizing, spraying and other growing activities.
• Monitor crop performance and identify risks early; develop corrective actions, communicate risks to appropriate departments and ensure recovery plans are executed.
• Analyze overall production, reports and statistics and make recommendations to improve crop performance and business results.
• Maintain fiscal accountability for production-related reports, statistics and departmental spending. 2. Leadership and Direction of Staff
• Organize and coordinate the activities of the growing team and ensure work is completed safely, efficiently and according to production priorities.
• Train, coach, develop and evaluate employees; establish clear expectations and hold team members accountable for performance.
• Assign work responsibilities and schedule staff to meet departmental and production requirements.
• Assess employee performance and recommend appropriate recognition, development or corrective action in coordination with management and Human Resources.
• Address department-related employee issues and ensure company policies, procedures and expectations are consistently followed. 3. Cross-Department Coordination
• Participate in business and management meetings and provide growing expertise on crop programs, including varieties, growing times, new species and production considerations.
• Work closely with Operations, Production, Sales and Maintenance to coordinate production requirements, priorities, equipment needs and crop readiness.
• Partner with Sales to provide accurate crop scheduling and availability information, including regular crop reviews/tours as required.
• Support forecasting and budgeting activities and communicate production risks or changes that may affect customer commitments or business plans. 4. Continuous Improvement
• Drive continuous improvement in growing practices, automation, labor efficiency, irrigation and fertilization programs, and production processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve crop quality, consistency, productivity, cost effectiveness and use of resources.
• Evaluate production challenges and implement practical, sustainable improvements in partnership with the appropriate departments. 5. Administrative and Business Responsibilities
• Assist the Operations Manager and owners with business planning, departmental objectives and budgeting.
• Prepare required reports and ensure adherence to company policies, procedures and budgets.
• Work professionally with suppliers, government agencies, consultants, sales personnel and other company officials.

Additional Information Regarding the Job The incumbent should be aware that hours can be long at specific times of the year. Salary will be dependent on educational background and experience. If you are dedicated to advancing horticultural excellence and team leadership, we invite you to apply for the Head Grower position. Join us in cultivating high-quality crops that meet our standards of excellence while fostering a collaborative work environment.

Pay:

Up to $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance

Work Location:

In person