Since 1910,
Johnson Farms has been a family-owned premier wholesale grower of Sod and Nursery products. Our Farm consists of over 1600 acres of premium field and container plant material. We produce a wide assortment of Trees, Perennials, Shrubs, and Ornamental Grasses. In addition to our Nursery, we grow over 800 acres of Sod.
We are hiring for a
Head Grower to join our team in Elmer, NJ. The Head Grower for container operations leads all aspects of shrub and tree production, overseeing crop protocols, labor planning, chemical programs, and quality control. This role manages the weekly execution of the production plan, directs growing staff through training and supervision, and ensures regulatory compliance, material purchasing, and accurate reporting. You will have direct leadership over a team of 10-20 managers and overall team size of 100 plus employees. The hours will be Monday through Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm with Saturdays 7:30 am- 12:00 pm during peak seasons.
We offer a competitive salary, health, dental, vision insurance, life insurance, 401k, and PTO.
Responsibilities: - Develop and implement written crop protocols for all varieties, covering watering, temperature, fertilization, pest and growth regulation, trimming, light levels, and spray programs
- Assist with long-range planning and ensure seasonal crop timings are built into the plan; formulate and execute weekly production schedules
- Coordinate with foremen and production managers to assign daily/weekly tasks, manage labor hours to plan, and monitor production efficiency
- Lead weekly training sessions on proper growing techniques; recruit, hire, and supervise employees while managing performance, team meetings, and safety compliance
- Manage procurement and use of chemicals and fertilizers; collaborate with chemical team to establish spray schedules and priorities; conduct lab tests and address corrective actions
- Oversee soil mix balance, cultural practices, and potting operations to ensure accuracy in materials and alignment with production plans
- Maintain and forecast inventory in collaboration with Sales and Inventory teams; compare harvest vs. plan, ensure timely product availability, and manage material receiving and quality issues
- Control purchasing activities for raw materials, hard goods, and finished goods; establish reorder levels and timelines; report shrink with action plans to reduce loss
- Monitor expenses, suggest budget levels, track spend vs. plan and prior year, and provide weekly execution updates; support vendor relations and identify new sources when needed
- Ensure equipment and facilities are properly maintained and running efficiently; uphold OSHA and environmental standards and drive continuous improvement across operations
- Uphold a clean, safe workplace and supervise all aspects of team engagement including scheduling, discipline, recognition, and problem resolution
Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in plant science, Horticulture, Botany, Agronomy, Biology or equivalent experience is referred
- Growing background of perennials, container shrubs, trees, and nursery plants
- Strong leadership experience and ability to delegate and create operation plans
- Ability and willingness to work in a fast-paced environment with seasonal work demands
- Bilingual is a plus
- Mechanical/plumbing experience is a plus to troubleshoot issues
