Head Grower

Westbrook Greenhouses • Full-time • Beamsville, Ontario, Canada • 11h ago

Westbrook Greenhouses is hiring a Head Grower role to be based in Beamsville, Ontario to lead over 800,000 sq ft of greenhouse.

Westbrook Greenhouses is a large, third-generation Canadian grower based in Ontario and recognized as a North American leader in premium potted miniature roses and other indoor floral crops, supplying mass-market and wholesale customers across the continent.

As a Head Grower you would be focused on leading all greenhouse growing operations to ensure the consistent production of high-quality crops. This includes providing direction and support to the growing team overseeing environmental management, and managing pest and disease control. In addition, you would be accountable for ensuring full compliance with all applicable Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulations.

We offer compensation dependent on experience $100k - $125K+ plus benefits.

Crop Management/Quality

Develop and manage Westbrook’s crop growing program including crop schedules, climate expectations, fertilizer requirements, water treatment, growth-regulation practices, etc.;
Collaborate and provide guidance to the Growing team on:
growing techniques to ensure that crops meet quality and size specification and target finish dates;
identifying any issues with the crop and developing solutions in consultation with crop consultants;
managing effective deployment of labour resources;
Ensure close collaboration between Growing team and Production, Logistics, and Sales to align crop timing and quality with shipping requirements and customer expectations;
Analyze crop/quality waste reports with an aim to identifying causes and reducing waste.

Integrated Pest Management

Develop and implement best-practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program and procedures;
Ensure pest control issues and pesticide applications are recorded.

Research & Innovation

Support Growers by researching crop issues and liaising with consultants, research facilities to resolve them;
Conduct research, crop trials to identify potential new crops/varieties or improvements to current crops;
Make recommendations on growing-related capital investments (lighting, screening, shading, heating, etc.) to improve crop quality;
Attend trade shows, conferences to identify new crops/crop management technologies.

CFIA Compliance

Maintain overall accountability for CFIA.

Team Leadership/Management

Lead a team of Growers, Assistant Growers, Greenhouse Technicians and IPM Technicians, providing ongoing guidance and direction to produce consistent, high-quality crops;
Manage all aspects of Growing team including hiring and termination decisions, performance management, discipline, training, coaching, professional development, etc.;

General Responsibilities

Promote a culture of safety by maintaining a safe work environment and ensuring team compliance with applicable health and safety regulations;
Participate in the development of crop production budget;
Monitor and analyze utilities, chemical, biological and fertilizer costs versus budget;
Conduct periodic Grower meetings to share information and encourage collaboration.

QUALIFICATIONS

Post-secondary degree/diploma in Horticulture, Plant Science, Agronomy, or a related field;
Minimum 10 years’ experience in commercial greenhouse operations, including at least 5 years in a management role;
Demonstrated experience in managing CFIA-regulated crops or programs (mandatory);
Demonstrated proficiency/working knowledge in the following areas:
- Botany
- IPM and biological pest control
- Plant nutrition;
- Environmental control systems (Argus, Priva, Hoogendorn, etc.).

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Strong analytical skills for diagnosing crop health issues and optimizing production;
Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making abilities in fast-paced, evolving conditions;
Strong verbal and written communication skills;
Excellent leadership skills with the ability to coach employees and build a high-performance culture;
Detail-oriented with strong documentation skills;
Excellent organization and time management skills;
Intermediate proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook);
Technical aptitude to navigate ERP system.