Westbrook Greenhouses, located in Beamsville, Ontario is a leading North American grower and distributor of potted plants. We use an effective combination of human resources and mechanical automation to increase efficiency and reduce our impact on the environment. We’re passionate about enriching people’s lives every day through the beauty of plants.

JOB SUMMARY

The Head Grower is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of Westbrook’s growing operations. This role ensures consistent, high-quality crop production through horticultural best practices, team leadership, environmental management and pest/disease control. As well, this role is accountable for ensuring full compliance with all applicable Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulations.

This job posting is for a newly created position.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

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.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Westbrook Greenhouses Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer. We value workplace diversity and inclusion. Our hiring decisions are made on the basis of candidate qualifications, merit and business need. We are committed to providing accessible employment practices in compliance with the AODA. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process by contacting Human Resources.

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