Senior Grower

at  UP Vertical Farms

PLEASE NOTE: APPLICANTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN CANADA WILL BE CONSIDERED AND ANYONE OUTSIDE CANADA WILL NOT QUALIFY TO APPLY FOR THIS JOB POSITION.

At UP Vertical Farms, our mission is to become one of the largest and most sustainable indoor vertical farm producers of baby leafy greens by 2025, producing the safest, most nutritious, and best tasting salad greens. We specialize in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and our hands-free, high density, tech-driven vertical farm puts people and our planet first. It also supports the local economy by producing the most flavorful greens, picked at the peak of freshness, and delivered to the local market with speed and precision. Learn more about our mission at https://UPVerticalFarms.com/.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the CEO, the Grower provides a range of horticultural guidance and support to the production and operations at UP Vertical Farms. The Grower will perform and oversee all tasks related to the management of the hydroponic system and greenhouse facility, requirements for all crops produced including propagation, growing, pest and disease and nutritional management, harvesting, and ensure all food safety protocols have been implemented.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

· Ability to manage multiple tasks under specific timelines
· Excellent organizational and prioritization skills
· Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing
· Ability to lift up to 25lbs

· Optimize growing strategies to achieve high yield, high performance leafy greens
· Manage growing in production and R&D hydroponic facility with expertise in balancing nutrient levels and controlling pathogens with environmental factors.
· Work with management team to maintain organization and control of the hydroponic growing and environmental control software
· Plan, implement, and ensure compliance to food safety, worker safety, and Occupational Health & Safety policies
· Responsible for maintaining neat, orderly, and safe work areas relating to the grow side
· Collect and maintain data records relating to crop health, environmental data, trials, sanitation
· Lead meetings and set expectations for the grow team regarding schedules, tasks, resources, and deliverables for projects
· Evaluate job performance of direct staff and technicians on a continual basis, recognize achievements & correct/address deficiencies or problems
· Manage and delegate tasks for the production and R&D facility including seeding trials, sanitation, maintenance, inventory, fertigation
· Perform and delegate maintenance tasks for the production and R&D systems which include: pumps, irrigation, CO2, automatic control systems, and more
· Manage the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the grow areas, germination rooms, and ancillary areas of the R&D and production
· Plan and manage agronomic trials related to optimal and consistent plant growth
· Implement any and all provisions required to improve and optimize the plants’ growth and well being
· Mix and apply fertilizers/nutrients/gases (such as Carbon dioxide and Oxygen) as required
· Ensure completion of daily key operational checklists, including nutrition and fertilizer
· Collect biological and climatic data to create better formulas and processes
· Collect quantitative and qualitative data throughout the lifecycle of the plants for R&D and production purposes
· Keep neat and accurate electronic records and documentation of all data, formulas, and processes
· Achieve work results by establishing priorities, monitoring progress, revising schedules as needed and resolving problems
· Recognize and respond to plant diseases and pests, including daily integrated pest management duties
· Operate computerized and other control systems
· Monitor the machine operation and perform in-process check, making adjustments as necessary
· Evaluate new potential processes/products to save operating costs
· Ensure all equipment and machinery are in proper operating condition and that all crop hygiene practices are followed
· Adhere to the Safety Policies, including use of proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other safety equipment
· Maintain sanitation protocols, and clean and sterilize all equipment and grow areas
· Respect very tight development periods to reach substantial results in a limited timeframe, due to the start-up nature of the company.
· Maintain supply inventory and order/purchase/coordinate for approved equipment, materials or services
· Partake in Occupational First Aid, and maintain up-to-date Occupational First Aid equipment and protocols