Our Commercial Grower Assistant is meant for somebody who loves to dig in, get their hands dirty, and work hard! The role of the Commercial Grower Assistant is to work in harmony with the Commercial Greenhouse Manager to maintain the effectiveness and efficiency of the daily operations for the commercial team, which includes anywhere from 3 – 15 members. This position is responsible for upholding the Shelmerdine standard of cleanliness, organization, and production of the highest quality plant material to keep our valued customers happy, year after year! You can expect to be kept physically busy, with a very minimal amount of clerical and desk work. Reports to Commercial Greenhouse Manager.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Scheduling: In the absence of the Commercial Greenhouse Manager you will be responsible for making decisions such as to when to send staff home early, or extend shifts when required to ensure the proper schedule is maintained in the production of the crops. A schedule of Monday – Friday 8am – 4:30pm is standard, however some weekends and longer days are required during the busy seasons. This varies with each season and the production of certain crops.
Crops: The specific crops that the Commercial Grower Assistant is responsible for includes, but is not limited to: Hanging Baskets, 1-gallon Annuals, Patio Tropical plants, pack and pot Annual production, Fall Mums, Poinsettias, herbs, and vegetables. Although crop scheduling and planning is performed by Chad Labbe, feedback, crop notes and input will be required for each crop cycle.
IPM: Integrated Pest Management is an essential component in the production of our ornamental crops. A valid Commercial Pesticide Applicators License is required to perform the duties of the Commercial Grower Assistant. A comprehensive written plan and log is required for each crop and range of greenhouses for each crop cycle. Actions to prevent and correct pests are fundamental.
Daily Duties include, but are not limited to the following:
- Maintaining the needs of the crops in the greenhouse
- Upholding the greenhouse appearance in your department and outlying areas of your department
- Providing your staff with a list of daily duties and following through to ensure that tasks are completed to Shelmerdine standards
- Maintaining a positive staff morale by encouraging and rewarding good work