Assistant Grower

About Us

At Freeman Herbs, we inspire food experiences through fresh, high-quality potted herbs and food products. Rooted in humility and authenticity, we are committed to excellence in everything we grow and do. Our team thrives on creativity, innovation, positivity, and having fun while working together. Every day, we strive to make a meaningful impact on our employees, families, customers, and communities - and we are always looking for motivated team players to grow with us and help bring our core focus and values to life.

Job Overview

The Assistant Grower is expected to take a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to plant health and production, demonstrating strong attention to detail, accountability, initiative, and collaboration while supporting the overall goals of the growing department.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

· Champion Plant Health: Take an active leadership role in promoting and maintaining optimal plant health throughout all stages of production, ensuring plants meet established quality standards.

· Team Management: Take an active role in delegating and assessing team tasks. Take initiative in determining task priorities and dividing work in Organic growing team.

· Pest and Disease Management: Proactively monitor crops for signs of pests, diseases, and other plant health concerns. Identify potential issues early, recommend corrective actions, and work collaboratively with the growing team to implement effective prevention and treatment strategies. Carry out regulatory pest and disease checks ensuring the appropriate documentation is completed.

· Fertigation and Irrigation: Complete routine crop inspections to ensure proper irrigation levels are met. Calculate the appropriate amount of fertilizer required to fertigate a specific crop and carry out completion of required fertigation activities ensuring appropriate plant nutrition.

· Germination and Propagation: Assist with and provide input on decisions related to germination practices, growing conditions, irrigation, and fertigation programs to support healthy, consistent crop development.

· Biological Control Programs: Ensure daily and weekly biological control plans are implemented and completed. Monitor program effectiveness and follow up on any outstanding applications or requirements.

· Preventative Crop Management: Take a proactive approach to identifying potential plant health risks and implementing preventative measures to reduce pest pressure, disease development, and crop losses.

· Process Improvement and Efficiency: Continuously look for opportunities to improve growing practices, departmental workflows, and overall efficiencies. Identify challenges, bring forward practical solutions, and assist with implementing process improvements where appropriate.

· Supplies and Inventory Organization: Assist in ensuring growing supplies, biological control products, and other departmental materials are readily accessible, properly organized, clearly labelled, and maintained in designated storage areas.

· Collaboration: Work collaboratively with growers and other members of the production team to support daily growing priorities, communicate crop concerns, share observations, and ensure consistency in growing practices.

· Accountability and Follow-Through: Take ownership of assigned responsibilities, follow through on established priorities, communicate outstanding tasks, and help ensure department plans and procedures are consistently executed.

· Additional Responsibilities: Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the overall success of the growing department and the organization.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Horticulture degree or diploma a strong asset.
• Valid Pesticide/Spray license.
• Fluency in the Spanish language, an asset.

Experience:

• Previous greenhouse and/or IPM experience required.

Skills:

• Strong analytical skills.
• Self-motivated, demonstrated leadership skills.
• Must be organized with an attention to detail.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel.
• Skills in following safety practices and recognizing hazards.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Available to work rotating weekends for watering.

This job posting is for an existing vacancy at Freeman Herbs. We thank all candidates for their interest in this position; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Accommodations

At Freeman Herbs, we are committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and a supportive work environment. We are happy to discuss any accommodation needs and will make every effort to meet them in a timely manner. Please advise the Human Resources Department if you require accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process and/or within the work environment. All accommodation-related information will be treated confidentially.