Job description
Verdant Labs is seeking a results-driven Senior Horticulturist / Greenhouse Manager to lead our horticultural operations in the Davis, CA region. This role blends hands-on cultivation with research-driven practices to produce high-quality crops for product development programs and collaborations with academic partners.
As a key member of our horticulture team, you will design cultivation plans, optimize environmental controls, manage propagation cycles, and ensure the health and vigor of a diverse crop portfolio. You will also mentor staff, maintain rigorous safety and sustainability standards, and contribute to data-driven decision making.
Responsibility
- Lead daily greenhouse operations, crop scheduling, and labor planning to maximize yield and quality.
- Develop and implement comprehensive cultivation plans for a diverse crop portfolio, including renovation and rotation strategies.
- Manage propagation, seedling production, grafting, pruning, and transplanting to ensure timely production cycles.
- Design and optimize environmental control systems (temperature, humidity, CO2, light) to achieve target growth metrics.
- Implement and monitor Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, sanitation protocols, and compliance with safety standards.
- Collect and analyze growth data, maintain accurate records, and generate reports to guide breeding and product development.
- Collaborate with R&D and research partners on experiments, trials, and cultivar evaluation; mentor and train staff.
- Ensure SOPs, inventory management, and equipment maintenance; manage budgets and vendor relationships.
Qualification
- Bachelor's or higher in Horticulture, Plant Science, or related field.
- 5+ years greenhouse management or commercial horticulture experience.
- Experience with controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems and precision fertigation.
- In-depth knowledge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and sanitation.
- Proficiency in data collection and analysis; experience with greenhouse software and Excel.
- Strong leadership, mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and perform physical tasks; valid driver's license.