Job description
Join Verdant Valley Nurseries, a premier horticulture innovator dedicated to sustainable cultivation and top quality plant production. We are seeking a Senior Horticulturist to lead greenhouse operations, drive propagation programs, and optimize crop performance across our climate controlled facilities in Salinas, California.
You will collaborate with agronomists, breeders, and operations teams to implement best practices in IPM, irrigation, pruning, and crop scheduling to deliver premium plants for wholesale and retail channels. This role combines strategic leadership with hands on execution to push product quality and yield to new levels.
Responsibility
- Lead daily greenhouse operations including climate control, irrigation management, and fertigation scheduling.
- Develop and execute propagation, seedling production, and transplant programs to achieve target yields.
- Monitor crop health and apply integrated pest management strategies to minimize chemical use while protecting plant quality.
- Analyze and optimize irrigation, drainage, and nutrient delivery systems for water efficiency and vigor.
- Coordinate with breeding and sales teams to align production planning with market demand.
- Manage a small team of horticulturists and seasonal staff, ensuring safety and adherence to SOPs.
- Maintain meticulous records of crop performance, treatments, and resource usage to drive continuous improvement.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in horticulture, agronomy, or a related field; master's preferred.
- 5+ years in a commercial greenhouse or nursery with leadership experience.
- Strong knowledge of plant propagation, pruning, soil science, and crop scheduling.
- Experience with climate controlled greenhouses, irrigation systems, fertigation, and nutrient management.
- Proficient in Integrated Pest Management and disease prevention strategies.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and team management skills; ability to lead cross functional projects.
- Willingness to adapt to the demands of seasonal production and field trials.