Garden & IPM Technician

POSITION SUMMARY

The Garden & IPM Technician is a specialized member of the cultivation team responsible for supporting daily garden operations while serving as a designated resource for integrated pest management (IPM) activities throughout the facility.

This position will perform standard garden associate responsibilities within flower and veg rooms while providing additional support for plant health, pest monitoring, prevention, and treatment activities. The Garden & IPM Technician will be responsible for properly preparing and applying general-use pesticide products when required, in accordance with product labels, established cultivation procedures, PPE requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate will have previous experience working in a regulated horticulture or commercial agricultural environment, with demonstrated experience mixing and applying general-use pesticides. This position requires strong attention to detail, the ability to follow established procedures, and a commitment to maintaining accurate records related to IPM activities.

This position is intended to provide cultivation with a team member who can contribute to daily garden production while maintaining specialized responsibility for IPM activities. The IPM responsibilities do not replace the employee's regular Garden Associate duties; rather, they add a specialized function to the position while maintaining the employee as an integral part of the garden team.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execute all aspects of the production and cultivation of healthy cannabis, including but not limited to defoliating, pruning, topping, cleaning, hanging, bucking, drying, and trimming.
• Perform daily garden responsibilities in flower and veg rooms with efficiency, consistency, and strong attention to detail.
• Maintain product quality by executing tasks outlined by Arbor House Collective, LLC standards of practice (SOPs) and at the direction of the Director of Cultivation.
• Assist in collecting data to monitor bud quality, environmental control systems, plant health, and seed-to-sale tracking.
• Assist in maintaining required paperwork and documentation, including room maps, waste logs, harvest logs, IPM records, pesticide application records, and other documentation as needed.
• Execute assigned components of the facility's established integrated pest management (IPM) program under the direction of the Director of Cultivation.
• Monitor plants and growing areas for signs of pests, disease, or other plant-health concerns and promptly communicate observations to the Director of Cultivation.
• When required and authorized, prepare, mix, and apply general-use pesticide products in accordance with product labels, dilution and application requirements, PPE requirements, re-entry requirements, company SOPs, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain appropriate records related to pesticide preparation and application and ensure all required documentation is completed accurately and timely.
• Follow all established procedures for pesticide and chemical handling, storage, application, and disposal.
• Maintain a clean environment in all areas, including sanitizing by removing and disposing of all cannabis waste and cleaning and sanitizing rooms, tools, and equipment used daily to mitigate potential pest and contamination issues.
• Must wear required cultivation attire (provided) while working with product, including gloves, face mask, hair net, nonslip shoes, scrubs, and clean lab jackets. When preparing or applying pesticides, all pesticide-specific PPE required by the applicable product label, SOPs, and regulatory requirements must be worn.
• Report any and all irregularities or variances to the Director of Cultivation, including deviations from SOPs, plant-health concerns, pest activity, environmental concerns, or other conditions that may affect production or product quality.
• Assist cultivation and post-harvest teams with any tasks as required.
• Work directly with cultivation support staff to comply with cloning, feeding, phase-change, plant-health, and daily production procedures.
• Complete required Metrc and other cultivation data inputs accurately and in a timely manner.
• Ability to stay focused for long periods of time on a single task.
• Expected to work well independently and not get sidetracked.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with multiple departments without direct authority in a fast-paced environment.
• Follow all company SOPs, safety procedures, compliance requirements, and direction provided by the Director of Cultivation.
• Other duties as needed or assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Basic understanding of botany, horticulture, and/or agriculture preferred.
• Experience working in a fast-paced production environment required.
• Previous experience in a regulated horticulture, commercial agriculture, or comparable production environment preferred.
• Previous commercial cannabis cultivation experience preferred.
• Current Michigan pesticide applicator certification required. Current WPS handler training preferred; all required facility-specific WPS training must be completed prior to performing applicable pesticide handling activities.
• At least one year of experience mixing and applying general-use pesticides in a commercial facility or comparable agricultural/horticultural environment.
• Experience following pesticide labels, dilution/application requirements, PPE requirements, re-entry requirements, and chemical-handling procedures.
• Ability to maintain appropriate pesticide/application records and follow established cultivation IPM procedures.
• Ability to perform normal Garden & IPM Technician responsibilities in addition to assigned IPM duties.
• Ability to identify and communicate potential pest, disease, or plant-health concerns.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to consistently follow written and verbal procedures.
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately. Regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email, and other electronic means (Slack).
• Must comply with all applicable state regulations, requirements, and guidelines.
• Ability to pass a federal and state background check.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Possess a valid driver's license or state id.
• High school diploma.
• Energetic team player, willing to take direction and learn.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and duties of this job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

· Ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods while performing cultivation duties.

· Ability to move quickly and accurately.

· Use hands to finger, handle, and/or feel; the ability to type, pick, pinch with fingers, seize, hold, grasp, or turn with hands and perceive attributes of objects and materials such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by touching with fingertips.

· Maintain balance while walking, standing, or crouching.

· Twist upper torso.

· Reach up and out with hands and arms.

· Long periods of prolonged standing, sitting, and use of equipment.

· Ability to observe and assess material that deviates from established company standards of practice.

· Maintaining crouched, bent, or other working positions for extended periods; repetitive motions.

· Requires bending and lifting, up to fifty (50) pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

· Similar to a busy manufacturing facility or warehouse.

· Occasional exposure to loud machines (ear protection provided) and extremely bright lights (eye protection provided).

· Occasional weekends or extended hours may be necessary during certain phases of production.

· Manual labor/manufacturing

· Ability to work in hot and humid environment while completing tasks

Pay: $18.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Horticulture: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• WPS handler training (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Warren, MI 48089 (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $25