Greenhouse Operations Manager / Nursery Growing Expert

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Greenhouse Operations Manager / Nursery Growing Expert to lead the day-to-day operations of a commercial greenhouse and nursery growing operation. This position requires a strong hands-on horticultural background combined with the ability to manage people, production schedules, crop quality, inventory, and greenhouse systems.

The ideal candidate is an experienced grower who understands plant propagation, cultivation, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, environmental controls, and greenhouse production, and can build efficient, scalable growing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all daily greenhouse and nursery growing operations from propagation through finished product.
• Develop and manage crop production schedules, planting plans, harvest cycles, and inventory.
• Monitor plant health, growth rates, quality, and overall crop performance.
• Manage irrigation, fertigation, lighting, temperature, humidity, ventilation, and other environmental controls.
• Develop and maintain effective watering, feeding, pruning, transplanting, and plant-care programs.
• Identify and address plant diseases, pests, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental issues.
• Implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs and coordinate treatment plans.
• Establish and maintain growing protocols, SOPs, and quality-control standards.
• Manage greenhouse equipment, irrigation systems, growing media, fertilizers, chemicals, tools, and other supplies.
• Monitor crop yields, losses, labor efficiency, and production costs.
• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise greenhouse and nursery personnel.
• Establish daily production priorities and ensure work is completed safely and efficiently.
• Maintain accurate production, inventory, environmental, and crop-performance records.
• Coordinate with purchasing, sales, operations, and management to ensure production meets demand.
• Troubleshoot greenhouse systems and coordinate maintenance and repairs as needed.
• Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, environmental, agricultural, and workplace safety requirements.
• Continuously evaluate new growing techniques, technology, varieties, and processes to improve productivity and quality.

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of commercial greenhouse, nursery, horticulture, or controlled-environment agriculture experience.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of plant propagation and commercial crop production.
• Demonstrated experience managing greenhouse environmental conditions and irrigation/fertigation systems.
• Strong knowledge of plant nutrition, soil/media management, and pest and disease control.
• Experience leading and developing greenhouse or nursery employees.
• Ability to diagnose crop problems and make timely corrective decisions.
• Strong organizational and production-planning skills.
• Comfortable working hands-on in a greenhouse environment and performing physically demanding tasks when necessary.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and extended hours during critical growing periods.