What are the responsibilities and job description for the Cultivation Lead position at ZD Hiring?
ABOUT FLOWER FIRST
At Flower First, we blend the art of cultivation with the virtues of sunshine, soil, and sustainability. Our journey is rooted in ecological farming, which has blossomed into a passion for producing sun-saturated cannabis under the Vermont sun.
Core Values:
- Love and Care: Every decision is made with love and care for the plant, our people, and the planet
- Sustainability: Commitment to sustainable cultivation practices that respect the soil and environment
- Community and Transparency: Honesty in operations and positive community engagement
- Art and Creativity: Nurturing creativity and celebrating the arts in our work and community
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Cultivation Lead is a hands-on role at the heart of our operation. This person will manage day-to-day plant care from propagation through harvest, working closely with leadership to maintain and improve cultivation standards across both indoor and outdoor environments. SOPs are in place — we're looking for someone who can follow them, bring their own best practices to the table, and help drive consistency and accountability across the team.
This role is ideal for someone who genuinely loves working with plants and is looking for an opportunity to grow with a small, passionate team. If you want to help build something meaningful in Vermont's cannabis community, we want to hear from you.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Cultivation & Plant Care
- Manage daily cultivation tasks including cloning, transplanting, vegetation management, and harvest
- Monitor plant health and execute IPM (Integrated Pest Management) protocols
- Follow and refine existing SOPs for all cultivation processes
- Support seasonal planning for both indoor and outdoor growing environments
- Collaborate with leadership on strain selection, scheduling, and production goals
Production & Quality Support
- Assist with processing, packaging, and labeling as needed
- Maintain accurate production logs, batch tracking, and compliance documentation
- Uphold QA/QC standards across all cultivation and production activities
- Ensure proper data recording in daily logs and binders — accuracy and consistency are non-negotiable
Team Leadership
- Lead by example, set the standard for work ethic, reliability, and attention to detail
- Help train and guide team members on cultivation tasks and documentation procedures
- Support a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement
- Communicate proactively with leadership on team dynamics, labor needs, and operational challenges
Compliance
- Ensure 100% compliance with Vermont Cannabis Control Board regulations
- Maintain all required cultivation and production documentation
- Complete all required compliance training and certifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
- Minimum 1 year of hands-on cannabis cultivation experience required (or transferable agricultural/horticultural background)
- Experience with both indoor and outdoor growing environments preferred
- Demonstrated reliability and strong work ethic
Knowledge & Skills
- Working knowledge of plant biology, pest management, and environmental controls
- Familiarity with cannabis cultivation processes from propagation through harvest
- Strong attention to detail, especially around documentation and data tracking
- Ability to follow and improve upon established SOPs
- Comfortable working independently and holding the standard when leadership isn't present
- Basic understanding of cannabis compliance requirements
Personal Attributes
- Plant-passionate: Genuinely loves working with plants and wants to grow with the operation
- Dependable: Shows up, puts in the work, and follows through — every day
- Detail-oriented: Accurate and consistent with logs, tracking, and quality standards
- Team-oriented: Leads by example and elevates those around them
- Adaptable: Comfortable shifting between cultivation, production, and farm tasks as needed
- Positive attitude: Brings energy and takes ownership of their work
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged standing, walking, bending, and kneeling throughout shift
- Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs regularly
- Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions (sun, heat, rain)
- Repetitive hand movements for plant care, trimming, and packaging tasks
- Comfortable working in greenhouse, barn, and field environments
Legal Requirements
- Must be 21 years of age or older
- Must pass Vermont cannabis background check and fingerprinting
- Valid driver's license required
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 2 years of cannabis cultivation experience
- IPM certification or formal training
- QA/QC background (agricultural, medical, or manufacturing)
- Previous team lead or supervisory experience
- Experience with organic or sun-grown cultivation methods
- Active engagement with the cannabis community and industry trends
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Hourly Rate: $23/hour
Additional Compensation:
- Overtime pay for hours over 40 per week
- Performance bonuses based on production goals and milestones
Benefits Package:
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Employee product discount
- Professional development and training opportunities
Flower First is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment. We ensure that every team member, applicant, and partner is treated with respect and given fair treatment across all aspects of employment.
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with it. Flower First reserves the right to modify job duties or the job description at any time.
Pay: From $23.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
Salary : $23