Cultivation Specialist

JOB TITLE : CULTIVATION SPECIALIST

JOB SUMMARY : Cultivation Specialists support the entire Cultivation Department by handling day-to-day plant maintenance and grow-facility cleaning. These individuals are the true labor force behind our large grow operation —they have a hand in every part of the cultivation process. As such, it is critical that Cultivation Specialists are properly trained on company protocols and the importance of compliance.

The Cultivation Specialist is responsible for all Flowering phase cannabis plants in the pertaining cultivation room as assigned. Responsibilities include watering, nutrient mixing, defoliation, and monitoring and controlling the room environment. Ensuring all necessary equipment is maintained or reported for repairs, cleaning, and general maintenance is also required. The Specialist is also responsible for logging and recording all environmental factors, measuring water run-off, and completing the necessary waste logs needed to maintain compliance. The Cultivation Specialist will be responsible for leading the harvest procedures upon harvest day.

The Cultivation Specialist operates with direct supervision from the Cultivation Manager. Follows established policies and procedures and contributes to the development of new concepts, policies, and procedures as necessary to perform job duties and tasks.

Cultivation Specialists may be cross trained to care for cannabis plants in other stages of life such as clones, vegetation, and mothers. Breeder positions are commonly fulfilled with experienced and proficient Cultivation Specialists. In addition, trimmers, buckers, and packaging personnel are often cross trained with Cultivation Specialists.

All applicants must be at least 21 years of age.

All applicants must pass a FBI fingerprint search and a BCI federal background search.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES :

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide any necessary support to the management team to ensure cultivation duties are efficiently and timely completed in a manner consistent with the company’s Standard Operation Procedure for each duty.

• Initial Cultivation Associate duties will involve essential Cultivation operations and may be expanded over time.

• responsibilities include plant work, and specifically (but not exclusively) topping, sweeping and disinfecting flower/vegetative rooms, disposing of used growing media, preparing rooms for a new transplant and all general cleaning.

• responsibilities include spot cleaning, cloning, scouting pests, maintaining plant inventory, consolidating vegetative trays, planting coco cubes, watering, and light maintenance.

• responsibilities include harvesting, applying predatory insects, hanging sticky cards for IPM monitoring, helping with monthly on-hand inventory counts.

• Responsible for following all applicable operational guidelines, comply with verbal directives, and practice and/or implement all safety, security, sanitation policies.

• Responsible for understanding and following all GACP/GMP guidelines throughout the facility.

• Perform such other duties as an employee is qualified to perform and may be assigned.

Environmental Demands:

Exposure to pollen, allergens, and non-carcinogenic pesticides, dust, odors, extreme temperatures, artificial light, sun exposure, loud machines, vibrations, and water.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS :

The essential skills include, but are not limited to the following:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing, and challenging environment.
• Ability to make decisions as necessary with oversight when needed
• Proficiency in windows-based and other software and internet navigation
• Fun attitude, strong work ethic, strong attention to detail and must have a team player mentality and able to accommodate scheduling expectations including weekends, evenings and holiday shifts and store location movement
• Ability to work a minimum of 8 hours a day and rotating shifts, including weekends.
• Ability to lift, push, and pull 50 pounds
• Ability to sit, squat, bend, and kneel for extended periods and repetitively throughout a workday
• Ability to stand and walk for 8 hours

SALARY EXPECTATIONS :

Based on experience. Bonuses available are extra.

EDUCATION & TRAINING REQUIREMENTS :

Cultivation Specialists don’t necessarily need a degree. At a minimum, they should have a high school diploma or GED. A certification or associate or bachelor’s degree in a plant specific, farming, or other science related field is preferred but not required.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS :

Ironically, when hiring for this position, a lack of cannabis growing experience can be a plus. This way, no one starts the job with preconceived notions of how best to grow. A stubborn home grower that enters the industry as a plant technician can slow down the cultivation process with constant debates or outright refusal to follow protocols, because it’s not how they like to grow. At the opposite end of the spectrum, new hires with no prior experience but that are interested in joining a growing industry can make the best plant technician candidates as they generally have a great work ethic and learn quickly. They are blank slates who can be quickly trained and put to work.

This is a starting position. Attention to detail, ability to follow directions, and a strong work ethic is required to start.