Master Grower

**Position**: Master Grower (Permanent, Full-time)

**Reports to**: Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman

Reporting to the CEO, the Master Grower provides a range of horticultural guidance and support to the production and operations at UP Vertical Farms. The Master Grower will perform and oversee all tasks related to the management of the hydroponic system and greenhouse facility, requirements for all crops produced including propagation, growing, pest and disease and nutritional management, harvesting, and ensure all food safety protocols have been implemented.

**DUTIES**
- Optimize growing strategies to achieve high yield, high performance leafy greens
- Manage growing in production and R&D hydroponic facility with expertise in balancing nutrient levels and controlling pathogens with environmental factors.
- Work with management team to maintain organization and control of the hydroponic growing and environmental control software
- Plan, implement, and ensure compliance to food safety, worker safety, and Occupational Health & Safety policies
- Responsible for maintaining neat, orderly, and safe work areas relating to the grow side
- Collect and maintain data records relating to crop health, environmental data, trials, sanitation
- Lead meetings and set expectations for the grow team regarding schedules, tasks, resources, and deliverables for projects
- Evaluate job performance of direct staff and technicians on a continual basis, recognize achievements & correct/address deficiencies or problems
- Manage and delegate tasks for the production and R&D facility including seeding trials, sanitation, maintenance, inventory, fertigation
- Perform and delegate maintenance tasks for the production and R&D systems which include: pumps, irrigation, CO2, automatic control systems, and more
- Manage the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the grow areas, germination rooms, and ancillary areas of the R&D and production
- Plan and manage agronomic trials related to optimal and consistent plant growth
- Implement any and all provisions required to improve and optimize the plants' growth and well being
- Ensure completion of daily key operational checklists, including nutrition and fertilizer
- Collect biological and climatic data to create better formulas and processes
- Collect quantitative and qualitative data throughout the lifecycle of the plants for R&D and production purposes
- Keep neat and accurate electronic records and documentation of all data, formulas, and processes
- Achieve work results by establishing priorities, monitoring progress, revising schedules as needed and resolving problems
- Recognize and respond to plant diseases and pests, including daily integrated pest management duties
- Operate computerized and other control systems
- Monitor the machine operation and perform in-process check, making adjustments as necessary
- Evaluate new potential processes/products to save operating costs
- Ensure all equipment and machinery are in proper operating condition and that all crop hygiene practices are followed
- Adhere to the Safety Policies, including use of proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other safety equipment
- Maintain sanitation protocols, and clean and sterilize all equipment and grow areas
- Respect very tight development periods to reach substantial results in a limited timeframe, due to the start-up nature of the company.
- Maintain supply inventory and order/purchase/coordinate for approved equipment, materials or services
- Partake in Occupational First Aid, and maintain up-to-date Occupational First Aid equipment and protocols

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES**
- Ability to manage multiple tasks under specific timelines
- Excellent organizational and prioritization skills
- Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs

**AN IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE**
- Bachelor's Degree Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Sciences, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering, or related field
- 3+ of experience and combination of knowledge showing prior expertise in commercial growing, hydroponics, management, food safety programs, in leafy green vegetables
- Experience in monitoring and optimizing the growing conditions and nutritional requirements
- Excellent leadership skills, ability to work with multiple teams on numerous projects & the ability to influence others for best results
- Advanced computer skills with MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), Environmental control systems.

**WORK CONDITIONS**
- 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday
- Ability to work indoors and outdoors in various weather conditions
- May be requested to support the CEOs or operations on-site outside of regular work hours (i.e., evenings, weekends)
- Must be on-call to contractor supervisors during weekends and holidays, in case of emergencies
- Use of personal vehicle may be required (UP Vertical Farms provides mileage reimbursements)

**Job Types**: Full