Crop Support Specialist

**Company Description** Who are we**:
At PRT, we believe in being the stewards of growth and renewal for generations to come. Our Mission is to provide the most trusted growing services, best suited to the needs of our customers, and we achieve that by putting our customers first while always respecting our employees. PRT is the largest commercial-scale growing provider in North America for a wide range of high-quality forestry seedling species. PRT has the capacity to grow and sell more than 630 million seedlings annually, at its 28 nursery locations across Canada & USA and we owe our success to our employees. By joining PRT you will become part of a team of people that grows trees for our future forests Our cultural journey values the behavioral attributes of drive, the relentless pursuit to deliver exceptional results, and exceptional performance expectations which fosters a people first mindset, resolve to be the best while first being our best to each other, and a commitment to make right versus make do. Actions over words, results over promises, people over production.
**Job Description** A Day in the Life**:
PRT is currently recruiting for a full time **Crop Support Specialist** to join the PRT’s Crop Support Team. The PRT’s Crop Support Team helps Growers, at each nursery, to plan and execute high-quality, reliable crops. The team creates and publishes Grower training materials and document Standard Operating Procedures for growing trees. By working with sites on a 1:1 basis the team helps to minimize risk to crops, respond to crop problems, develop new Growers, and support other gaps in knowledge and experience. The Crop Support Team assists nurseries that are undertaking innovative crop production trials and serves as a bridge between sites to ensure that learnings are shared between nursery locations. Each Crop Support Specialist is responsible for supporting the specific needs of the PRT sites, in their portfolio, through in-person visits, crop walks, and virtual meetings and calls. The Crop Support Team meets monthly to coordinate the team’s approach across all sites. Each specialist meets with the Director of Crop Production on a regular, individual, basis to provide updates on crop progress across the sites they support, workshop individual projects, and focus on professional development according to PRT’s Leadership Competencies. A portion of work time will be spent outdoors and in greenhouse environments with exposure to varying temperatures, machinery, equipment, and pesticides during work. The remaining portion of work time is spent indoors in an office environment. Regular travel to PRT nurseries is required.

Key accountabilities of the **Crop Support Specialist** are:

- Develop training materials, guides and Standard Operating Procedures for use across PRT sites.
- Contribute to the development of PRT’s overall approach to Crop Support
- Support PRT Growers and Production Managers via 1:1 coaching and mentorship
- Monitor cultural and risk management practices to ensure reliable and safe production techniques and quality control practices are in place
- Assist with leveraging data to grow more reliable, high-quality crops
- Keep neat and accurate records including computerized record keeping systems
- Assist with triaging and reporting crop problems
- Answer questions from Growers and Production Managers
- Train and mentor Growers and Production Managers in new skills
- Strong understanding of plant physiology and plant responses to various inputs and stressors
- Ability to proactively spot risks and opportunities, then take action accordingly
- Promote collaboration and teamwork at all levels, self motivated and able to work with mínimal supervision
- Set targets (i.e., production, timelines) and evaluate achievement, driven to achieve results

**About the team**:
The Crop Support Specialist will be part of the PRT’s Crop Support Team and will report to the Director of Crop Production.

**Our Leadership Competencies**:

- BUILD TRUST AND CONFIDENCE
- FOSTER COLLABORATION
- CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY TO ACHIEVE GOALS
- INSPIRE INNOVATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

**Qualifications** Enough about us, let’s talk about you**:
Required/ Minimum Qualifications & Skills:

- Minimum of 10 years crop production experience in a nursey setting
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a decision-making, leadership role
- Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation
- Ability to travel to PRT sites across Canada and the USA
- Ability to lift and carry up to 25lbs
- Strong planning, organization, administration, and time management skills
- Intermediate computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)
- Excellent interpersonal, coaching, and mentoring skills
- Strong and professional communication, collaboration, and motivation skills
- Great organizational and record keeping skills
- Robust research, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Profici