IPM Supervisor
Vineland, NJ
Cultivation – IPM Supervisor /
Full-Time Salary /
On-site
About Garden Greens:
Garden Greens, LLC (GG, LLC) is one of New Jersey’s premiere cannabis cultivators, with a longstanding legacy of producing agriculture at scale in the Garden State since 1919. In every facet of our business we maintain our relationship with cannabis as a force for good. We commit to professionalism, integrity, respect, and high standards of productivity. Garden Greens requires a diverse team of exceptional individuals to meet our objectives and achieve our goals.
Summary of Position:
Manage and provide leadership for all aspects of Integrated Pest Management for large-scale commercial cannabis cultivation, including, but not limited to, propagation, vegetation, and floriculture in scientific analytics-based horticulture; manage the labor, products and operations associated to pest management; keep facilities compliant with the Department of Pesticide Regulation; maintain a high degree of work safety, professionalism, and integrity; manage multiple facilities with an aggregate support staff of 3-5 full time and 1-2 part time and/or temporary employees; maintain and provide leadership for IPM applications and safety standards as set forth by the company; demonstrate understanding and skills for creative problem solving, interpersonal conflict resolution, and critical thinking as relevant to the job.
Job Duties include, but are not limited to:
Leadership Role
● Works in concert with all production related staff in pursuit of our common goals- a highly productive, efficient, profitable and safe operation;
● Maintain and provide leadership for Garden Greens, LLC’s cultivation methodology with specific attention to IPM, standards of productivity, and product quality as defined by the company;
● Takes ownership of required administrative leadership as needed for the job and as directed by management;
● Foster and facilitate a working environment with minimal staff turnover;
● Exemplify Company culture and mission by embodying the following values:
Our Belief: Cannabis is a Plant for Good
● Throughout its history, cannabis has always been a plant for good. We are proud to create
brands, products, and content that enhance the awareness of cannabis as a force for good, wellness, and fun.
Our Foundation: Strong Roots, Bright Future
Our foundation is defined by the following:
○ The Plant:We regard the rich history between human beings and cannabis as coevolution that helped shape agricultural cultivation, natural medicine, and human consciousness.
○ The People: We respect one another, helping others succeed, collaborating on outcomes, drawing from diversity, contributing to our communities, and having fun.
○ The Reciprocity: We do the right thing, and maintain high ethical standards from seed to store. Our business only thrives when we know we are involved in the betterment of people’s lives.
○ The Journey:Our backgrounds range in their diversity, bound in our trust in one another and our collective belief that cannabis will change the world for the better.
Qualifications
● Understanding of IPM strategies and tactics. Must have a familiarity with damage associated to pest such as insect, mites and plant pathogens.
● Must have techniques that can be employed within a budget to mitigate and prevent pest damage to crop.
● Understanding of plant pathogens and mediation of injury caused by them.
● Must have a 4-year degree in Entomology, Mycology, Plant pathology, Integrated pest management, or related field
● Able to identify and collect specimens
● Able to use resources to provide identification; such as a dichotomous key
● Connections to other professionals who can provide services outside of the facilities ability; such as plant pathology lab, etc…
● Speak Spanish well enough to provide explanation and instructions related to tasks
● Able to communicate with other easily
● Must have and maintain a PCA, QAL, or QAC
● Two years’ experience in pest management in production agriculture
Perform and provide leadership for all IPM tasks including:
● Maintaining a clean and organized working environment;
● Managing IPM schedules and organization;
● Provide Upper Management with Weekly IPM Status Reports
● Comply with all company policies including confidentiality, non-compete, and non-disclosure of/with all company methods and procedures.
Staff Management
● Develop, maintain, and coordinate schedules for assistant growers and all cultivation related staff (part time or otherwise);
● Hold oneself and assistant staff members accountable to the same standards of integrity, quality, productivity, punctuality and professionalism as set forth by the company;
● Exemplify positive interpersonal communication and conflict resolution in the workplace;
● Report any and all employee conduct or performance infractions to General Manager;
● Train all pest scouts
● Provide insect and mite identification
● Outline the sampling technique to be used
● Schedule sampling operations
● Confirm sampling operations taking place weekly
● Provide safety training to field workers annually as regulated by the DPR
● Direct pesticide applicators
Pest reports
● Account for pest report summaries weekly
● Set action thresholds for treatments of each pest
● Collect pest data and confirm correlations to yields
● Associate economic losses to an injury level of pests for future consideration
● Report to managers the condition of the pest populations
● Track populations over time to discover seasonal trends
● Track possible strain specific sensitivities to pest damage
Chemical Control
● Order pesticides and direct storage and handling
● Transport pesticides
● Submit monthly pesticide use reports to DPR
● Keep facility compliant with all pesticide related legislation
● Stay up to date with new materials as they become commercially available
Biological Control
● Order biological control organisms
● Monitor populations of beneficial organisms
● Work toward conservation of beneficial organisms
● Provide education to staff of biologicals appearance and life cycles
Cultural Control
● Work with Cultivation Managers to schedule labor tasks, so they combine well with IPM
● Make suggestions to Director of Cultivation and Chief Scientific Officer that will inhibit, prevent, agitate or terminate pest organisms
● Schedule, organize and oversee the dispersal of biological organisms
● Stipulate for environmental conditions favorable for biological organisms and proper storage of biological organism
IPM Supplies and Inventory
● Work in conjunction with General Manager to maintain inventory for all IPM related supplies.
● Understands that while GG, LLC. owns all of its operating assets they each, nonetheless, operate with independent accounting and are to be organized and billed as separate entities.
Performance Requirements
● Ability to work varied hours/days, including nights, weekends, holidays and events, when needed.
● Able to function in a greenhouse environment that is over 80F.
● Ability to collect and record accurate production data.
● Ability to manage workload effectively independently, as well as with the staff and the public.
● Ability to exercise initiative, problem-solving and decision-making in conjunction with upper mgmt.
● Ability to communicate clearly, honestly and effectively with staff, management and company members in all situations.
● Ability to perceive and meet the needs of the team with moderate direction.
● Ability to maintain high standards in a fast paced, constantly evolving environment.
● Knowledge of logic arithmetic to make calculations.
● Proficient skill in computer systems, programs and applications.
● High level of patience and flexibility.
● Ability to adapt to a changing industry and an expanding organization.
● Basic understanding of Federal, State and Local laws, including OSHA compliance.
Key Performance Indicators
● Punctuality
● Avoidance of pest-related economic injury
● Follows direction
● Provides direction and ensures instructions are retained
● Works well with others
● Task efficiency
● Cleanliness
● Organization
● Data Collection and reporting
● IPM protocols are followed daily
● ERP tracking
● Work safety
● Pest prevention
● Stays on schedule
● Accountability
Time Commitment
That this job revolves around the care of dynamic living organisms, the hands-on time required to maintain healthy cultivation environs may vary. Job applicants may assume safely, however, that the minimum requirement for onsite/hands-on presence is 40 hours per week.
It is the responsibility of the IPM Manager to communicate and schedule with the Director of Cultivation, the Cultivation Manager, as well as supporting staff, to maintain a healthy sustainable balance between time on duty and time away from work. That said, given the slightly unpredictable and demanding nature of the job, the IPM Manager is expected to be responsive should the gardens require assistance beyond the normal expectation of time onsite. Moreover, given the leadership responsibilities of the position, the IPM Manager should also expect to spend a reasonable amount of time off-site managing contacts, schedules, calendars, supplies, etc.
Typical Working Conditions
Work is performed in a busy medical Cannabis nursery facility and/or operations/finishing area. The greenhouse facility can be loud due to fans and filtration systems, fluctuating between extreme cold and hot temperatures.
Employees will be exposed to the normal chemicals found in a crop production facility (i.e. fertilizers) and must wear proper safety wear when outlined by SDS data.
Work may be stressful at times and may include dealing with difficult people and/or law enforcement. Based on plant needs and harvest schedules employees may be expected to work varied hours/days, including nights, weekends, holidays, and/or events.
Will require the individual to work in a greenhouse environment. This person must be willing to travel between facilities. Able to attend conferences and seminars that may take place on the weekend. Able to be present (within reason) for all DPR and county inspections.
Maintaining a Culture of Safety, Excellence, and Symbiotic Relations
Awardees of this position are expected to follow impeccably all aspects of the GG, LLC. Cultivation Methodology, which includes standard operating procedures, safety measures & protocol, and the establishment of symbiotic relationships with all human and vegetal relations in the workplace.
ADA Statement:
You must be able to perform all the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. If you need accommodations during the application/interview/hiring process, please reach out to our HR team at HR@ggcann.com
EEO Statement:
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive work environment. Our goal is to be comprised of a diverse workforce that is representative, at all levels, of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin protected veterans’ status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or any other applicable legally protected characteristic.
GG, LLC offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, and a collaborative work environment in an emerging market. The job description is representative of typical duties and responsibilities for the position, and it is not all-inclusive. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned by the company to fluctuate with business needs.
$50,000 - $70,000 semi monthly
