Horticultural Worker (45-2092.00)

Job description

Crops: Herbacous Annuals and perennials.

Workers will perform tasks for various employers as listed on their contract. This is an outdoor position involving physical work. The grower/loading/potting assistant is responsible for the proper cultural care involved in their designated area, daily contribution and quality standard involved in the loading area, daily contribution and quality standard involved in the potting area including the following functions listed below. Weekend work is required. Assist in other areas of the nursery as necessary or as needs arise.

Worker Responsibilities:
Grower Assistant Responsibilities
• Water Plants as necessary based on crops needs
• Prune plants to keep crops fresh and to maintain crop standards
• Keep crops, greenhouses, and surrounding area free of weeds
• Organize or sort crops as necessary to maintain quality plants
• Remove old, diseased, or dead plants from the greenhouse to maintain crop quality and ensure a cleaner environment
• Keep area clean, organized, and free of unnecessary items
• Pay attention to crop issues and communicate those problems in a timely manner
• Assist in the application of plant grow regulators, pesticides, and herbicides
• Assist in managing fertility of crops under your care
• Assist in pulling orders for customers. Follow outlined SOP’s and follow guidelines for retail and landscape quality
• Strive to achieve the highest quality possible
• Follow all safety requirements and communicate any safety issues or concerns to Supervisor or Nursery Manager

Loading Dock Responsibilities
• Assist as needed with pulling picture tags
• Stage and ready loading dock for shipments
• Assist growers in pulling material for the trucks
• Clean and prep plants for the appropriate orders while adhering to guidelines outlined for Retail and Landscape quality
• Load plants to correct shipping carts ensuring safe travel
• Assist with tagging plants with picture tags, identification tags and price tags as required.
• Assist with other loading dock duties as requested which might include boxing for ground shipments, building pallets, loading trucks and other miscellaneous duties.
• Maintain quality at every step of the loading dock process
• Follow proper SOPs
• Continually look for ways to improve loading dock process
• Keep area clean and organized- follow 5S procedures
• Communicate any issues to the Loading Dock Supervisor or Nursery Manager
• Assist in maintaining equipment
• Follow all safety requirements and communicate any safety issues or concerns to Loading Dock Supervisor or Nursery Manager
• Work as a team on and off the loading dock

Potting Assistant Responsibilities
• Pot plants in appropriate size pots and label them as needed
• Retrieve plug trays and transport finished plants
• Gather and ready materials for potting
• Follow proper SOPs
• Continually look for ways to improve potting process
• Maintain quality at every step of the potting process, monitor quality diligently which would include potting depth, straightness, and quality of liner.
• Understand inputs required such as soil types, hard goods, and additives.
• Keep area clean and organized- Follow 5S procedure
• Communicate any issues to the production supervisor or nursery manager
• Assist in maintaining equipment
• Follow all safety requirements and communicate any safety issues or concerns to production supervisor or nursery manager
• Work as a team on and off the potting line.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Must be able to work efficiently both independently and within a team.
• Available and willing to work extra hours during spring or in times of need
• Flexibility
• Manual Dexterity

Special Requirements

Must have three months experience working in agriculture/horticulture. Applicants must be able to furnish affirmative job references from recent employers operating comparable operations establishing acceptable previous experience. Must be physically able to meet and perform all job specifications stated in job order. Must be able to work in the hot humid weather for extended periods of time. Workers are subject to random drug testing at no cost to the employee. Failing or refusing a drug test will result in immediate termination.