Growing Specialist

Gotham Greens is seeking a Growing Specialist in Chicago, IL to support fresh produce cultivation in high-tech greenhouses. Responsibilities include pest management, plant nutrition, data record keeping, and operational tasks. Candidates should have horticulture credentials, excellent communication skills, and preferably experience in commercial greenhouses. This hands-on role requires flexibility in hours and the ability to perform physical tasks. Gotham Greens is committed to sustainable urban agriculture.
At Gotham Greens, we are ‘reimagining how and where fresh food is grown’. We are looking for an amazing Growing Specialist to join us in doing what we do best - grow fresh produce in high-tech greenhouses. Sustainably.

The Growing Specialist role is the starting point of an amazing growing career as it encompasses a wide variety of responsibilities in the growing department. This role will perform all functions of the integrated pest management program, support in plant nutrition and record keeping of relevant growing data and will manage critical activities including administration, scheduling, inspections, sampling, treatments, inventories, equipment maintenance and data recollection.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
• Focus on preventative programs – scouting, sanitation, cultural practices and staying ahead of seasonal trends
• Oversee beneficial insect program – rates, ordering, and release
• Work with our Head Grower to determine treatments for any issues that arise in the greenhouse
• Effectively operate, calibrate and maintain all the IPM related equipment
• Oversee all scouting and monitoring
• Communicate all plans and any issues to the appropriate team members
• Oversee and complete all required company and food safety record keeping
• Comply with all Federal Worker Protection Standards
• This is a hands-on role and supports additional greenhouse related weekly operational tasks
• Plant Nutrition
• Manage fertilizer/ stock tank mixing
• Ensure daily completion of stock tank level log and review data
• Ensure fertilizer mixing logs are completed and signed
• Ensure proper flow of emitters on growing lines
• Record Keeping
• Complete weekly seeding weight data, growth rate trackers and germination rates and upload to dashboards
• Collect relevant IPM data and report in dashboards for discussion with growers

QUALIFICATIONS
• College graduate or equivalent trade school credentials in horticulture related field
• Excellent verbal, written, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Prior experience in commercial greenhouses preferred
• Experience in CEA and leafy greens preferred
• Experience using various biological controls to maintain pest pressures under threshold
• Working knowledge of data collection and analysis using Excel in order to prevent outbreaks and mitigate losses
• Maintain state agricultural certificate and uphold Worker Protection Standards as necessary
• Passionate commitment to the company vision
• Ability to crouch, kneel and stand for extended periods of time
• Available to work weekends and work flexible hours as required

WHO WE ARE

Gotham Greens is on a mission to transform how and where fresh produce is grown. We are a pioneer in urban indoor agriculture and a leading fresh produce and food company. Through our national network of local high-tech farms, Gotham Greens delivers fresh, long-lasting and delicious leafy greens, herbs, salad dressings and pesto dips. all year round to retail, restaurant and foodservice customers. Founded in 2009, the company opened its first greenhouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., shortly thereafter. Today, Gotham Greens operates +1,500,000 square feet of high-tech greenhouse in 13 locations across nine U.S. states.

Our team of 600+ full time team members are hard-working, supportive and passionate about sustainable urban agriculture. We work to create an environment that is caring, fun and collaborative. Gotham Greens is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.