Greenhouse Manager/Head Grower, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Posted by on October 21, 2013

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has been a visionary not-for-profit organization in the Greater Philadelphia Region since its founding in 1827. PHS organizes the annual Philadelphia Flower Show, the world’s largest and longest-running indoor flower show, which attracts nearly 250,000 visitors annually and generates an economic impact for the city of more than $61 million. PHS helps transform lives through highly successful programs like City Harvest, which grows and donates more than 20,000 pounds of fresh produce annually to help feed 1,200 families each week of the growing season. PHS has planted more than 260,000 trees over the past three years as part of its Plant One Million initiative, an ambitious program to plant one million trees in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. It also has helped plan, design and maintain some of Philadelphia’s most iconic landscapes such as Logan Circle, the Azalea Garden, and grounds of the Rodin Museum.  Its widely known Tree Tenders and Garden Tenders programs, which together have attracted more than 6,000 participants, have become national models of community engagement.

Mission: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Greenhouse Manager is responsible for managing all plant production for retail sales and grounds as well as forcing for the Philadelphia Flower Show. The Greenhouse Manager is also responsible for the management of the growing staff.  This position has a heavy focus on attention to detail, organization and documentation of crop and pesticide management as well as customer records including all forcing accounts for the Flower Show. Much of this documentation will be done through PHS Meadowbrook Farm’s POS system, Winward and Excel.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

-Learn and utilize Winward POS system to keep detailed records of retail crops, growing supplies and customer accounts
– Manage all growing staff
-Create, follow and update crop schedule
-Inspect all greenhouse areas at least twice a day; identify moisture requirements, the status of the plant product and possible challenges/issues and document observations.
-Provide the correct moisture for crops. Understand and program irrigation controls
-Develop and utilize a written plan for what needs to be done over the course of a 7-10 day period.
-Use knowledge of temperature, soil moisture, fertilizer, variety response and PGR’s to make decisions regarding daily crop management so crops finish on time and meet PHS Meadowbrook Farm quality standards.
-Monitor greenhouse environment by checking Bartlett controllers 3-5 times a day.
-Utilize injectors appropriately; accurately mix fertilizers.
-Ensure feed tanks are properly filled.
-Monitor EC and pH of well water and fertigation water.
-Apply chemicals as needed using the appropriate protective equipment.
-Make spray application sheets, update 30 day chemical applications, and validate completed spray records.
-Keep pesticide records up to date including chemical inventory.
-Adhere to and follow WPS and pesticide laws.
-Maintain all growing equipment.
-Other Duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
-College degree in horticulture, floriculture or a related degree or a minimum of 5+ years experience in forcing and growing a variety of plants in a greenhouse setting –
-Detail oriented with strong organizational and communication skills
– Desire to grow and force premium plants and work in a greenhouse environment
– Knowledge of the industry, on a national level, to ensure that we are growing the newest, most current and trending varieties
-Ability to correctly complete assigned tasks in a timely manner
– Dedicated to producing a quality product
– Able to lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances
– Able to stand and walk for long periods of time
– Ability to work independently
– Computer Skills- Excel, Outlook and other Microsoft Office applications. Previous POS or Inventory Program a plus
– Working knowledge of WPS and Pennsylvania State Pesticide Laws. Individual pesticide license mandatory.

TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter and resume to:

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
c/o Human Resources
100 N 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA  19103
FAX: (215) 988-8810
Email: hrphs@pennhort.org

To learn more about us, visit www.phsonline.org

Please no telephone or walk-in inquires.  EOE.  Only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.