The Assistant Head Grower is a collaborative, hands-on leader responsible for supporting the Growing Team in overseeing crop production, environmental control, and cultural practices across multiple growing areas (greenhouse, field, and propagation). This role directly supervises and empowers Section Growers and Irrigation Staff, ensuring that daily irrigation, fertilization, misting, scouting, and chemical applications are executed safely, consistently, and to a high standard. They coordinate with the Head Grower and other supervisors and managers to produce high quality crops.  This requires prioritizing crop cultural needs, maintaining environmental and irrigation systems, assisting with pest and disease management, upholding sanitation standards, communicating timely plant maintenance, and optimizing crop layout. They model best practices, train and coach others, and create an environment where team members can learn, grow, and succeed.

 Area & Crop Management

• Support the Head Grower in managing multiple production areas (e.g., 5+ acres of greenhouse, 15+ acres of field, and/or more than 25,000 square feet of plugs and liners), ensuring crop health, timing, and quality across all assigned sections.
• Ensure that daily irrigation, fertilization, and misting routines/rotations for specific crops are executed properly by Section Growers and Irrigation Staff; step in and perform these tasks directly as needed.
• Guide and review watering decisions made on a case-by-case, moment-to-moment basis, using the “Language of Watering” to set standards and promote consistent communication.
• Oversee the adjustment, maintenance, and logging of misting and fertilizing schedules in propagation areas; assist in troubleshooting issues and refining strategies.
• Monitor and support greenhouse venting, heating, and environmental adjustments (including manual vents and thermostats) to achieve climate targets.
• Work with Section Growers and other departments to coordinate crop layout within and across areas to optimize space use, workflow efficiency, environmental conditions, and plant health.
• Monitor the health and quality of incoming liners; provide guidance and final decisions on trimming, growth regulation, holding, or planting schedules based on crop readiness and space availability.

Team Leadership, Coaching & Support

• Lead, support, and coach Section Growers and Irrigation Staff (generally teams of 5–12), providing daily direction, clear priorities, and regular feedback.
• Train and develop staff in irrigation, fertilization, scouting, safe pesticide/fungicide/growth regulator use, and environmental control, encouraging questions and continuous learning.
• Use and standardize the “Language of Watering” and similar shared tools across the team, helping build a common understanding of crop status, water needs, and decision-making.
• Provide and/or coordinate Worker Protection Standards (WPS) training, including support for Spanish-speaking employees, ensuring clear understanding of labels, safety rules, and procedures.
• Prepare and post weekly work schedules for Section Growers and Irrigation Staff.
• Support the Head Grower in conducting annual performance evaluations for Section Growers, focusing on strengths, development needs, and career progression.
• Assist in recruitment, selection, onboarding, and—when necessary—termination of Section Growers and Irrigation Staff in alignment with company values and team culture.
• Support and enforce company policies and rules with an emphasis on respect, safety, teamwork, and a positive, solution-focused work environment.
• Model a strong work ethic, customer service attitude, and problem-solving mindset, setting expectations for professionalism and collaboration.

 Irrigation, Fertility & Technical Monitoring

• Oversee and coach Section Growers in understanding EC levels, PPMs, and related metrics; perform or review EC “isolation” checks and interpret results for many genera.
• Ensure accurate use and calibration of EC and pH meters; guide staff in recognizing incorrect readings and in researching possible causes of unusual variances.
• Procure and maintain supplies for EC, pH, and alkalinity testing, and ensure staff are trained to use them correctly for accurate crop monitoring.
• Coordinate and assist in the development of sampling schedules for plant tissue and soil testing, involving team members to build understanding and ownership
• Review fertility results reported by Section Growers; escalate or adjust strategies with the Head Grower as needed.
• Stay current on new and updated cultural methods of propagation and crop management; evaluate their applicability and help implement proven improvements across the team.

Pest, Disease, Chemical & IPM Oversight

• Support Section Growers in identifying disease symptoms or cues for issues such as botrytis, rust, downy mildew, powdery mildew, rhizoctonia, and pythium; provide coaching on diagnosis and thresholds for action.
• Ensure regular scouting for major pests, with an emphasis on early detection and prompt response; consolidate findings and coordinate with IPM personnel.
• Collaborate closely with the IPM Technician and/or IPM Coordinator to plan and monitor biological and chemical control programs; maintain required application records and assess effectiveness.
• Oversee and, when needed, directly perform or lead drench applications of pesticides, fungicides, and growth regulators, ensuring all activities follow label directions and safety regulations.
• Provide guidance to Section Growers on growth regulator rates and uses for common genera, including volume-per-square-foot targets and techniques for even application; ensure staff can apply and teach others to meet these standards.
• Ensure WPS forms and chemical labels are understood and completed correctly; support Section Growers in providing WPS training and enforcing safety compliance.
• Evaluate crop inputs and provide constructive feedback to suppliers, communicating relevant changes and expectations to the growing team.

Coordination, Planning & Continuous Improvement

• Participate in and help facilitate daily coordination meetings with the Head Grower, Section Growers, IPM Team, and department supervisors/managers to review projects, address issues, and align priorities.
• Provide feedback on environmental control system performance (e.g., PRIVA, ARGUS, and other computer-controlled climate systems), noting when systems are not functioning or not set correctly and coordinating corrective actions.
• Participate in scheduled crop walks to evaluate growth regulator applications, irrigation and fertility strategies, pest/disease control, and overall cultural practices, inviting input from team members.
• Collaborate with the Head Grower to identify and implement process improvements that enhance crop performance, workflow efficiency, and staff safety, drawing ideas from the Growing team.
• Monitor inventory and purchase irrigation supplies and PPE as needed ensuring staff have the tools they need to succeed.
• Collaborate with and provide backup support to team members across departments to meet operational goals, seasonal demands, and customer expectations.
• Support seasonal workload requirements by working extended hours, including weekends and holidays, during peak production periods.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with all levels of staff.
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred, verbal and written, with the ability to support training and safety communication for Spanish-speaking employees.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills; able to lead, motivate, and develop Section Growers and Irrigation Staff, including handling and coaching difficult-to-manage individuals while maintaining professionalism and respect.
• Ability to articulate ideas clearly, provide direction, and foster open, respectful dialogue and teamwork across departments.
• Able to follow and teach culture sheets and schedules to induce flowering and achieve crop timing objectives.
• Demonstrated personal leadership skills, positive customer service attitude, strong work ethic, and a self-motivated approach to prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable learning and operating both proprietary and external computer systems, including environmental control platforms (e.g., PRIVA, ARGUS); able to critique and verify climate programs.
• Ability to foster and promote a strong safety culture, encouraging staff to raise concerns and participate in solutions; ability to maintain compliance with Worker Protection Standards.
• Comprehensive knowledge of high-quality bedding perennials and annuals.
• Working knowledge of biological controls and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.
• Strong understanding of commonly used fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, growth regulators, pests, diseases, and associated safety regulations.
• Pesticide applicator license required (may be obtained within a defined period after hire and must be kept current).
• Able to use spraying equipment safely and effectively; some mechanical aptitude to assist with basic irrigation and spraying equipment maintenance.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with all levels of staff.
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred, verbal and written, with the ability to support training and safety communication for Spanish-speaking employees.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills; able to lead, motivate, and develop Section Growers and Irrigation Staff, including handling and coaching difficult-to-manage individuals while maintaining professionalism and respect.
• Ability to articulate ideas clearly, provide direction, and foster open, respectful dialogue and teamwork across departments.
• Able to follow and teach culture sheets and schedules to induce flowering and achieve crop timing objectives.
• Demonstrated personal leadership skills, positive customer service attitude, strong work ethic, and a self-motivated approach to prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable learning and operating both proprietary and external computer systems, including environmental control platforms (e.g., PRIVA, ARGUS); able to critique and verify climate programs.
• Ability to foster and promote a strong safety culture, encouraging staff to raise concerns and participate in solutions; ability to maintain compliance with Worker Protection Standards.
• Comprehensive knowledge of high-quality bedding perennials and annuals.
• Working knowledge of biological controls and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.
• Strong understanding of commonly used fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, growth regulators, pests, diseases, and associated safety regulations.
• Pesticide applicator license required (may be obtained within a defined period after hire and must be kept current).
• Able to use spraying equipment safely and effectively; some mechanical aptitude to assist with basic irrigation and spraying equipment maintenance.

• Work indoors and outdoors in seasonal temperatures and conditions, including hot environments.
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Continuously walk, stand, bend, kneel (including working below knee level), and reach overhead and from side to side for extended periods of time.
• Able to work extended hours, including weekends and holidays, during peak production seasons; available to work any assigned shift based on operational needs.

$80K to $110K per year