Business Unit Manager

Wholesale Nursery

Reports To:

Director of Growing Operations

Direct Reports:

- Assistant Grower

- Production Team Lead

- Production Workers

- Maintenance Assistant

About the Organization:

Founded in 1961 as F. Ferragine & Sons, Bradford Greenhouses Ltd. is a proudly Canadian-owned and operated business that has grown from a family farming operation into a respected multi-channel enterprise serving retail and wholesale customers. Incorporated in 1975, the business expanded its Bradford operations into a larger retail, growing, and distribution footprint, and later extended its retail presence with the Barrie location.

Across decades of evolution, the organization has remained grounded in long-term relationships, entrepreneurial values, and a deep commitment to its people, customers, and community.

The company has recently made significant investments in IT infrastructure and hardware. We are now looking for a hands-on IT Manager to strengthen internal IT leadership, improve operational reliability, reduce recurring technology issues, enhance cybersecurity practices, and reduce reliance on external consultants. Summary:

The Business Unit Manager is responsible for leading the day-to-day growing, production, maintenance, and crop readiness activities within an assigned business unit of the wholesale nursery. Reporting to the Director of Growing Operations, this role ensures that crops are planted, grown, maintained, and prepared for sale according to quality standards, production plans, seasonal timelines, labour resources, and customer requirements.

The Business Unit Manager provides direct supervision to the Assistant Grower, Production Team Lead, Production Workers, and Maintenance Assistant assigned to the business unit. This role requires strong horticultural knowledge, hands-on operational leadership, the ability to plan and organize daily work, and a practical approach to solving crop, labour, quality, and production issues in a fast-paced seasonal environment.

Job Duties:

Business Unit Leadership

- Lead the daily, weekly, and seasonal execution of growing and production activities within the assigned business unit.
- Translate direction from the Director of Growing Operations into clear work priorities, schedules, and expectations for the team.
- Ensure planting, spacing, pruning, watering, fertilizing, crop maintenance, movement, and readiness activities are completed on time and to standard.
- Monitor progress against production plans and identify issues that may affect crop quality, timing, labour needs, or customer commitments.
- Escalate risks, resource needs, and operational challenges to the Director of Growing Operations in a timely and solution-focused manner.

Crop Quality and Growing Standards

- Maintain high standards for plant health, crop quality, uniformity, spacing, pruning, irrigation, fertilization, pest and disease management, and general crop care.
- Conduct regular crop walks and inspections to assess plant performance, identify concerns, and support timely corrective action.
- Work closely with the Assistant Grower to ensure growing practices are appropriate, consistent, and aligned with company standards.
- Ensure crops are maintained in a sale-ready condition and prepared according to production, inventory, and customer timing needs.
- Support efforts to reduce shrink, improve crop consistency,



and optimize growing outcomes within the business unit.

Team Supervision and Daily Work Management

- Supervise, coach, and support the Assistant Grower, Production Team Lead, Production Workers, and Maintenance Assistant.
- Set clear daily work priorities and ensure the team understands expectations for quality, productivity, safety, and timing.
- Assign work effectively based on priorities, employee capability, seasonal demands, and available resources.
- Monitor work quality and productivity throughout the day and provide timely feedback, redirection, and support.
- Build a positive, accountable team environment focused on communication, teamwork, pride in product quality, and continuous improvement.

Production Planning and Labour Coordination

- Support the Director of Growing Operations in developing and executing seasonal and weekly production plans.
- Plan and coordinate labour needs for planting, maintenance, crop movement, cleanup, preparation, and other business unit activities.
- Identify labour, space, equipment, material, or timing constraints that may impact operational execution.
- Coordinate with the Production Team Lead to ensure work is organized efficiently and completed according to priority.
- Maintain awareness of business unit capacity, seasonal workload, and upcoming operational requirements.

Maintenance, Equipment, and Growing Area Readiness

- Ensure assigned growing areas, equipment, tools, irrigation systems, and workspaces are maintained, organized, and ready for use.
- Provide direction to the Maintenance Assistant on routine maintenance, repairs, cleanup, equipment preparation, and growing area support.
- Identify maintenance issues that could affect safety, crop quality, irrigation, productivity, or operational flow.
- Ensure growing areas are clean, safe, organized, and maintained to company standards.
- Coordinate with the Director of Growing Operations or other support teams when additional maintenance, equipment, or repair support is required.

Cross-Functional Coordination

- Work with other Business Unit Managers to coordinate shared resources, timing, labour support, equipment use, and operational priorities.
- Communicate crop status, availability, readiness concerns, and production risks to the Director of Growing Operations.
- Support coordination with sales, shipping, purchasing, logistics, and other internal teams as needed.
- Ensure business unit activities support customer commitments, shipping timelines, and overall company priorities.
- Promote effective handoffs and communication between growing, production, maintenance, and shipping-related activities.

Health, Safety, and Compliance

- Ensure employees follow company health and safety policies, protected work practices, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Reinforce proper procedures related to equipment use, material handling, chemical or pesticide handling, personal protective equipment, and general workplace safety.




- Identify and address unsafe conditions or behaviours promptly.
- Ensure team members receive appropriate training, direction, and supervision for assigned work.
- Promote a clean, organized, and safety-conscious working environment.

Records, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement

- Maintain accurate records related to crop status, production activities, labour, inputs, maintenance concerns, crop issues, and other business unit information as required.
- Provide regular updates to the Director of Growing Operations on crop progress, operational priorities, risks, and team performance.
- Identify opportunities to improve labour efficiency, crop quality, workflow, space utilization, safety, and communication.
- Support the implementation of improved processes, standards, and routines within the business unit.
- Contribute to a culture of practical problem-solving and continuous improvement.

Requirements:

- Post-secondary education in horticulture, agriculture, plant science, or a related field is preferred.

- Experience in nursery, greenhouse, horticultural production, agricultural operations, or a similar hands-on production environment.

- Previous supervisory or team leadership experience is strongly preferred.

- Strong practical knowledge of plant care, crop maintenance, irrigation, fertilization, spacing, pruning, pest and disease identification, and seasonal production practices.

- Ability to plan daily work, assign tasks, supervise employees, and follow through on priorities.

- Experience working in a seasonal, fast-paced, labour-intensive setting.

- Basic computer skills and comfort maintaining records or using production, inventory, or reporting systems.

- Valid driver’s licence or equipment operation experience may be an asset, depending on business unit requirements.

Key Competencies

- Hands-on operational leadership
- Horticultural and crop production knowledge
- Planning, organization, and follow-through
- Team supervision and coaching
- Problem solving under seasonal pressure
- Accountability for quality, timing, productivity, and safety
- Clear communication and practical decision-making
- Collaboration with other business units and departments
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Attention to detail and pride in product quality

Working Conditions

- Work is performed in nursery, greenhouse, outdoor, production, and occasional office environments.
- The role requires regular walking of crops and growing areas, standing for extended periods, and exposure to seasonal weather conditions.
- The role may involve working around equipment, irrigation systems, growing materials, fertilizers, chemicals, and other production inputs.
- Seasonal peaks may require extended hours, weekend availability, and flexibility to respond to urgent crop, labour, weather, or operational needs.
- The position requires a hands-on presence in the growing areas and regular interaction with employees throughout the workday.

Success in This Role

Success in this role will be measured by the Business Unit Manager’s ability to maintain healthy, high-quality crops; lead an organized and productive team; execute growing and production plans on time; communicate issues proactively; support a safe and efficient work setting; and ensure the assigned business unit contributes reliably to the overall success of the wholesale nursery operation.

📌 Business Unit Manager (Bradford)
🏢 Bradford Greenhouses
📍 Bradford