Job Description

Job Description

Location:

Early Branch, South Carolina Relocation to Early Branch, SC is required Lead the Growing Operation of a Large-Scale, High-Tech Greenhouse We are seeking an experienced Head Grower / Director of Growing to lead commercial tomato production at a 30-acre high-tech greenhouse operation in Early Branch, South Carolina. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an experienced commercial greenhouse professional who understands high-wire tomato production, crop steering, climate control, fertigation, biological IPM, automation, and large-scale greenhouse operations . The successful candidate will play a key role in the commissioning and startup of the greenhouse , establish crop production systems, lead growing strategies, and provide technical expertise for future expansion. Relocation to Early Branch, South Carolina is required. Why This Opportunity Lead growing operations at a 30-acre commercial greenhouse Play a key role in facility commissioning and operational startup Help shape the design and engineering of a future greenhouse expansion Lead advanced high-wire tomato production Utilize modern CEA automation, climate-control, and fertigation technology Establish crop steering, irrigation, IPM, and production standards Build and mentor a strong growing and crop-care team Work directly with Operations and executive leadership Prospect to make a significant impact on a growing commercial operation

Key Responsibilities
Greenhouse Commissioning & Startup Lead the technical and biological commissioning of the 30-acre greenhouse. Conduct wet-testing of fertigation systems and irrigation skids. Calibrate environmental and crop sensors. Configure automated climate-control systems. Establish greenhouse biosecurity and sanitation zones.



Develop slab pre-saturation and initial transplanting procedures. Establish production protocols for a successful commercial startup. Crop Steering & Climate Management Develop 24-hour environmental strategies to optimize vegetative and generative crop balance. Manage VPD, humidity deficit, light integration, air circulation, CO2 enrichment, temperature, and other environmental parameters. Optimize climate strategies to maximize yield, fruit quality, plant health, and fruit set . Utilize greenhouse climate-control platforms such as Priva, Hoogendoorn, Argus, or comparable systems . Fertigation & Root-Zone Management Develop and continuously refine crop-specific nutrient programs. Analyze water, nutrient, and drain data to optimize crop performance. Monitor EC, pH, drain percentage, dry-back curves, dissolved oxygen, and root development. Manage crops grown in rockwool, coco, or comparable commercial substrates . Balance irrigation and fertigation systems for consistent crop performance. Greenhouse Expansion & Engineering Input Provide technical growing expertise for future greenhouse expansion, including: Gutter height and slope Heating pipe distribution Grow pipe and rail systems Energy and shading screens Supplemental LED lighting Closed-loop irrigation and recirculation Water sanitation systems Greenhouse climate and environmental systems Integrated Pest & Disease Management Develop and implement proactive biological IPM programs.



Manage beneficial insects, predatory mites, and biological fungicides. Establish rigorous scouting and pest-threshold programs. Maintain sanitation and clean-break procedures. Minimize chemical dependence while protecting crop health and production. Leadership & Labor Management Lead and mentor assistant growers, crop scouts, supervisors, and crop-care teams. Partner with Operations Management to establish labor requirements and production benchmarks. Develop SOPs for clipping, twisting, de-leafing, lowering, truss pruning, harvesting, and other crop-care activities. Establish productivity benchmarks and continuously improve labor efficiency. Train supervisors and production teams on crop-care standards. Crop Registration & Yield Forecasting Conduct weekly crop registration and monitor plant development. Track stem thickness, growth rate, flowering speed, fruit load, and other crop indicators. Produce accurate 4–8 week rolling yield and harvest forecasts . Communicate production forecasts to packhouse, sales, operations, and executive leadership. Food Safety & Compliance Ensure compliance with applicable: PrimusGFS USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Worker Protection Standards (WPS) State and federal environmental requirements Greenhouse food-safety and worker-safety standards Required Experience This is a senior-level commercial greenhouse position. 7–10 years of large-scale commercial high-wire greenhouse vegetable production Tomato production experience is required 3–5 years as a Head Grower, Senior Grower, Director of Growing, or equivalent Experience managing crops across 10 contiguous acres Demonstrated experience with large-scale commercial greenhouse operations Experience with gre

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