Propagation Supervisor

Walla Walla Nursery Co

Propagation Supervisor Job Description

 Job Title:  Propagation Supervisor

Reports To:  WA Grow Manager

Position Status: Full Time

Compensation: $24.75 - 28.75 (DOE)

General Job Description:  

Primary role is the propagation of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and tropical plants in an efficient and sanitary manner. Will help maintain the operator of the TTA sticking machine as well as hand sticking. Ensure and maintain departments daily and weekly goals and standards.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Willing to go through a training course with testing to best understand the practices and expectation of the position.
• Use the proper techniques, required pretreatments, appropriate growing media, container usage, and/or any other specialized requirements in preparation for planting.
• Helps ensure that planting and/or propagation takes place in a timely and coordinated manner referencing potting sheets for start date, quantity, and product placement.
• Follow all written SOPs for each propagation technique and adjusts those SOPs where applicable to reach planting goals
• Maintaining production speed and daily count expectations
• Develops an intimate understanding of plant propagation through close observation, ongoing education, accessing vendor partner experience, self study, experience, and experimentation.
• Work with WA Growing manager for continual education on plant identification
• Train propagation technicians on all SOPs for propagation
• Maintain and developing cutting guide for TTA machine
• Use Basic mathematics for plant count/tray reporting
• Communicate with other departments-IPM, field collection lead, growers etc. as needed in regards to obtaining optimal plant material in a timely manner
• Communicates with Potting team on a daily/weekly basis in order to coordinate tray needs
• Accurate documentation on all potting sheets. Will be responsible for updating propagation potting sheets daily
• Work with phase II supervisor to correctly lay down trays and in appropriate location
• Receives all unrooted/TC material from vendors. Carefully documents, reports, and keeps track of claims to vendors and production administration staff.
• Inventories and tracks tray needs on a weekly basis, informing the potting team of needs.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Production expectations to be maintained within propagation

• Receiving and collection of material should only take a duration of 1-4 hours (depending on production load and type of material being produced.)
• Calculating cuttings per container - 1-10 minutes per variety
• Pruning of material approximately 1-3 hours depending on production quantity and weather conditions
• Receiving vendor material can take a duration of 15 minutes if 1-5 varieties. 1-3 hours for 1-5 boxes, or 4-7 hours if 5+boxes

Production expectations to be maintained within propagation

 when assisting in sticking or TTA

• Sowing by hand 15-20 trays of 128/72 per employee per hour
• Sticking tissue culture 45-90 trays of 72 per house, 25-50 trays of 128 per hour
• 4000-8000 cuttings per 8 hour shift, or 500-1000 URC per hour

Production expectations when assisting in Growing or Phase II departments

• Grading cuttings from calluses or semi rooted material 720-1000 plugs per hour
• Weeding and consolidation
• Light weeding: 30-40 trays per hours
• Standard consolidation/weeding: 20-30 trays per hour
• Heavy weeding/consolidation: 15-20 trays per hour
• Pruning liners:

-Mechanical pruning (hedger, weed wacker with hedger attachment, Agronomic pruning machine):19200+ units per 8 hour shift

-Hand pruning expectation: 5600-7200 units per 8 hours

Training and Testing

• Must be willing to receive training in regards to practices and critical thinking needs for position.
• Pass (in class and hands on) modules 1-7, 9. With a minimum score of 60%+ on each module
• Willing to take extra training in areas that pertains but doesn’t directly correspond with role: modules 8, 10

Skills and Abilities:

• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent knowledge
• Strong skills with verbal and written communication
• Basic computer skills and strong math skills
• Basic mathematical skills
• Horticulture knowledge a plus but not required
• Skills and ability in time management and task prioritization
• Ability to be self-motivating while paying close attention to detail
• An adaptive personality with an ability to remain flexible

Physical Requirements

• Extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheelbarrows, containers, etc.
• Sit and/or walk for extensive periods of time while sorting, picking, examining, weeding, transporting, spacing, pruning, etc.
• Stoop and/or bend over while performing farm balfour such as weeding, irrigating, pruning, spacing, picking, removing debris, etc.
• Performing repetitive movements such as picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding, etc.
• Lift or load up to 50 pounds
• Fieldwork begins at an assigned time shortly after daylight
• Work may be performed during environmental extremes including but not limited to light rain and in high humidity and in freezing or high temperatures.
• May be required to work when crops are wet with dew/rain and should have suitable clothing for variable weather conditions
• Must be able to walk across uneven terrain.

Other requirements

• Must go through annual WPS training

Professional Mindset:

• Develops a working knowledge and awareness of LEAN principles and actively participates in building a culture of continuous improvement. Strives to ensure workflow processes and stations are set up to minimize waste, improve working conditions and safety, and maximize productivity and value to the customer.
• Demonstrates commitment to learning and upholding company policies including safety and quality standards, and the mission, vision, principles and ethics of WWNC.
• Develops a strong understanding of industry and WWNC quality standards and consistently delivers work that meets or exceeds those standards by following procedures, checking work for accuracy, and promptly addressing defects or issues.
• Takes initiative for personal growth by actively “learning the business”, seeking feedback from peers and supervisors, and engaging in relevant educational, training or professional development opportunities.

Direct Reports:

• Sticking Leads
• Field Collection Lead
• Propagation Operator