Head Grower

Company Description

Syngenta is a global leader in agriculture; rooted in science and dedicated to bringing plant potential to life. Each of our 30,000 employees in more than 90 countries work together to solve one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: growing more food with fewer resources. A diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace environment are enablers of our ambition to be the most collaborative and trusted team in agriculture. Our employees reflect the diversity of our customers, the markets where we operate and the communities which we serve. No matter what your position, you will have a vital role in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. Join us and help shape the future of agriculture.

Syngenta Flowers North America

Syngenta Flowers North America is one of the largest wholesale breeders of hybrid flower seed and cuttings in the world – developing and producing flower seeds and cuttings for growers internationally.
Syngenta Flowers is dedicated to the breeding innovative flower varieties that offer outstanding performance in the professional greenhouse, at retail, in the landscape and in the home garden. In addition to legendary genetics, we support industry professionals with world-class customer service, in-depth cultural information, flexible and exciting marketing programs, and a deep understanding of plants from many points of view.
Syngenta Flowers has garnered more than 35 international awards for introducing hybrid annuals to the world, including such garden mainstays as Calliope® Interspecific Geraniums, Diabunda™ Dianthus, Endurio™ Violas, Sparkler™ Cleome, and Magellan™ Zinnias.

We are currently seeking a Head Grower for our team based in Gilroy, California.   

https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/about-us

Job Description

The purpose of the Head Grower is to lead the site’s team of growers and assistant growers with the goal of delivering quality crops and trials on time to specifications for a research facility. Follow and apply all HSE (Health, Safety, & Environment) and Stewardship practices, as well as to provide feedback to site management with the functional activities of a research facility.

Accountabilities

• Lead the growing team in execution of all crops including marketing trials, breeding trials, field trials, and elite greenhouse activities
• Solve production problems and deliver optimal crop growing conditions with a focus on producing the highest quality plants possible for research purposes
• Support the team in critical growing knowledge acquisition, recording, and application including propagation, transplanting, irrigation, fertilizer, plant growth regulator application, plant maintenance, insect and disease management, and crop scheduling
• Learn and understand all the site’s trials and adapt growing culture for the unique goals that each trial has
• Ensure an effective IPM program is in place and maintained through the site
• Screening field trials to identify, remedy and/or prevent pest and diseases
• Interpret media and plant nutrient testing results to solve plant growth challenges and optimize growing conditions for each crop
• Align growing protocols for each specific trial and crop with the pre-set quality standards as set by the stakeholders (breeders, marketing team, starter material team etc).
• Regular communication with trial stakeholders regarding progress, deviations, and challenges
• Work closely with operations and planning, utilizing IS tools (e.g., Kikker) to review weekly work schedules based on tasks that need to be executed to grow trials
• Work with operations and planning to prioritize actions based on plant growth and cultural needs
• Provide the growing team guidance on climate control settings (temperature, humidity, day length and assimilation lighting) and the frequency of watering, fertilization, and crop protection strategy
• Comparing crop yield/performance with soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop (site-specific) crop management plans
• Monitor and enforce data collection regarding plant health or performance
• Maintain room for exploration and out of the box breeding and thinking
• Guiding leaders and employees in the specific department in cultivation activities, so that the work is carried out in a proper technical way
• Support and implement high throughput Phenotyping as needed
• Together with the team and stakeholders, conduct cultivation evaluations and make sure that improvements and findings from those evaluations are being included in the growing protocols
• Ensure all HSE and phytosanitary protocols are followed and enforced by the growing and operation teams
• Make suggestions on r