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

Employment type
Full-Time

Work arrangement
No