Product Test Coordinator (Research and Development Trials)

Proven Winners is a worldwide brand known for its vigorous, high-quality products and is also our main brand that we promote and sell here at Four Star Greenhouse.

Four Star is looking for someone to join our Research and Development team to coordinate trials that focus on plants being considered for market, production growing processes as well as trials for new lights, soils, fertilizers, growth regulators, etc.

They will also serve as a liaison and support personnel for the Production Growing Team as they learn to grow new plant varieties. We are looking for someone who possesses a high level of communication, organization and an eye for detail.

The Product Test Coordinator will:

· Oversee new variety sample plant programs.

·Organize and monitor the acquisition, propagation, transplanting, and maintenance of all items evaluated in our elevated production trial phases.

·Collect and interpret key production data to assist in training of staff, customers and end-users through marketing and technical support mechanisms.

·Support knowledge transfer for new products by developing growing culture, photo-documentation, and other additive content to ensure a successful product launch.

·Collaborate to establish criteria and methodology for evaluating each new product.

This will be a full-time year-round position with a competitive benefits package. We are looking for someone who has a minimum of 2 years with a horticulture degree; or 3 years of experience in a related field. The position starts at $21.50 and may increase depending upon relevant skills and experience. We look forward to hearing from you!

JOB SUMMARY: Coordinates focused testing of new plant varieties being evaluated for market introduction by Four Star (FSG) and the Proven Winners® plant brand (PWNA). Collects and interprets key production data to assist in training of growing and sales staff, as well as customers and end-users through marketing and technical support mechanisms. Supports knowledge transfer for new products by developing growing culture, photo-documentation, and other additive content to ensure a successful product launch. Serve as leader, mentor, and best working example for diverse crew members you will direct daily.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Organizes and monitors the acquisition, propagation, transplanting, and maintenance of all items evaluated in our elevated production trial phases.
• Populates PWNA Trial database with critical growing culture data so it can be aggregated to form the foundation for sales training, customer support, and updates to our Culture Guide print publication.
• Collaborates with Production Growing Team to establish criteria and methodology for evaluating each new product; corresponding often to ensure quality care and knowledge transfer occurs.
• Oversees Key Customer and Broker new variety sample programs.
• Serves as liaison and support personnel for Production Growing Team as they learn to grow new plant varieties.
• Serves as liaison between lab and production activity, with main function to receive trial test material and record observations on incoming plant material.
• Develops training resources and implements training as needed for department education, based on trial results. The company may adapt new growing cultures based on results.
• Effectively leads crews of 1-3 people daily. Provides content for personnel reviews.
• Sprays crops as needed, wearing all appropriate PPE including spray suits and respirators while using high pressure sprayers or other spray equipment.
• Assist Exhibit Product Coordinator during busy times, which may include staging, transplanting, crop maintenance, cleaning, or shipping.
• Maintain awareness of maintenance projects on mechanical and growing systems to prevent systems from failing and incurring additional recovery costs.
• Ensure that the correct environmental conditions for each crop are maintained, and notify the growing department if issues arise. Demonstrate an understanding of the desired climate as it relates to sensor placement and the proper operation of exhaust fans, vents, shutters, HAF fans, heaters, heating systems and fog systems. Ensure that all equipment controlled by Argus is operating properly. Demonstrate an understanding of how environmental conditions affect plant growth by suggesting environmental changes based on crop growth and scheduled ship dates.

FOUR STAR VALUES:

Row Together

• Serve each other with dignity and professionalism, so everyone feels included, valued, and supported in an environment of mutual trust and respect.
• Build trust and loyalty through responsible actions and honest relationships with a strong commitment to teamwork and collaboration.
• Create and maintain an environment in which we all are empowered and enabled to achieve our high standards and expectations while having fun.
• Set aside egos and personal goals for the good of the team.
• Communicate with each other in the most personable and inclusive way possible.

Do The Right Thing

• Make ethical, transparent, and well-intentioned decisions, even when no one is watching or the consequences are costly, focusing on what’s best for our company, customers, and each other.
• Fulfill the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations through sustainable actions and processes.
• Be fair, sincere, open, and tactfully honest.
• Make decisions that drive value so we will continue to financially thrive together.

Look Around Corners

• Take calculated risks, simplify processes, embrace, and approach new ideas with the question, “how can we?”.
• Work smarter not harder, constantly seeking improvements that keep Four Star at the forefront of the industry.
• Welcome change and adapt to achieve long term sustained success.

Embrace Challenges

• Anticipate and attack challenges to meet goals and to honor commitments which may include collaborating through healthy differences of opinion.
• Recognize mistakes as learning experiences. Openly discuss mistakes with a commitment to constant personal improvement and give positive encouragement to others to keep trying.
• Own your responsibilities and be genuinely accountable for your decisions, actions, and results.

Live Long & Prosper

• Create and maintain a safe and healthy facility.
• Identify, openly discuss, and fix issues that pose risks to the safety and health of all employees and visitors.
• Seek harmony between personal and professional time.

Reach For The Stars

• Take pride in producing the highest quality products and services that exceed our customers’ expectations.
• Meet the mission of being “Easy, Successful & Inspiring” for all interactions with customers and each other.
• Make decisions based on data driven insights blended with intuition, then openly share the reasons for those decisions.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

• Earn and maintain the trust and respect of all stakeholder areas that R&D supports.
• Anticipates crop and site related problems before they arise. Demonstrates an ability to solve crop and site-related challenges.
• Scouts and identifies insect and disease problems in crops. Makes recommendations to R&D Section II Grower on corrective treatments, when necessary.
• Anticipates future needs of crops and acts accordingly.
• Accurately perform any plant-related function including, but not limited to: harvesting and transplanting unrooted cuttings per R&D protocols.

ESSENTIAL WORK HABITS:

• Actively contribute to the continued success of the company by expressing new ideas that can result in lower costs, improved profits, and improved efficiency.
• Promote a safety culture by performing all aspects of your job following all safety standards. Identify and report any safety issues or concerns without delay.
• Utilize equipment only after completing the required training. Including but not limited to Sprayers, Power Washers, Injectors, Tow Carts, Hi-Los, Scissor Lifts, Ladders, etc.
• Perform all work as quickly and efficiently as possible, without compromising quality. Ensures that all work areas are kept clean, neat, and organized.
• Demonstrates exemplary organizational skills: performing a daily walk-around to create and then follow daily tasks lists.
• Adjusts schedule seasonally as needed. (i.e. willing to work a flexible schedule depending on the needs of the department)
• Reports to work as scheduled, maintaining a level of absences that results in minimal departmental disruption and minimal unfair burden on other employees.
• Demonstrate the ability to establish priorities, work independently, and accomplish objectives with minimal supervision after training.
• Demonstrate the ability to maintain a positive and cooperative attitude with all fellow employees and across all departments. Promote positive morale by working effectively as a team member across departments.
• Presents a consistent level of professionalism with all FSG employees, PWNA team members, customers, and breeders.
• Performs a daily walk-around to create and then follow daily tasks lists.
• Quickly learn and adapt to new computer systems, company specific computer programs and other modern technology.
• Report employee challenges, as well as any other issues that may have legal implications for the Company to leadership without delay.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of a 2-year horticulture degree; or 3 years of experience in a related field
• Demonstrates an adequate knowledge of computers and Microsoft Office applications including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel and/or Access databases.
• Must pass respirator evaluation.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Accurately perform plant related functions and complete required documentation to meet program/department goals including but not limited to: staging, spacing, or moving any plant material that needs to be relocated; plant in the trial garden as necessary; discard plant material as assigned; record and verify dumped plant material.
• Participate in education programs as they are offered and continue to self-educate as needed when new plants, equipment or techniques are brought into the program.
• Actively contribute to the continued success of the Company by expressing new ideas that can result in lower costs, improved profits, and improved efficiency.
• All other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS:

• Bulk of the job is spent standing or walking, bending to the ground and reaching overhead, pulling carts on four rolling casters weighing over 200lbs.
• Lifting a minimum of 25 lbs.
• A portion of the job is spent utilizing a computer and/or telephone.
• Employee will be exposed to the sun, and/or high intensity lights.
• Employee may be exposed to temperatures that can be 10-20 degrees above outside temperature, seasonally.
• Employee will work in a wet environment where clothes and footwear can become saturated.
• Rolling, unrolling and using irrigation hoses and high-pressure hoses.
• Must pass respirator “fit” test at time of hire and as needed.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $21.50 per hour

Expected hours: 40 – 45 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Compensation Package:

• Hourly pay
• Overtime pay

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Overtime

Application Question(s):

• Do you understand that we do not grow cannabis?
• Describe your experience working with plants.
• Describe your experience working in the horticulture industry.

Ability to Commute:

• Carleton, MI 48117 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $22