Cultivation Technician

Position: Cultivation Technician

Reports to: Cultivation Manager

Department: Cultivation

Location: Cuba (Oil Spring), New York

Date: January 31, 2025

Company Overview

Nativa Cannabis is a vertically integrated adult-use cannabis enterprise in Western New York. The business currently incorporates a retail storefront operating in the Buffalo, NY area, and is currently staffing out a cultivation facility in Cuba (Oil Spring), NY. Once open, this facility will house the cultivation, extraction, manufacturing/packaging, and testing of cannabis and cannabis products in partnership with the company’s retail location.

Department Overview

The Cultivation Department provides cannabis product streams for the vertically integrated channels within the company, including retail and manufacturing. This team’s general duties focus on growing healthy, dynamic cannabis plants and maximizing flower yield within the facility. Nativa implements Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to maintain organization, consistency, and efficiency across our team. General duties include plant propagation, transplanting, fertigation, trellising, pruning, cleaning, monitoring for pests, viruses, and disease, harvest, and general maintenance.

Position Overview

The Cultivation Technician provides the daily care and focused attention necessary to produce clean, potent, safe medicine for our patients. The successful candidate will possess a passion for horticulture and a willingness to continually learn more about the subject. This non-management, entry-level position offers the opportunity to learn and grow with the company from the ground up and to take on increasing levels of responsibility over time.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the Cultivation Technician include all aspects of the daily care of medicine from seed/clone to harvest; monitoring environmental factors to maximize production and prevent failures; and maintaining the highest levels of cleanliness and sanitation inside the cultivation area.

Crop Care

· Implement daily feeding & care schedule as directed by Cultivation Manager

· Maintain consistency and discretion when pruning crop at various stages

· Maintain consistency, uniformity and accuracy when repotting crop at various stages

· Routine visual inspection of plants to identify any pests/deficiencies and reporting findings to Cultivation Manager

· Crop propagation to meet inventory requirements as determined by Cultivation Manager

Data Logging

· Maintain accurate records of reservoirs, equipment, and other crop-related logs assigned by the Cultivation Assistant Manager

· Accurately scan inventory into designated location(s)

Facility and Equipment Maintenance

· Calibrates, operates, cleans, and stores pH/PPM meters

· Proper usage, maintenance, and storage of all tools and equipment, including but not limited to shop vacs, pumps, hoses, carts, Fiskars, scissors, loppers, stools, gloves, rags, and goggles.

· Cleaning/sanitizing pots to ensure that there are sufficient levels for repotting

· Complete daily and periodic cleaning tasks as assigned. Daily cleaning consists of sweeping and spot-mopping all areas on the cultivation floor, common bathroom, break room, and loading area

· Proper disposal of waste at the end of each day

· Assists in completing other secondary cultivation tasks at the direction of the Cultivation Manager according to company needs

· Follows all aspects of the workplace safety program, biosafety program, and compliance with all rules and regulations

· Maintains a clean, safe environment inside the cultivation area

Qualifications

Education

· High school diploma or equivalent

· 2 years post-secondary education in horticulture, agriculture, biology, chemistry, or related field preferred

Work Experience Required

· Work history showing progressive responsibility, willingness to accept additional projects or challenges

· 1 year experience in horticulture, botany, or related field

· 1 year in professional, state-licensed cannabis cultivation experience preferred

Required Knowledge

· Knowledge of basic computer & office equipment operations (inventory systems; Word; Excel; office equipment such as copiers/telephone systems)

· Math required for inventory, projections, and measurements

· Biology and chemistry related to plant growth, nutrition

Skills and Abilities

· Excellent time-management skills

· Ability to effectively plan and prioritize

· Ability to maintain confidentiality

· Ability to focus; attention to detail

· Skill at using computers

· Mechanical skill

· Ability to work effectively as part of a team

· Ability to communicate clearly and calmly

· Ability to remain calm in periods of high stress or unusual activity

· Absolute reliability and honesty

Physical Requirements

· Extended time standing, walking, bending, and reaching

· Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds for a distance of 100 feet

· Close visual focus required

· This position requires occasional extended and repetitive use of arms, hands, and fingers to cut and manipulate small objects

Native Preference

· Seneca or Native preference applies, given to qualified applicants pursuant to the Seneca Nation of Indians’ Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour

Expected hours: No more than 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Overtime
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $22