Assistant Operator Jobs in Canton, NC (NOW HIRING)

 Company Overview 

Who is Costa Farms? We’re one of the world’s largest horticultural growers—but without an ego to match our acreage. Our headquarters are in Miami, Florida, where we were founded in 1961. Costa Farms started on just 30 acres, and over the last 60 years, we’ve grown to more than 5,000 acres around the world. We have farms in North and South Carolina, Central and South Florida, and the Dominican Republic, plus an office in China. Costa Farms now employs nearly 6,000 people: engineers, marketers, accountants/analysts, human resources professionals, and of course, growers and plant scientists!    

Here at Costa Farms, we live by the values of H3: being Humble, staying Hungry, and always Hustling. The team rallies to the mission of being a lean, green, growing machine dedicated to enriching the world by bringing plants into everyone’s life.   

True to that mission, we grow more than 1,500 plant varieties. Driven by the spirit of innovation, the team is always testing new plants and developing new solutions to make it easier for retailers and plant parents to enjoy plants. We’re also continuously testing different ways of growing our plants to increase quality and improve their ecological footprint as one aspect of our many sustainability efforts.   

We cultivate plants, as well as a winning culture. Join the team, and you’ll find opportunities to learn and grow. You’ll collaborate with other driven, determined people who together keep Costa Farms an industry leader. You’ll support and be supported by a team that cares about each other, our customers, our consumers, and our community.    

You’ll also find right away that Costa Farms is committed to providing a diverse environment. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, military status, marital status or veteran status, or any other group status protected by federal, state, or local law.   

DESCRIPTION 

As an Assistant Grower, you will learn the art of growing alongside some the best growers while developing your leadership and teamwork skills in our personal development program. No experience is needed; just the attitude to learn because at Costa Farms, we don't just grow plants, we grow people. 

• Manages team to perform the daily assignments and priorities as identified by the grower in order to maintain top health and quality of plants in assigned area; 
• Uses technical knowledge to accurately identify irrigation and nutritional needs of various crops and instructs team on appropriate watering and fertilizing levels and/or techniques; 
• Assesses plant health daily to identify and report any disease, insect problem or abnormalities; 
• Apply chemical pesticides and growth regulators as directed by the grower and in accordance with OSHA and company safety procedures. 
• Responsible for ensuring all safety protocols are followed during chemical application including signage for re-entry interval 
• Work with growers and the rest of our great team to identify new ways to improve processes in the areas of logistics, placement, etc. while testing and documenting new methods; 
• Champions implementation of the Costa Production System (CPS) as the primary tool for operational excellence and continuous improvement through Servant Leadership; 
• Leads DDS meetings to review key metrics for area, facilitating planning and problem-solving process to address deviations or required change; 
• Participates in 5-minute huddles to provide support and feedback to team leaders and members; 
• Ascertains team is maintaining a clean and safe working environment;  
• Manages employee conflict and ensures resolution in a timely and fair manner and develops and maintains positive team member relations centered on mutual trust, dignity, respect, fairness, consistency, two-way communication, teamwork, and harmony through servant leadership; and 
• Performs additional related tasks and duties as may be required.    

Additional Responsibilities 

• Availability for flexible schedule changes based on business needs (including but not limited to seasonal demand and additional hours outside of the regular work schedule, such as weekends, nights, and holidays). 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather information or help as required. 
• Perform additional duties as required. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Horticulture, Plant Science or Agriculture Associates or Bachelor degree required
• Horticulture experience is a plus. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, with a strong emphasis in Excel 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data to diverse audiences. 
• Superior organizational, self-motivation and problem-solving skills 
• Ability to effectively operate both independently and as part of a team 
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work schedules as needed.  

Physical Demands 

Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, 

Work Environment: 

The role involves utilizing standard office equipment, such as computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, telephones, and other essential digital tools required for daily tasks. 

This position is primarily outdoors but may require occasional indoor work between locations for administrative tasks. Indoor duties may involve using computers and standard office equipment. Ability to work outdoors in fluctuating weather conditions, including exposure to sunlight, rain, wind, and temperature changes (hot, cold, rainy, windy). Tasks often involve manual labor or physical effort. 

SKILLS  

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex information to employees. 
• Problem solving/Root cause analysis: able to identify problems, report them to the supervisor and recommend corrective actions. Able to actively anticipate in the problem solving solving(i.e. 5 why's, fishbone, etc.,) 
• Critical/strategic thinking ability 
• Effective time management skills to complete tasks within deadlines and maintain productivity. 
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment. 
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues efficiently. 
• Experience with performance management or managing KPIs (key performance indicators).  
• Results-oriented 
• Change Management: Leads and supports change initiatives by developing or advocating new processes or systems. 
• Innovative 

COMPETENCIES  

• Communicates Effectively 
• Collaborates 
• Manages Ambiguity 
• Plans and Aligns 
• Action-oriented 

Here at Costa Farms, we're proud to offer not only a competitive wage, but also some really great benefits: 

• Company 401(k) with employer matching contributions 
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, and Dependent Care  
• Telehealth - Medical and Mental Health Care 
• Medical Insurance  
• GAP Insurance 
• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance  
• Pet Insurance 
• Supplemental Insurance (AFLAC)  
• Legal/ID Theft Protection plans 
• Professional development opportunities  
• Challenging and exciting work environment  
• Costa Farms Scholarship  
• Employee discounts on plants  

Costa Farms headquarters in Miami, FL also has: 

• On-site gym with showers?? 
• A subsidized on-site cafeteria, a designated quiet room, and indoor recreational activities are provided.   
• Love Where You Work activities throughout the year? 

All applicants must be work-authorized. 

Costa Farms will not sponsor any visa for this position. 

After applying, connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and your go-to social platforms to stay updated on exciting developments at Costa Farms and build relationships with fellow plant enthusiasts on our team. Come Grow with Us™! 

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.