Head Grower Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

About Schlegel Greenhouse

Schlegel Greenhouse is a family-owned wholesale ornamental grower in Indianapolis, producing annuals, perennials, houseplants, and fall crops across two facilities. We supply independent garden centers, retailers, and a growing fundraising program throughout central Indiana. We are a working operation — small enough that everyone touches the plants, established enough to grow real careers.

Position Summary

The Lead Grower is responsible for the day-to-day health and progression of crops at our Bluff Road facility. Working under the Head Grower, this person executes the crop plan, catches problems before they become losses, keeps accurate production records, and works alongside the crew through the full production cycle. This is a hands-on growing role with a clear path toward greater responsibility for the right person.

Key Responsibilities

• Daily crop care. Water, feed, and maintain crops at Bluff Road against the production schedule, adjusting to conditions as the week demands.
• Monitoring and diagnostics. Scout crops regularly. Identify disease, insect pressure, nutritional issues, and growth problems early, and either correct them or escalate them quickly.
• Execute the crop plan. Carry out feed programs, PGR applications, spacing, and environmental settings as directed, and keep complete, accurate application and crop records.
• Environmental management. Manage irrigation, ventilation, heating, and light to hold crops on schedule and in quality.
• Production work. Plant, transplant, space, and move crops through their stages alongside the crew.
• Crew support. Direct and train seasonal staff working in your area, and set the standard for how work gets done.
• A clean, safe operation. Maintain sanitary growing conditions and ensure equipment is used and maintained properly.

Beyond these, expect to help wherever the crop or the week demands — shipping, deliveries, and general facility maintenance. Everyone here does it, owner included.

Qualifications

Required

• Hands-on experience growing plants in a production setting, and an understanding of what it takes to bring a crop to finished quality.
• Ability to recognize common pest, disease, and nutritional problems, or the aptitude and willingness to learn them quickly.
• Comfort with record-keeping and following a written production schedule.
• Indiana pesticide applicator certification, or willingness to obtain it after hire. We cover the cost.
• Valid driver's license.
• Reliability, flexibility, and a willingness to do whatever the plants need on a given day.

Preferred

• Experience in commercial greenhouse or nursery production.
• Familiarity with environmental control systems, injectors, and irrigation equipment.
• Horticulture coursework, degree, or equivalent practical training.
• Experience directing or training seasonal crews.

Schedule

This is a five-day-a-week position, and one of those five days regularly falls on a weekend — a different five days, not extra days. During peak production and shipping periods, roughly two months out of the year, six-day weeks come up, though not every week within those stretches. Plants do not take holidays off, so holiday and emergency coverage is shared across the growing team.

Physical Requirements

This role is physically active and spends most of the day on the floor. It requires standing and walking for extended periods, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, bending, kneeling, reaching overhead, and working in greenhouse conditions that include heat, humidity, and cold depending on the season. Some outdoor work is required year-round.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $62,000 annually
• Milestone bonus: $2,000 following a successful twelve-month review
• Paid time off: 3 weeks per year
• Health insurance benefits provided
• Retirement benefits available
• Additional: Cell phone stipend, wholesale pricing on plant material
• Professional development: We cover licensing, certification, and continuing education relevant to the role, including pesticide applicator certification and recertification

Where This Goes

Schlegel Greenhouse is a family business going through a real generational transition, and we would rather grow leadership from inside than hire it. Progress is reviewed formally at twelve months, and for someone who demonstrates the ability, there is a genuine path here toward expanded scope and responsibility.

Schlegel Greenhouse is a family-owned wholesale ornamental grower in Indianapolis, producing annuals, perennials, houseplants, and fall crops across two facilities. We supply independent garden centers, retailers, and a growing fundraising program throughout central Indiana. We are a working operation — small enough that everyone touches the plants, established enough to grow real careers.