Head Grower Jobs (NOW HIRING)

BrightFarms is The Place to Grow!  

At BrightFarms, we’re on a mission to revolutionize the way leafy greens are grown. But we don’t just want to grow great tasting greens, we want them to do good as well: for the planet, for the health of people, and for the well-being of our employees. We give BrightFarmers the tools, training, support, and opportunities they need to do better for themselves and the world every day. Because when you do good for your people, they do good for the world. 

BrightFarms is a national leader in the booming indoor farming industry, transforming how produce is grown and delivered with its expanding network of eight high-tech, sustainable hydroponic farms.  From seed to leaf we grow lettuce smarter, with less space, no pesticides and protected inside, so it’s better for the planet and way better for humans. BrightFarms' fresh lettuce options, from classic greens to crunchy mixes and salad kits, are available in more than 4,500 retail stores across the East Coast, Midwest, and South.

We are looking for a Production Manager who sincerely cares about improving the environmental impact of the food supply chain. The ideal candidate is someone who is passionate about creating a healthier planet. The background and experience of candidates should reflect a true passion for improving the way we feed Americans. We are looking for someone who values the greater good of the organization and wants to succeed collectively. Candidates should be productive, possess a sense of integrity, and care about people and clients, and be strong team players.

Our Lorena, Texas farm is the largest and most advanced greenhouse in the state, delivering fresh, locally grown leafy greens to Texans year-round. Spanning nearly 480,000 square feet, this facility will produce approximately 6 million pounds of leafy greens annually.

Specifically, you will: 

• Provide 24-7 support in a production facility and major presence on the floor
• Manage greenhouse workforce by achieving greenhouse objectives including hiring, firing, labor planning, workforce organization and labor reporting across all greenhouse departments 
• Convert plant yield into revenue for operating expenses, and for the operation of the facility, including:
  • production (WIP and people) planning and reporting
  • labor management
  • balancing inputs
  • throughput & demand
  • facilities maintenance
• Be accountable for inventory control and managing inbound and outbound shipments of production supplies 
• Manage labor expenses, energy utilization and other operating expenses
• Lead efforts to be a LEAN organization and be a guide through kaizen activities to improve system efficiency 
• Maintain SQF requirements and maintaining a neat, orderly, and safe greenhouse facility and operation
• Train greenhouse employees on all food safety material, food safety best practices, as well as maintaining, monitoring, and verifying all food safety logs 
• Work closely with the General Manager, Head Grower and other members of the management team to:
  • develop and execute the strategies to achieve BrightFarms’ mission
  • lead BrightFarmers to enable them to execute the strategies to achieve BrightFarms’ mission 
• Coordinate supplies with vendors/partners 
• Track all incoming, outgoing, and consumption of inventory for work in process (WIP) inventory, packaging materials, supplies, PPE, and chemicals 
• Assist and support the Head Grower in all aspects of the greenhouse management and provide labor and resources to assist as needed 

The ideal candidate: 

• 2-4 years of experience in a production environment or related work experience
• 2-4 years of college 
• Create documents such as standard operating procedures, safety rules, label mixing instructions 
• Fulfill routine logs related to food safety and inspection reports 
• Quickly calculate data and make adjustments as needed 
• Work in a fast-paced environment 
• Multitask, with accuracy and attention to detail  
• Capable of maintaining a calm and collected composure during times of disorder, speaking to others in a respectful manner, and is skilled at productively handling multiple personality types 
• Supervise all department leads and crew members

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bilingual, English and Spanish 
• Training in Food Safety and Sanitation 
• Food or agriculture industry experience 
• Experience building new teams or start-ups
• Experience with LEAN tools

Working conditions/Environment/Travel/Physical requirements: 

• Office/Coolers/Warehouse/Greenhouse 
• Exposure to seasonal conditions which may range from extreme heat and humidity in the summer to cold in the winter 
• Often working near moving mechanical parts 
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals 
• The noise level of machines and cooling units can be loud 
• Time will be divided between field and office related work 
• Minimal travel will be required 
• While performing the duties of this job, employees are expected to sometimes use hands to examine produce
• Frequently standing, walking, reaching with hands and arms, as well as stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing 
• Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds 
• Employee should have clear correctable vision at close and distance range, as well as peripheral vision to notice safety hazards 

BrightFarms is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual’s age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.