Horticulture Lead

Introduction:
About Cann Group Limited

Cann Group Limited is enhancing patients’ lives by developing, producing, and supplying innovative cannabis medicines. The Company has built world-class research, cultivation and GMP manufacturing facilities in Melbourne, and a state-of-the-art large-scale cultivation and GMP manufacturing facility near Mildura, Victoria. Cann Group supplies a range of dried flower and oil products, as well as active pharmaceutical ingredients and extracts, to customers in Australia and around the world. Cann Group also owns Satipharm and its patent-protected capsule technology.
Learn more at: www.canngrouplimited.com | www.satipharm.com

About the role

Reporting to the Glasshouse Production Manager, the Horticulture Lead oversees and leads various aspects of cultivation, plant and disease management, and horticulture activities. The Horticulture Lead will be responsible for managing plant health and disease management of mother stock. Leading a team of Horticulture and IPDM specialists, the role will oversee growth phases of propagation stock, conducting plant health checks in propagation and mother rooms, and carrying out training and pruning of mother plants. Additionally, the role will manage all activities related to crop care, plant health, and IPM reporting. They will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the IPM schedule, providing feedback to area leads and the Glasshouse Production Manager, and monitoring the IPM Strategy.

As the Horticulture Lead, you will

Manage a team of specialists to carry-out daily activities, including: transfer between propagation phases, plant health checks, mother plant training and pruning, destruction of plant stock and clean-down of equipment and production areas;
Manage mother stock, particularly: plant health, mother crop replacement schedules, and cultivar inventory levels to meet commercial priorities;
Managing relevant crop work activities and plant health tracking in all cultivation areas, including propagation, mothers, vegetative and flower rooms through to harvest;
Oversee tissue culture inventory as well as implementation of tissue culture for mother stock;
Overseeing IPDM ordering and scheduling, ensuring key treatments are delivered on time and products/inventory are available.
Oversee the safe and efficient introduction of new cultivars into the Mildura Facility;
Liaise with the Climate Systems & Irrigation Lead to optimise fertigation parameters across mother stock and propagation;
Escalate plant health issues promptly to the Glasshouse Production Manager, and work with the wider Cultivation team to devise the appropriate corrective actions;
Facilitate training and oversee production operator and Horticulture/IPDM specialist training compliance associated with propagation and mother stock production activities;
Ensure batch records are filled-out correctly in line with Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and serve as signatory for propagation and mother stock related documents;
Oversee and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions associated with propagation and mother stock production activities;
Drive the continuous improvement of systems and processes within the cultivation team ;
Serve as Operations SME for clonal propagation and mother stock maintenance;
Liaise with Glasshouse Production Manager to facilitate tech transfer of new cultivation techniques from CANN’s R&D program;
Maintain a clean working space within the Mother Room, Mother Workspace, GACP Wash bay and Propagation Room;
Utilises the appropriate processes and systems to report business, safety and quality issues;
Additional duties as required.

About you

Qualifications/Licences

Tertiary or Diploma qualifications in Science, Agricultural Science, Production Horticulture, Engineering or related field.
Pre-employment Security and Health Screening

• Current Victorian Drivers Licence.

Experience

At least 2 years experience within a production horticulture role – preferably within the Medicinal Cannabis Industry.
Working knowledge of the Australian regulatory requirements with exposure to offshore jurisdictions. Further, demonstrated awareness of PIC/s, GACP and Narcotics Drugs Act (preferred).
Demonstrated understanding of Victorian and Australian workplace health and safety legislation.

Skills/Competencies

Good communication skills, written, verbal and active listening skills.
Hands-on problem solver/troubleshooting skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong communication/facilitation skills, both written and verbal.
Strong results orientation and timely decision making.
Work with multiple stakeholders and demonstrates strong facilitation skills.

Working Conditions

• Team player / metrics driven.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Flexibility and adaptability.
• Ability to perform manual Labor tasks associated with cultivation events and general warehouse operations.
• Physical effort is required, lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 15kgs.
• Temperatures range from 20 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius.
• Ability to work weekends, public holidays as required.
• Repetitive use of hands, wrists and forearms.
• This position involves significant exposure to cannabis/plant materials, and it is therefore not likely suitable for an employee that may suffer from allergies to cannabis/plant pollen material, or experience other medical issues, such as asthma and hay fever, as a result of cannabis/plant material exposure.

If you believe your skills and experience meet the above criteria, and you want to take the next step in your career in a supportive and innovative environment, click apply today.

Cann Group is an equal opportunity employer and appreciates the value inherent in a diverse workforce. At Cann, we are committed to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance during the recruitment and selection process, please let our People & Culture team know.

Please note only applications with the right to live and work in Australia will be considered for this position. The successful applicant will be required to undergo a National Police Check.

We would like to thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.