RESPONSIBILTIES

General Maintenance:

• Ensure hygiene, appearance, and tidiness around all tunnel structures, including roads, lawns, and fences.

Collaboration with Breeders:

• Work closely with breeders to determine ideal growing conditions for optimum pollination and seed production.
• Manipulate plants to meet breeding requirements and screen conditions representative of commercial practices.

Climate Control:

Program and adjust seasonal and daily settings for:

• Day length
• Cooling
• Heating
• Ventilation
• Radiation

Monitoring and Maintenance:

Monitor, maintain, and service:

• Greenhouse structures
• Pump room and fertigation systems
• Wet walls
• Fresh water supply
• Spraying equipment
• Heating equipment (Boiler)
• Weather station (with long-term record keeping)

Plant Health Monitoring:

Monitor general plant appearance throughout the day and apply corrective measures for:

• Wilting/heat stress
• Nutritional abnormalities
• Chemical burns
• Physiological abnormalities
• Physical damage

Fertigation Management:

• Program fertigation systems based on commercial fertilizer recommendations.
• Consult with fertilizer/nutrition experts monthly to prevent and address potential problems.
• Monitor EC, pH, and run-off figures daily, with appropriate record keeping and reporting.
• Adjust fertigation programs after consultation with breeders and fertilizer experts.
• Identify and solve nutritional deficiencies/toxicities.
• Recommend adjustments in growing medium composition.
• Take leaf samples, interpret analysis with nutritional experts, and adjust fertigation programs accordingly.

Pest and Disease Control:

• Sanitize and disinfect facilities daily/seasonally.
• Ensure availability and correct application of sanitizers, gloves, boots, and coats to prevent disease spread.
• Scout for pests and diseases daily.
• Recommend spraying programs after consultation with internal and external experts.
• Monitor the efficiency of spray recommendations and make necessary adjustments.

Staff Supervision:

Hire and manage staff/labor, including:

• Assigning work schedules
• Spraying responsibilities
• Pump room and fertigation activities
• General greenhouse activities
• Health and safety protocols, especially regarding hazardous chemicals
• Train staff on the above responsibilities.

Administrative Duties:

• Compile the greenhouse budget in collaboration with the operations manager.

Order supplies, including:

• Chemicals
• Fertilizers
• Planting bags
• Growing mediums

Technology and Industry Engagement:

Stay updated with the latest technology by:

• Interacting with other professionals in the industry
• Attending local industry meetings (e.g., seedling growers association)
• Attending appropriate courses

Plant Management:

Take full responsibility for plantings owned by off-station breeders and marketing, including:

• Sowing and growing seedlings
• Transplanting
• Pruning and trellising
• Harvesting
• Record keeping
• Cleaning out obsolete plants and materials

Weekend and Holiday Monitoring:

• Continue monitoring over weekends and public holidays, resulting in regular overtime.

REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications:

• Grade 12 (Essential)
• Diploma in Agriculture (Preferential) NQF L6

Experience:

• Irrigation scheduling course (Ideal)
• Mechanical and Technical experience (e.g. Fixing a pump)
• Extensive knowledge about farming and day-to-day vegetable crop operations