Production Worker

Job Description

Company Overview

Van Belle Nursery Inc. is a family-owned wholesale nursery located in the picturesque Fraser Valley, BC. Since 1973, we have transformed from a small landscape supply farm into a 100-acre operation with advanced facilities dedicated to producing top-quality plants for growers and garden centers across North America.

Summary

We are seeking a Production Worker to join our team at Van Belle Nursery Inc., Youngplants Division. This role is crucial for successfully supporting all aspects of propagation with a strong focus on quality and achieving production goals. Your duties will include executing production and growing schedules, actively backing up the Production team, and maintaining accurate inventory. You will be essential in ensuring smooth operations and meeting daily propagation targets within a safe and productive environment.

How I contribute:

I successfully support all aspects of propagation to ensure we continue to be recognized for providing the best plants in the industry, with a strong focus on quality and achieving production goals.

My goals are to:

• Support Leadership Team in the implementation of a successful production / growing / shipping plan.

• Be a productive, proactive, and positive member of the crew.

• Back up Production team in maintaining Production responsibilities.

I am responsible for:

Key areas of responsibility that are within your role and contributions.

• Plants

• Follow SOPs and communicate any needs for updates.

• Execute and support production, growing, and shipping schedule tasks, ensuring production and sanitation tasks are completed efficiently and on time.

• Be flexible and support other crews as priorities or tasks change.

• People

• Being an active backup for the Production team.

• Identify and communicate production roadblocks that affect cutting/sticking supply

• Before use ensure equipment, machinery and facilities are operated in good and safe condition and report equipment failures to the proper channel of communication.

• Actively contribute to a safe and healthy workplace by following WorkSafeBC regulations and report incidents, safety hazards to the supervisor

• Finances

• Help to maintain an accurate inventory of daily production numbers and supplies, materials and report inconsistencies

• Additional duties

• Assist the Production/Growing or Shipping Coordinator with other duties as assigned.

I'll know I'm winning when I:

• With my team achieved the daily / monthly propagation targets.

• Communicate proactively to improve quality standards.

• Address issues and roadblocks in a timely manner.

Requirements:

• 1 Year of production experience with ornamental nurseries/vegetable crops or in the horticulture
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience to work with teams of 5+
• Ability to multi-task effectively with excellent attention-to-detail
• Great communication skills and problem solving oriented
• Ability to work on a flexible schedule

Tasks:

1. Daily

2. Join a daily team huddle with the Production Coordinator to check priority and roadblock for the day.

3. Assist the production team members with daily production goals, and ensure quality and goals are met.
4. Report to Production Coordinator regarding priority and roadblock for daily production.
5. Check daily production material supply and make corrections (cutting flats, ellepots, soil, sanitation material, cleaned benches and trays)
6. Assist with cutting, sticking (robots & manual), inventory related tasks as assigned in designated areas.
7. Receive & notify the plant inspector when receiving the purchased cuttings
8. Notify supervisor in following cases if:
9. Any mixed plant found
10. Plants are dry
11. Place proper labels on every flat etc

12. Double check with your supervisor about flat size while changing variety- supervisor will inform the team

13. Weekly

14. Assist with improving quality standards of cuttings & sticking

15. Conduct a full inventory count of materials and other supplies (soil,mulch,pots)
16. Contribute to identify pest/disease issues and inform the team leaders/Coordinators regarding plant quality.
17. Receive & track the paperwork of incoming plants
18. Organize the received cuttings after inspection for sticking team & follow the instruction from the inspector such as mist the dry cuttings or grade out the poor quality

19. Support Growing team on efforts to winterize crops, early forcing, crop grading and cutting availability.

20. Quarterly/ Yearly

21. Support the production planning of the high Involvement Planning and budget processes

22. Support the production team with winter propagation including cuttings, sticking & sanitation and storage of materials (flats, trays etc.)
23. Support the Production Coordinators to develop, record and/or maintain production inventory related SOP