About the Role:

Reporting to the Associate Director of Controlled Environments & Agronomy, the Greenhouse Operations Manager will be a key member of the R&D team. This successful candidate will be directly responsible for overseeing greenhouse operations, delivering optimal crop production in greenhouse and controlled environment settings as well as contributing to the development of commercial crop varieties. This role is located in Elo’s state-of-the-art greenhouse and controlled environment facility in Durham, North Carolina. Occasional travel (e.g. conference attendance, professional development) is expected.

Desired qualifications include:

• Significant expertise and professional experience in horticulture, plant physiology and controlled environment agriculture within a research or production environment.

Key Competencies:

• Ability to work independently, anticipate challenges, and proactively create solutions in the assigned area of expertise.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and follow through to ensure projects are completed in timely manner.
• Flexible team player willing to do what it takes to get the job done; adaptable and enjoys new challenges each day.
• Unyielding integrity and commitment to upholding Elo’s values.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver stable environments in greenhouse and growth chambers suitable for plant regeneration, production, phenotyping and life cycle management.
• Optimize plant production, improving health and yield while reducing timelines, in diverse crop species.
• Assist with planting, transplanting, controlled pollination, acclimatization from tissue culture, tissue sampling and seed collection of diverse crop species.
• Contribute and execute SOPs for product development, most typically within a trait phenotyping or breeding context.
• Utilize and/or develop phenotyping, rapid-cycling and data management technologies to facilitate rapid, precise, and field-predictive identification and validation of improved germplasm.
• Maintain rigorous organization and documentation of all plant material systems, and workflows using an electronic notebook and relational database. Ensure adherence to SOP protocols.
• Scout for pests and pathogens and maintain excellent control through proactive hygienic practices, appropriate control responses and IPM program.
• Act as an expert resource for horticulture, plant physiology and controlled environment agriculture, supporting the design and execution of CEA-based experiments.

The Successful Applicant

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Controlled Environment Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science, Plant Pathology or related field with at least 5 years technical experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Significant expertise in horticulture, plant physiology and controlled environment agriculture.
• Demonstrated experience delivering and optimizing reproducible plant growth in greenhouse and/or controlled environments within a research context.
• Experience in production facilities (CEA, vertical farming, indoor farming) is appreciated.
• Additional expertise is appreciated in optimization of lighting, irrigation and nutrient-supply systems and recipes; statistical analyses and data management; plant growth, plant pollination, breeding and tissue culture.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.

Compensation

We offer a very competitive compensation package, consisting of salary, bonus, equity, and benefits to all team members. For health benefits we pay 100% of employees and their family members!

Elo Life Systems, Inc. is proud to be an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, creed, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal laws.