Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Greenhouse Supervisor Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

The Greenhouse Supervisor Assistant works directly with the Greenhouse Supervisor to implement crop schedules, maintain optimal environmental conditions, oversee propagation and production workflows, coach and coordinate greenhouse technicians, and ensure compliance with safety and food-safety standards. This role blends hands-on horticulture tasks (propagation, pruning, fertigation, integrated pest management) with administrative responsibilities (record keeping, inventory, reporting) to deliver efficient, scalable greenhouse operations and high-quality plant output.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Greenhouse Technician / Grower I
Nursery Worker or Propagation Assistant
Production Worker with horticultural experience

Advancement To:

Greenhouse Supervisor / Head Grower
Production Manager or Crop Manager
Facility Manager (greenhouse/controlled environment agriculture)

Lateral Moves:

Propagation Specialist
IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Coordinator
Logistics / Inventory Coordinator for plant production

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Assist the Greenhouse Supervisor in creating and executing detailed weekly and seasonal crop schedules, ensuring sowing, transplanting, and harvest activities align with production targets and sales forecasts.
Monitor and adjust greenhouse climate control systems (temperature, humidity, CO2, shading, and ventilation) daily to maintain optimal plant growth conditions and energy efficiency.
Perform propagation tasks including seed sowing, cutting propagation, media preparation, and transplanting while documenting germination rates and propagation success metrics.
Implement integrated pest management (IPM) protocols: scout for pests and diseases, apply biological controls, record observations, and assist with targeted pesticide or miticide applications under supervisor direction.
Oversee daily irrigation and fertigation activities, calibrate injectors, monitor EC and pH of nutrient solutions, troubleshoot irrigation lines, and adjust schedules to match crop needs.
Lead and train greenhouse staff and seasonal workers on best practices for pruning, pinching, trellising, spacing, and handling to maximize plant quality and minimize damage.
Maintain accurate production records, including planting dates, lot numbers, input usage (fertilizer, media, pesticides), growth stage logs, and harvest yields for traceability and continuous improvement.
Coordinate crop inputs and inventory management: receive plant materials, track potting media and fertilizer stock levels, place reorders, and maintain storage organization to avoid production interruptions.
Perform routine preventive maintenance on greenhouse equipment (heating systems, fans, screens, sensors, irrigation pumps) and coordinate repairs with facilities or external contractors.
Support quality control inspections pre-shipment: verify plant health, labeling accuracy, pot/pack presentation, and pallet staging for on-time deliveries to customers or retail partners.
Assist in implementing and maintaining food-safety and biosecurity programs (e.g., sanitation protocols, visitor controls, wash stations) for edible crop production and compliance with customer requirements.
Use greenhouse management software, production spreadsheets, and sensor dashboards to log environmental conditions, generate basic reports, and communicate operational status to the supervisor.
Support trialing and implementation of new cultivars, growing techniques, or production technologies by preparing test plots, collecting growth data, and documenting results.
Supervise and participate in weekly clean-up, sanitation, and seasonal turnover activities (bench cleaning, media disposal, algae control) to maintain a safe and organized production environment.
Assist with inventory reconciliation and cycle counts for pots, tags, labels, and inputs in coordination with purchasing and warehouse teams.
Carry out harvest and post-harvest handling, including correct cutting, grading, packaging, and cold-chain transfer procedures to preserve product quality.
Enforce workplace safety practices: conduct safety checks, train staff on PPE use and lockout/tagout procedures, and report incidents or near-misses to the supervisor.
Coordinate with sales and customer service teams to prioritize production for high-demand SKUs and support special orders or rush requests through scheduling adjustments.
Drive continuous improvement by identifying bottlenecks in workflows, proposing efficiency gains, and supporting implementation of new standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Prepare daily and weekly status updates for the Greenhouse Supervisor, highlighting crop progress, environmental anomalies, inventory shortfalls, staffing needs, and corrective actions taken.
Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and other material handling equipment safely to move plants and supplies around the greenhouse and staging areas as needed.
Support emergency response efforts for weather events, power outages, or equipment failures by executing contingency plans (temporary shading, backup heating, water supply management) to protect crops.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc production reporting and environmental data review to help identify trends and opportunities for yield improvements.
Contribute to greenhouse sustainability and energy-use reduction initiatives by suggesting operational adjustments and participating in implementation efforts.
Collaborate with sales, shipping, and procurement teams to translate customer demand into production priorities and inventory replenishment plans.
Participate in shift planning, team meetings, and continuous improvement sessions to align daily tasks with strategic production goals.
Assist with training documentation, creation of SOPs, and onboarding materials for new greenhouse staff and seasonal employees.
Help coordinate external audits, customer site visits, and certification processes by preparing records and facilitating walkthroughs.
Provide occasional cross-training support in adjacent areas (nursery, packing, shipping) to ensure operational continuity during peak seasons.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Plant propagation techniques: seed starting, cuttings, heel cuttings, grafting basics, and media selection.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): scouting, identification of common greenhouse pests/diseases, beneficial insect releases, and targeted applications.
Climate control knowledge: HVAC/shade/vent systems, environmental sensor reading, CO2 supplementation practices, and microclimate adjustments.
Irrigation and fertigation systems: drip, ebb-and-flow, overhead, injector calibration, EC/pH testing and nutrient dosing.
Fertility management: understanding of macro- and micronutrients, fertilizer formulations, and fertigation scheduling for different crops.
Crop scheduling and production planning: translating sales forecasts into sowing/production calendars and labor plans.
Greenhouse technology and software: familiarity with greenhouse management platforms, sensor dashboards, Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, and basic data logging.
Equipment operation and maintenance: safe use and routine upkeep of forklifts, pallet jacks, irrigation pumps, mixers, and environmental controls.
Post-harvest handling and packaging: grading, packing standards, cold-chain awareness, and palletization for shipment.
Food safety and sanitation protocols: knowledge of GMPs, biosecurity, and pre-shipment QC requirements for edible crops.
Record keeping and traceability: accurate logging of inputs, lot tracking, batch records, and production yields for compliance and analysis.
Basic facility maintenance: minor carpentry, plumbing, electrical troubleshooting, and working with contractors for repairs.
Regulatory and compliance awareness: licensing for pesticide application (where required), OSHA safety rules, and local agricultural regulations.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication, able to brief the supervisor, train staff, and coordinate with cross-functional teams.
Leadership and people-management: able to motivate, coach, delegate, and hold team members accountable in a fast-paced production setting.
Attention to detail and observational skills for early detection of crop issues and environmental anomalies.
Problem-solving orientation with practical, hands-on troubleshooting of production and equipment challenges.
Time management and prioritization to balance daily tasks, urgent issues, and longer-term projects during peak seasons.
Adaptability and resilience to respond to changing schedules, weather events, and shifting business priorities.
Collaborative team player who works well with sales, logistics, purchasing, and facility maintenance teams.
Initiative and continuous improvement mindset: proactive in identifying efficiencies and implementing SOPs.
Safety-first attitude with commitment to enforcing PPE use, safe equipment operation, and workplace housekeeping.
Customer-focused approach to ensure product quality meets buyer specifications and on-time delivery expectations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with proven horticultural experience.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or certificate in Horticulture, Plant Science, Controlled Environment Agriculture, or related field.
Additional certifications such as pesticide applicator license, IPM certification, or safety/OSHA training are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Horticulture
Plant Science / Botany
Agronomy
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
Nursery & Landscape Horticulture
Agricultural Technology / Agricultural Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1 - 5 years of greenhouse, nursery, or controlled-environment agriculture experience.

Preferred: 2 - 4 years of hands-on greenhouse production experience with supervisory or lead responsibilities, demonstrated competency in propagation, IPM, irrigation/fertigation, and basic equipment maintenance. Experience with greenhouse management software and familiarity with food-safety or buyer-specific QA programs is highly desirable.