Senior Horticultural Engineer – Strawberries Full Time

About Growcer

The Growcer is an innovative agri-tech startup launched in Ottawa in 2015, specializing in the manufacturing and design of modular hydroponic systems that enable commercial food production in plug-and-play 40 ft. modules. Its vertical farming technology enables customers to grow fresh vegetables in virtually any climate, having been deployed within the Arctic Circle below -50°C. Growcer has empowered conventional farmers, entrepreneurs, communities, and institutions to grow food locally all year round. Growcer’s work has been recognized with awards including Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and was featured on Season 13 of CBC’s hit show, Dragons’ Den.

The Growcer is looking for a driven individual with a self-starter attitude as the company enters the next phase of rapid growth and scales in select regions globally. Effective Growcer employees are tenacious, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, and are comfortable working on big-picture challenges with lots of autonomy. All positions and work responsibilities tie back to our mission of empowering people to feed the world more sustainably, and applicants who are laser-focused on contributing to the creation of a better food system will find a workplace and team that shares their vision for sustainable agriculture.

Why Should You Apply? 

• Positive Social Impact: an opportunity to feel good about how your role is helping to change the lives of others through the delivery of sustainable food technologies.
• Benefits & Total Compensation: a competitive salary with full access to our employee health benefits plan.
• Flexible Hours: to create a work/life balance, we offer flex hours for all those appointments and other commitments that may arise.
• Vacation & Life Leave: a minimum of 3 weeks starting vacation plus an additional week to support those personal days needed for moving, sick leave, and/or unexpected emergencies.
• Professional Development: participation in our internal leadership development seminars tailored for managers, and access to a professional development fund to invest in additional personal and professional growth related to your field and desired career objectives.

Type of Role

Full-Time, salaried

About the Role

Growcer is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented Senior Horticultural Engineer to join our growing team. In this position, you will play a key role in the overall success of our organization by planning, managing, and monitoring the development of our fully indoor hydroponic strawberry farm platform. Predominantly working with members of the Product and R&D departments, you will coordinate the engineering functions associated with component specification, design, manufacturing, validation, deployment, and scalability of Growcer’s strawberry offering. As we are currently in the prototype stage, you will work closely with the scientific team on enabling production system changes as they relate to knowledge transfer from current and future research results. You will be responsible for overseeing all engineering projects, processes, budgets, and schedules associated with strawberry farm development, as well as the regular communication of progress and deliverables to all stakeholders. This role reports directly to the Director of Product Development.

Job Responsibilities

We are estimating a 20%, 50%, and 30% split in role activities between project management, engineering & horticulture respectively.

Engineering & Design:

• Design, implement, and refine product development, testing, and manufacturing processes.
• Manage staff and assign tasks to engineering and technical personnel.
• Lead team in the development of new products, solutions, and processes.
• Oversee project logistics and resource allocation.
• Complete engineering and design for irrigation and HVAC systems
• Define requirements for civil and electrical contract engineers to develop the complete product system.
• Coordinate with manufacturing to validate designs and integrate manufacturability input
• Strive to improve efficiency and sustainability of processes and product designs, and to reduce waste.
• Help to create and oversee project budgets and engage in cost management strategies.
• Attend trade shows and conferences, and make site visits to suppliers’ facilities.
• Advocate on behalf of team members by securing adequate resources for success.
• Communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders, including investors and potential customers.
• Complete various tests and quality assurance checks to verify the quality of completed projects
• Check and confirm the accuracy of the work performed and the methods used by other team members
• Prepare and deliver various engineering-related presentations, both internally and externally
• Maintain high level expertise in your field or sector.
• Assure that processes meet quality and safety compliance guidelines.
• Collaborate with other team leaders and departments.

Horticulture:

• In coordination with the R&D team, source system components compatible to achieve defined specifications
• Perform Freedom to Operate searches on new initiatives, and be involved with understanding and upholding licensing and collaborative agreements as they relate to technology development
• Ensure cross-departmental project schedules, milestones and deliverables are tracked and communicated regularly in a standardized manner
• Maintain operational knowledge of strawberry production facilities and projects, and be willing to make hands-on contributions to project deliverables
• Assist in the coordination and contribution to retrofits to the prototype strawberry systems, ensuring safety and proper documentation of all activities
• Contribute to reporting requirements for grants and other funding received by both the R&D and Product departments
• Contribute to farm validation activities, ensuring the agreed upon set points are achievable and consistent

Work Environment and Culture:

• Further the promotion and adoption of engineering & design practices throughout Growcer. For example, by delivering “lunch and learn” training sessions to Growcer staff on product design fundamentals
• Be able to operate in a fast pace and adventurous company continually pushing the boundaries of performance

Requirements:

Work Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years’ experience working on projects in a manufacturing or product development environment
• Minimum three (3) years management experience
• Experience with commercial and/or industrial hydroponics technologies in greenhouses or similar settings
• Excellent understanding of project management principles

Knowledge and Education:

• University degree in engineering
• Project Management Professional Certification is a plus
• Great organizational, planning, and documentation skills
• Ability to summarize and present information from diverse sources in a concise and accessible manner
• Past use of Agile/Scrum or similar collaborative tools a plus
• Experience using computer-aided design (CAD) platforms
• Experience using System Applications and Products (SAP) software
• Understanding of plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems in small buildings, and ability to troubleshoot these systems as necessary
• Experience with the installation and deployment of environmental control and irrigation systems
• Understanding of applicable Canadian regulations in laboratory and food production settings
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently
• Accurate and precise attention to detail
• Creative and innovative thinker and planner

Skills and Competencies:

• Previous experience in a start-up environment or as a consulting engineer preferred
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills in English
• Strong problem-solving skills and proactive attitude
• Ability to learn quickly and prioritize appropriately to meet customer and company needs
• Ability to take ownership and work towards tight deadlines
• High attention to detail with a strong focus on quality control
• Adaptable and flexible personality that thrives in a fast-moving and ever-changing environment
• Experience in working with Microsoft Office and Google Suites
• Ability to work autonomously and manage own priorities
• Must be able to legally work in Canada and willing to work an average of 3 days per week in person at Growcer HQ (891 Boyd Ave., Ottawa)

Work Flexibility

• Travel <10% of the time for supplier and manufacturing site visits.
• When work schedule permits, can work remotely for several weeks at a time.

 Perks and Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Stipend for relocation expenses for a candidate relocating >100 km or internationally, and ability to work remotely if preferred
• Healthcare benefits
• 3 weeks paid vacation, plus 5 days of ‘life leave’ per year
• Flexible work hours and working remote when needed
• $1,500/year allowance for technology and devices
• $2,500/year professional development allowance
• Allowance to maintain relevant professional memberships and designations, up to $1,000 per year

Interested candidates should submit a concise cover letter and résumé to: careers@thegrowcer.ca.

We look forward to meeting you!