Greenhouse and nursery worker job description template

Position Identification Details

1. Position Summary

The Greenhouse and Nursery Worker plants, grows, cares for and ships the plants grown at [ORGANIZATION_NAME]. The work covers seeding and transplanting, watering, potting up, spacing, pruning, pest scouting and getting orders ready for customers or the sales yard. The worker takes daily direction from [REPORTS_TO_TITLE] and works inside greenhouses, in outdoor growing areas and in the shipping area. Healthy, uniform plants that go out on time, with little waste, are what this job is about.

2. Key Responsibilities

2.1 Propagation and planting (20%)

• Fill trays, plugs and pots with growing media by hand or on a potting line.
• Sow seeds, stick cuttings, divide plants and transplant plugs into larger pots, following the crop schedule.
• Label every tray or block with the variety and date.
• Keep propagation areas clean to prevent disease.

2.2 Watering and growing care (25%)

• Water by hand, by boom or with drip and ebb-and-flow systems, checking each crop's needs rather than watering by habit.
• Mix and apply fertilizer through the irrigation system as directed by [REPORTS_TO_TITLE].
• Space, pinch, prune, stake and shape plants so they grow evenly.
• Check greenhouse temperature, vents, shade curtains and heaters at the times set by [REPORTS_TO_TITLE], and report anything not working right.
• Remove dead, diseased or off-type plants and keep benches and floors free of weeds and debris.

2.3 Scouting and plant health (10%)

• Check sticky cards and plants for insects, mites, disease and nutrient problems, and record what you find in [CROP_RECORD_SYSTEM].
• Release beneficial insects and mites as directed.
• Help with pesticide applications only as directed, and only apply products yourself if you hold the licence required in [PROVINCE].
• Follow re-entry times and posted signs after a spray.

2.4 Order picking, shipping and sales support (20%)

• Pick plants for orders, check quality, clean up pots and tag them with the right labels and price tags.
• Load carts, racks and trucks so plants are not damaged in transit.
• Count stock and update inventory sheets.
• During the spring rush, help retail customers find plants and carry them to their vehicles, if the nursery has a sales yard.

2.5 Outdoor nursery work (10%)

• Move container stock in and out of growing areas and space it for air and light.
• Dig, ball and burlap trees and shrubs where the nursery grows field stock.
• Prepare plants for winter: consolidating pots, covering with frost cloth or moving them into overwintering houses.
• Help repair poly coverings, benches and irrigation lines.

2.6 Cleaning, maintenance and safety (15%)

• Clean and disinfect benches, trays, tools and floors between crops.
• Use carts, potting machines and small equipment safely after training.
• Wear [REQUIRED_PPE] for the task, including chemical-resistant gloves and a respirator when the label calls for them.
• Follow WHMIS labels and safety data sheets for fertilizers, cleaners and other products.
• Take water and breaks in hot greenhouses, and report injuries, near misses and broken equipment the same day.

3. Qualifications & Experience

Role Qualification Standards

4. Competencies

Core Competencies

5. Working Conditions & Performance Measures

5.1 Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This is physical work indoors and outdoors. The table shows what the job normally involves. We will look at accommodation for a worker who needs it, up to the point of undue hardship, as human rights law requires.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

5.2 Performance Measures

Key Performance Indicators

5.3 Career Path

• Typical Prior Roles: Garden centre associate, landscaping labourer, general farm worker, student summer worker.
• Typical Next Roles: Section grower, integrated pest management scout, shipping lead, greenhouse supervisor, head grower.

5.4 Position Acknowledgement

This job description sets out the main duties, working conditions and qualifications for the Greenhouse and Nursery Worker role at [ORGANIZATION_NAME]. It is not a list of every task. The job can change as the business changes. If it changes in a real way, we will update this document and talk it through with the employee first.

Employee Sign-Off:

Name: [EMPLOYEE_NAME] Signature: _____ Date: _______

Manager Sign-Off:

Name: [MANAGER_NAME] Title: [REPORTS_TO_TITLE] Signature: _____ Date: _______

What to fill in