Grower / Greenhouse Production Manager – Hydroponic Lettuce

We are looking for an ambitious Grower / Greenhouse Production Manager to take responsibility for the growing process at our modern hydroponic lettuce greenhouse in the Arad area.

The greenhouse is only two years old and currently consists of approximately 1 hectare of modern hydroponic lettuce production. Over the coming six months, we plan to implement several technological upgrades to further optimize the facility. Depending on the technologies implemented and the resulting improvements in growing performance, we expect to reach an annual production capacity of approximately 2 million heads of lettuce, potential upside 2.5 million heads of lettuce.

This is not just a role to manage today’s operation.

We are looking for someone who wants to develop into an expert grower and grow together with the business. Our ambition is to expand the operation from approximately 1 hectare today to 2-3 hectares of greenhouse production within the next three years.

Your role

As Grower / Greenhouse Production Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day growing performance of the greenhouse, with a strong focus on crop quality, yield, consistency and efficiency.

You will also play an important role in implementing and optimizing the new technologies that will be introduced over the coming six months.

Your main responsibilities will include:

· Managing and optimizing the complete hydroponic lettuce growing cycle

· Climate management, including temperature, humidity, ventilation and lighting

· Fertilizer, plant nutrition and fertigation management

· Monitoring crop development and making timely growing decisions

· Interpreting greenhouse, climate, crop and production data and translating this into practical actions

· Irrigation and water management

· Monitoring plant health, diseases and pests and implementing appropriate crop-protection measures

· Managing and coordinating a small team of supporting greenhouse staff

· Continuously improving crop quality, yield and production efficiency

· Working with management and external specialists on the implementation and optimization of new greenhouse technologies

· Maintaining high standards of hygiene, food safety and operational discipline

· Supporting the future expansion of the greenhouse operation

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who combines practical growing knowledge with an analytical mindset and wants to develop further as a professional grower.

Key requirements:

· Fluent English, both spoken and written, is required

· Experience in greenhouse cultivation, horticulture or a comparable intensive growing environment

· Understanding of plant growth and crop development

· Knowledge of fertilizers, plant nutrition and fertigation

· Understanding of greenhouse climate management

· Ability to interpret production and climate data and make decisions based on this information

· Knowledge of plant diseases, pests and crop protection

· Ability to lead and organize a small operational team

· Hands-on mentality and willingness to take ownership and responsibility for the crop

Experience with hydroponic cultivation is a strong advantage.

Previous greenhouse experience in the Netherlands or Belgium is highly valued, but not mandatory. We are particularly interested in candidates from Romania and Hungary, including professionals currently working elsewhere in Europe who would like to return to the region.

Experience with nursery/young-plant production and advanced water management is considered an advantage.

Training and development

We do not expect you to know everything from day one.

During the first 6-12months, you will receive significant practical support and technical training from an experienced greenhouse consultant/trainer from the Netherlands/Belgium.

You will work together on crop strategy, climate management, plant nutrition, water management, crop protection, data interpretation and production optimization. The objective is to further develop you into an expert grower working according to modern Dutch greenhouse standards.

After the initial training period, specialist consultancy and growing support will continue on a monthly to quarterly basis.

Fluent English is therefore essential, as you will work closely with international specialists and suppliers.

What we offer

· Competitive salary package

· Health insurance

· Relocation package where required

· Extensive professional training and development

· Intensive support from experienced Dutch/Belgian greenhouse specialists during the first 6-9 months

· Continued specialist support afterwards

· Annual company team-building activities

· A modern hydroponic greenhouse

· The opportunity to work with and implement new greenhouse technologies

· Significant responsibility and freedom to improve production

· The opportunity to develop into a highly specialized professional grower

· Clear career and responsibility growth as the greenhouse operation expands

· Performance-based bonuses

· Annual Stock Option Plan participation

A role that can grow with you

We are looking for someone for the long term.

You will initially take responsibility for approximately 1 hectare of hydroponic lettuce production. Together with our team and Dutch/Belgian specialists, you will help implement the planned technological improvements over the coming six months and work towards an annual production capacity of approximately 2-2.5 million heads of lettuce, depending on the final technologies implemented.

But our ambition goes further.

Over the next three years, we aim to expand the operation towards approximately 2-3 hectares of greenhouse lettuce production. As the business grows, we want the successful candidate to grow with it and take responsibility for an increasingly larger and more advanced greenhouse operation.

For an ambitious grower, this is an opportunity to develop into an expert, build a team and help shape the future of a growing modern greenhouse operation based on Dutch growing standards.