Expert Grower, Recipe Development

We grow the world’s BEST Strawberries & our Expert Growers are a major reason why!

As part of our Research & Development Team an Expert Grower at Oishii contributes to our exceptional product development, and plant health by working cross-functionally to ensure the success of short term and long-range goals in both production farms and R&D farms. Expert Growers serve as subject matter experts to our production teams monitoring & problem solving for plant health, diseases, pest, environmental stresses, quality and yield opportunities and often oversee projects or experiments in various farms to improve growing systems and to characterize plant responses in controlled environments.

The role is hands-on and strategic with a large portion of time spent in the farm with our plants. 

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Lead experiments analyzing cultivation data, timelines and outcomes to identify growth characteristics and root causes, contributing to recipe improvement on a daily and weekly basis
• Own defining and prioritizing cultivation challenges and plan experiments accordingly as it relates to yield and quality targets (KPIs)
• Oversees experiment execution by directing team members, recording plant status weekly, assessing experiment continuation, and wrapping up findings in ~2 weeks
• Maintains full compliance with safety and IPM protocols throughout all operations
• Under minimal supervision, tests and proposes optimal parameters (light, fertilizer, irrigation, CO2, etc.) by cultivar and irrigation method, and proposes base recipes
• Facilitate cross-functional projects (e.g., equipment retrofits) with Engineering, Maintenance, etc., including planning, to-do management, and coordination
• Manage and develop the senior growers, junior growers and R&D operators that report to you
• Develops 1–2 year experiment roadmap under guidance, and leads optimization of recipe development processes and strategic workflows

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs
• Ability to climb a ladder
• Ability to crouch or kneel
• Ability to reach and stretch
• Hand dexterity
• Comfortable in an active, non-sedentary role for lengths of up to 5 to 6 hours at time
• MUST NOT be allergic to bees

Who will love this job: Individuals who identify with our Core Values and exhibit skills within those values will thrive at Oishii. 

• One Team, One Fight!
  • Ability to quickly shift priorities to meet deadlines and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, clearly, concisely and with purpose. 
  • Ability to work cross functionally and collaborate understanding that expert growers are functional experts but not always the decision makers. 
• Focus.
  • Ability to remove obstacles in order to prioritize which could include problem solving, working through ambiguity and using fact based or sound judgment.
• GSD (Get Sh** Done!)
  • A bias for action! Ability to hold yourself accountable and take ownership of driving results that impact company outcomes. 

What we look for in an Expert Grower:

• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, plant biology, plant physiology, soil science, or a related degree or field professional experience
• 8+ years of experience as a strawberry grower in a greenhouse, vertical farm, and/or large-scale traditional or research farm
• 8+ years of experience in team and production or experiment farm management
• Experience in experiment design, cultivation recipe development, and execution
• Proven ability to communicate experimental outcomes and translate them into recipe proposals
• Strong expertise of plant growth, environmental control, cultivation systems (e.g., UTR), and pest and disease management (IPM)
• An open-minded and adaptable leader who actively listens to diverse perspectives of team members and other cross-functional leaders to translate those perspectives into practical action
• A big-picture thinker who connects plant biology, environment condition, operations efficiency, and equipment performance to optimize the whole system
• Ability to independently identify on-site cultivation challenges, plan relevant experiments, collect and analyze data, and propose and implement actionable solutions
• Data-driven decision maker with a strong foundation in experimental design and results interpretation
• Demonstrated ability to work hands-on in a fast-paced, R&D startup environment

Perks at Oishii:

• Salary of $90K-100K and Equity 
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• 100% Employer Paid Life Insurance + Long Term Disability Insurance
• EAP Access
• Pet Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (Roth & Traditional)
• Paid Parental leave
• Office social events including happy hours, parties, and community service projects
• Employee activity groups for basketball players, Yoga Enthusiasts, runners

About Us:

At Oishii, we grow the best fruit in the world by deploying ground-breaking vertical farming technology that pushes the boundaries of agriculture. We’re the first in the WORLD to grow fruit in an indoor vertical farm at commercial scale. We started with strawberries, which we debuted at Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, the three star Michelin restaurant considered by critics to be among the best in the world. Since then, we have supplied our strawberries to food-loving consumers, world-class restaurants, and specialty retailers across NYC. Our proprietary technology enables us to grow the very best produce year-round, at the same high level of quality, all without using any pesticides. 

Oishii has been profiled in Eater, NPR, Time Magazine, and Fortune. Oishi was also one of the Fast Companies Most Innovative Companies of 2022. 

https://www.fastcompany.com/90753797/oishii-the-tesla-of-strawberries-is-slashing-its-prices-by-more-than-half 

At Oishii, everything we do works toward accomplishing our mission of transforming agriculture sustainably while bringing produce that truly delights people everywhere. This requires farmers, engineers, scientists, product managers, and members of many other backgrounds to work together day-in and day-out to innovate, while operating increasingly large farms. We have an amazing mission-driven team of highly motivated and engaged members. 

Learn More https://oishii.com/