Director, Cultivation, Systems & Crop Science

Role Summary The Director of Cultivation Systems & Crop Science owns the national fertigation strategy, crop steering programs, cultivation technology platform, and fertigation infrastructure across all company cultivation facilities. This role is responsible for designing and standardizing strain-specific nutrient and irrigation programs, engineering and overseeing fertigation system buildouts, implementing and managing sensor-driven cultivation platforms (Aroya, Growlink, or equivalent), and leading facility-level fertigation teams. This position serves as the bridge between plant science and cultivation technology, ensuring every facility operates on data-driven, scalable, and optimized growing protocols.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Own and standardize the national fertigation program - including strain-specific nutrient formulations, feed schedules, EC/pH targets, and irrigation protocols across all facilities and growing media.
• Develop and implement crop steering strategies across the national footprint, standardizing generative and vegetative steering protocols through dry-back management, irrigation timing, EC ramps, and VPD coordination.
• Spec, design, and oversee the engineering and installation of fertigation systems across new builds and facility retrofits - including dosing equipment, reservoir systems, emitter layouts, plumbing, and controls.
• Own the national cultivation technology platform strategy, leading the integration, configuration, and optimization of Aroya, Growlink, or equivalent sensor and substrate monitoring systems across all facilities.
• Establish sensor deployment standards and ensure consistent data collection across facilities - including substrate moisture, EC, temperature, VPD, and dry-back metrics.
• Translate platform data into actionable cultivation decisions and SOPs, training facility teams to use real-time data for irrigation timing, steering adjustments, and environmental management.
• Own water quality strategy nationally - including source water testing, RO/filtration system specifications, and water treatment protocols by facility.
• Lead R&D trials on nutrient formulations, irrigation strategies, crop steering techniques, and new cultivation technologies, translating results into scalable SOPs.
• Partner with the National Cultivation Planning Manager to align fertigation and crop steering programs with the strain-mix plan, canopy schedule, and production timeline.
• Manage input procurement strategy for nutrients, additives, and fertigation supplies - optimizing cost, quality, and vendor relationships nationally.
• Manage and develop facility-level fertigation staff, building local technical capability while maintaining national program consistency.
• Partner with Facilities and Engineering teams on capital projects involving irrigation infrastructure, environmental controls, and cultivation technology installations.
• Manage fertigation and cultivation technology budgets, including capital expenditures for system buildouts and ongoing operational costs.
• Ensure all fertigation and crop steering practices comply with state regulations, quality standards, GMPs, and company SOPs.
• Travel to facilities to audit system performance, calibrate equipment, train teams, and oversee installations.
• Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Horticulture, Plant Science, Agricultural Engineering, or related field required. Masters degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience managing fertigation programs in commercial cannabis or controlled-environment agriculture.
• 3+ years of experience in a multi-site or national-scope role.
• Demonstrated experience with crop steering methodologies including dry-back management, generative/vegetative steering, and substrate-based irrigation strategies.
• Hands-on experience specifying, installing, or overseeing fertigation system buildouts - including dosing systems, reservoir design, and emitter infrastructure.
• Proficiency with Aroya, Growlink, or equivalent sensor-driven cultivation platforms.
• Strong understanding of plant nutrition, water chemistry, pH/EC management, and irrigation science across multiple growing media (rockwool, coco, living soil).
• Experience managing and developing technical teams across multiple locations.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear SOPs and train non-technical staff on execution.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Must be able to register with applicable state cannabis commissions.
• Must comply with all laws, regulations, and policies associated with the industry.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at a multi-state cannabis operator with 5+ cultivation facilities.
• Background in fertigation systems engineering or controlled-environment agriculture infrastructure design.
• Experience managing capital projects involving irrigation or environmental control systems.
• Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) or similar credential.
• Experience with data visualization or BI tools to build fertigation and crop steering dashboards.

What We Offer

• Verano Base Pay Range: $110,000 - $125,000. Actual pay is based on experience, qualifications, and location of the role.
• Roles may be eligible for annual bonus program based on individual and company.

Physical and Mental Demands While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position, communicate, operate computer systems, and work in active cultivation environments. The employee must occasionally move equipment or materials weighing up to 25 lbs. The role requires sustained analytical focus, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects across time zones. These requirements are representative of those that must be met, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential functions of the position.

Working Environment Work is performed in a combination of office and active cultivation/warehouse environments. Travel to facilities nationally is required (estimated 40-60%). The employee will regularly work in environments with elevated heat, humidity, water exposure, and moderate noise levels. Exposure to nutrients, pH adjustment chemicals, and fertigation equipment is expected. Appropriate PPE will be provided.

EEO Statement We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We place priority in an environment of inclusion, diversity, and social justice and are committed to securing a better, brighter way forward for our employees, our markets, and our communities.