Cultivation Advisor
24 days ago
New York
Job Description Title Cultivation Advisor Location U.S. Remote with Regular Travel Department Commercial Cultivation Advisory Reports To Director of Cultivation Science Job Type Full-Time | Exempt /Salary ABOUT HYDROBUILDER HOLDINGS Hydrobuilder Holdings partners with cultivators across the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) spectrum — from large commercial facilities to independent and emerging growers. Our mission is to help growers improve yield, reduce operating costs and increase profitability by combining curated products, logistics, advisory expertise and integrated technology into one aligned ecosystem. Elevated, our commercial division, is a tech-enabled service platform for CEA operations. Through dedicated Account Executives, Cultivation Advisors, proprietary brands and AI-driven crop optimization tools, Elevated supports professional growers from facility build-out through harvest optimization. Hydrobuilder.com, “The Growers Marketplace,” serves smaller and mid-sized growers with a robust digital platform offering curated products, education and an expanding B2B portal experience. At the core of our innovation is our integrated AgTech program, applying AI, sensor data and lab analytics to deliver actionable insights that improve consistency, efficiency and margins across the cultivation lifecycle. . OVERVIEW OF POSITION The Cultivation Advisor (CA) is an advanced field-based technical authority responsible for optimizing plant health, yield consistency, operational stability, and cost efficiency within licensed commercial cultivation facilities. Building upon the Systems Technician foundation, the CA is authorized to independently execute all field data collection and documentation responsibilities, interpret collected data, and deliver structured cultivation recommendations within Elevated's AgTech Program framework. The CA functions as an embedded agronomic partner — prioritizing service integrity, data continuity, and repeatable optimization processes over transactional engagement. All recommendations must be grounded in documented data, traceable within reporting systems, and aligned with ongoing optimization cycles. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Advanced Facility Diagnostics • Execute all Systems Technician field responsibilities including plant tissue, water, runoff, nutrient, and pathogen sampling; equipment diagnostics and system validation; environmental measurements and data capture; and facility documentation and asset tracking, • Conduct structured cultivation assessments that go beyond data collection to evaluate systemic performance and identify drivers of operational inefficiency Environmental Performance Analysis • Evaluate VPD, temperature, humidity, and airflow distribution across facility zones, • Identify microclimate inconsistencies and their impact on crop performance, • Assess lighting uniformity, PPFD mapping, and DLI alignment by growth stage, • Diagnose environmental drivers contributing to plant stress or yield inconsistency Water & Fertigation Validation • Assess source water quality across RO, municipal, and well sources, • Review nutrient solution chemistry and mixing accuracy against target parameters, • Validate fertigation system configuration, programming, and delivery timing, • Inspect irrigation distribution, emitter performance, and dosing system calibration Root Zone & Substrate Analytics • Conduct EC and pH sampling across media types and growth stages, • Perform dry-back and hydration pattern analysis to assess irrigation strategy alignment, • Identify root-zone stress indicators including salt buildup and oxygen limitation, • Diagnose irrigation strategy misalignment by cultivar and developmental phase Plant Health Diagnostics • Utilize testing data to identify macro and micronutrient deficiencies or toxicities, • Detect early indicators of pest or pathogen pressure before escalation, • Evaluate crop steering alignment across vegetative and flowering stages, • Assess cultivar-specific performance inconsistencies and recommend corrective adjustments IPM & Pathogen Risk Review • Evaluate sanitation protocols and identify workflow-level contamination risks, • Review spray schedules and biological control programs for efficacy and compliance, • Identify recurring pest pressure patterns and root causes, • Recommend corrective adjustments aligned with approved best practices Equipment Mapping & Lifecycle Documentation • Document lighting systems, environmental controls, fertigation systems, and facility infrastructure, • Record serial numbers, asset identifiers, system modifications, and upgrades, • Maintain equipment continuity records for diagnostic reference and lifecycle planning Data Interpretation & Optimization Strategy Design • Interpret plant tissue, water, runoff, nutrient, and pathogen lab reports, • Identify recurring patterns, systemic inefficiencies, and structural versus anomalous issues, • Correlate environmental, irrigation, and nutrient data to measurable performance outcomes, • Design corrective and preventative cultivation strategies grounded in documented data, • Recommend structured testing cadence aligned with facility goals and optimization cycles Cultivation Health Reporting • Produce a written Cultivation Health Report following each scheduled facility visit, • Summarize environmental, irrigation, and plant health findings with documented risks and priority corrective actions, • Outline measurable next steps, follow-up timelines, and historical performance trends, • Update CRM and internal systems to ensure continuity and data accuracy across all touchpoints Program Integration & Expansion • Recommend appropriate service tier within the Grow Optimization Program based on facility diagnostics, • Convert goodwill assessments into recurring testing or field service plans, • Identify trigger-based optimization tracks spanning plant health, irrigation, and IPM, • Reinforce structured subscription engagement over ad-hoc advisory interactions, • Ensure all operational recommendations align with Elevated standards and supported solutions — the CA does not operate as a product salesperson Cross-Functional Coordination • Collaborate with Commercial Account Executives, Lab Services teams, AgTech and data teams, Cultivation Strategists, Service Advisors, and Operations Coordinators • Align field findings with lab interpretation and communicate risks or escalation needs across departments, • Support coordinated account strategy and ensure data consistency across all functional touchpoints, • Identify performance gaps that justify expanded service engagement Professional Standards & Documentation Discipline • Maintain strict biosecurity and facility etiquette standards across all client sites, • Operate within defined advisory scope; avoid unsupported or undocumented recommendations, • Ensure all guidance is documented, traceable, and communicated professionally in regulated environments, • Protect customer trust through disciplined, data-driven advisory practiceKEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS), • Cultivation Health Report submission within 48 hours of facility visit: ≥ 95%, • Recommendation accuracy and data traceability: 100% of advisory outputs documented in CRM, • Reduction in recurring environmental or plant health issues across assigned accounts: measurable improvement within 90-day optimization cycles, • Structured testing cadence adoption rate: ≥ 90% of active accounts on recurring program track, • Program subscription retention across assigned client base: ≥ 90%, • Documentation completeness and accuracy rate: ≥ 98%, • Safety incident rate: 0 preventable incidentsKEY CHALLENGES, • Translating complex, multi-variable diagnostic data into clear, actionable cultivation strategies while maintaining full documentation discipline and traceability, • Balancing independent advisory authority with the requirement that all recommendations remain grounded in documented data and aligned with Elevated's program framework, • Managing a geographically distributed client portfolio with consistent visit cadence, reporting quality, and biosecurity compliance across diverse facility types and operational maturity levels, • Navigating client relationships in regulated commercial environments where trust, professionalism, and scope discipline are critical to service retention, • Distinguishing recurring systemic issues from isolated anomalies when correlating environmental, irrigation, and lab data across multiple concurrent accountsJOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE, • Demonstrated experience in commercial cannabis or controlled environment agriculture required, • Advanced knowledge of plant nutrition, irrigation strategy, crop steering, and environmental control systems, • Experience interpreting lab data — including tissue, water, runoff, and pathogen reports — and translating findings into structured cultivation strategy, • Familiarity with AgTech sensor platforms, fertigation systems, and facility-level diagnostics, • Strong written communication skills; ability to produce clear, professional Cultivation Health Reports, • Experience with CRM systems and digital reporting platforms, • Ability to operate independently and with sound judgment in regulated commercial environments, • Valid driver's license and willingness to travel regularly across assigned service territory, • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs; comfortable working in humid, high-light, active production environmentsCOMPENSATION, • Base Salary: Starting at $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience, • Performance-based incentives, • Company vehicle provided, • Gas reimbursement, • Cell phone stipendBENEFITS, • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, • 401(k) plan with company match, • Paid time off and holidays, • Professional development and training opportunities, • Flexible work schedule and remote work options In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the employee may be asked to perform other duties as assigned by management.
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