Propagation Technician

Fall Creek is creating a world with better blueberries through its friendly, collaborative team spread across the globe. To help us accomplish this, we are seeking a qualified Propagation Technician. This position will be located in Paarl, South Africa.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Responsible for managing cuttings, rooting blueberry plants, and greenhouse operations.

ORGANIZATIONAL FIT:

This position reports to the Propagation Lead in South Africa and works closely with inventory, production, and other departments at the nursery, supervising work teams, labor contractors and other temporary employees as needed.

JOB SETTING:

Office and greenhouse setting. Evening, weekend and work over the holidays may be required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: (Other duties may be assigned)

• Leads and manages greenhouse and nursery horticultural operations, including planting (sticking) tissue culture, growing, pruning, weeding, chemical spraying, and overall plant care, under the leadership of the Propagation Lead.  


• Oversees plant health and quality through scouting, disease and pest monitoring, irrigation, fertigation, and crop management practices to ensure production targets and quality standards are achieved. 


• Supervises, organizes, and develops department employees by coordinating workflow, scheduling labour requirements, setting performance expectations, promoting teamwork, and maintaining a safe, respectful, and legally compliant workplace.


• Ensures adherence to standard operating procedures, quality standards, health and safety protocols, and chemical handling requirements, including the safe use and storage of fertilizers, pesticides, and related substances.


• Manages and maintains accurate production and operational records, including planting numbers, TC intake, ERP data, inventory, and other departmental reporting requirements.


• Assists with planning production cycles, improving greenhouse operations and workflow efficiency, and conducting process improvement studies when required. 


• Anticipates departmental resource, staffing, and facility needs, assisting with budget planning, cost control, and prioritization of requirements.


• Supports and promotes Fall Creek’s core values, culture, and operational excellence.


• Performs other duties as assigned. 

REQUIRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree, diploma, or equivalent in agronomy/horticulture.


• At least 3 years’ experience as a grower, agronomist, or related position.


• Requires a valid driver’s license.


• Fluent in English.


• Strong working knowledge of computer programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook.


• Ability and previous experience managing, developing, and mentoring staff.


• Prioritize work within established guidelines.


• Ability to develop clear action plans and drive processes with many interdependencies.


• Requires good judgment in decision-making and in recognizing scope of authority.


• Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees, supervisors, vendors, labs.


• Must have a commitment to quality.


• Demonstrate professional and ethical business practices, adherence to company values, and a commitment to personal and professional development.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Technical plant knowledge in propagation agriculture.


• Greenhouse experience beneficial.


• General knowledge of plant tissue culture and conventional plant propagation techniques.


• Knowledge or previous experience with SAP/equivalent ERP system.


• Bilingual knowledge of English and Afrikaans

Who is Fall Creek? – Please go check out our Website & You Tube Videos

We are a US-based company with a keen focus on blueberry genetics, plants, and grower support delivered to the world’s premier blueberry growers. From our humble beginnings in Lowell, Oregon more than 40 years ago, we now also have our own nurseries in Mexico, Peru, Spain, Netherlands, South Africa, and China. Additionally, we have built a dynamic team of global experts in various areas of expertise, including the finest breeders, researchers, propagators and nursery professionals, grower support technicians, sales and customer service experts and more. We’re a deeply planted link in a global chain, ready to serve our customers and our industry throughout North, Central, and South America, Greater Europe, and South Africa. Our mission is to serve the growers and to support the blueberry industry, helping to ensure growers maximize success through our delivery of the best genetics and plants, technical know-how and global market intelligence.

To fulfill our mission, we focus on cultivating exceptional plants, building strong relationships and providing responsive customer service. This is all part of how we’re helping to build A World with Better Blueberries™.  
 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.
 

Fall Creek Farm & Nursery® offers a competitive salary and benefit package for this role. This position is office bound, but will require the candidate to be available to work in a nursery setting, and/or support the production team over weekends on a rotational basis.
 

We can’t wait to hear from you!
 

For consideration, please send the following related documents in support of your application for this role,

• Personal CV/ resume (including recent references)


• Copy of ID


• Copy of - Qualification & Education Records

** Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All Applications will close by 31 July 2026 and any applications received after this date will not be considered.

Please check or arrange whether you have access to a desktop of electronic device that we would be able to hold a virtual meeting, as part of the interview process