Tissue Culture Lab Supervisor

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 Tissue Culture Lab Supervisor. This position will be located in Paarl, South Africa.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for delegating, coordinating, guiding, and motivating Lab Technicians, to achieve target quantity and quality of in vitro plants. The role is responsible for planning weekly activities required for the production and delivery of in vitro plants domestically and internationally.  The position also requires managing data and preparing reports as needed.

ORGANIZATIONAL FIT:

This position reports to the Tissue Culture Lab Manager and works closely with Propagation, Media Preparation and other departments at Fall Creek.

JOB SETTING:

Laboratory setting. Some travel may be required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: (Other duties may be assigned)

• Supervises and guides team technicians, assigning tasks to achieve target goals according to the master plan.


• Develops weekly plan to ensure that resources (supplies, media, labor) are provided and available to meet target activities and deliverables.


• Works closely with Media Prep Unit to ensure that culture media and all lab supplies are available in a timely manner.


• Trains and continuously provides constructive feedback to technicians, related with micropropagation techniques and plant quality control, ensuring adherence to established SOPs and regulatory procedures.


• Assists with Review Performance process and provides recommendations for development and performance improvement plans to the Manager.   


• Scans, performs, and processes data entry daily, in respective logs, to ensure all plants are correctly labeled and registered.


• Audits and reviews data entries from technicians, ensuring logs are accurate and updated on a timely manner. Performs corrections to entries, if necessary.


• Ensures plant culture rooms and respective plant inventories are organized, maintained, and monitored for contamination and quality on a regular basis.


• Maintains records for various functions such as daily production reports, plant inventories and shipping reports.  Provides monthly reports to management or as requested.


• Assists with planning and processing of domestic and global Plant Requests and/or PO (Purchase Orders).


• Evaluates and performs quality control checks of prepared in vitro plants and provides final approval for delivery/shipping to respective locations domestic and abroad.


• Oversees activities for the environmental contamination monitoring and control program.


• Reports immediately any issue related with deliverables and personnel issues to Management.


• Responsible for opening and closing of the lab and following respective procedures.


• Ensures Transfer Room areas are organized and clean.


• Responsible for implementing, performing, and ensuring all work is done by all personnel in a safe and efficient manner following all SOPs and Fall Creek policies.


• Assures confidentiality on sensitive matters concerning the nursery.


• Collaborates in maintain a climate of respect, trust, and teamwork, according with Fall Creek values and code of conduct.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING

• Typically requires degree, advanced training or courses in biological sciences, or 4+ years of related working experience.


• Supervisory and/or mentoring experience.


• Proven leadership skills.


• Must be able to read and follow detailed instructions, directions, and protocols in English. 


• Requires a high attention to detail and the ability to observe small deviations. 


• Requires the ability to be highly organized in handling materials, equipment, and supplies. 


• Ability to collaborate with other team members, develop strong relationships, and maintain a positive attitude.  


• Excellent oral and written communication skills.  


• Ability to work in a clean environment with limited access to the outdoors. 


• Regular and reliable attendance at the primary place of business. 


• Willingness to learn new skills and be part of a team.


• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position. 


• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work well with people. 


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

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