Extraction/Cultivation Technician - Cannabis - Iowa Cannabis Company

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Iowa Cannabis Company in Iowa City, IA is currently seeking Extraction/Cultivation Technicians to join our team at our state-of-the-art cannabis production facility. Join us in our mission to provide high-quality medical cannabis products to patients across Iowa. As a leader in the industry, we are committed to innovation and excellence in the extraction process.  We currently operate three medical dispensaries in the state of Iowa, along with our medical cannabis manufacturing facility. 

JOB SUMMARY

Title: Join Our Team: Extraction/Cultivation Technician

Are you passionate about plants and eager to join the booming cannabis industry? We at Iowa Cannabis Company are on the lookout for a dedicated Extraction/Cultivation Technician to join our team at our modern cannabis growing and processing facility. Here's a chance to turn your botanical skills into a rewarding career.

Key Responsibilities:

• Participate in all phases of the extraction process from plant to finished product. 
• Take care of our cannabis plants, ensuring they are healthy and growing well.
• Daily check and maintain the equipment to ensure everything is working properly.
• Keep a sharp eye on the plants, recording important data and spotting any issues like pests or nutrient problems early on.
• Work with our plants through all their growth stages, from the time they are small clones to the bountiful harvest at the end.

What Makes This Role Exciting

• You'll be working in a fast-paced environment, where your problem-solving skills will come in handy, especially under the warm glow of our cultivation lights.
• Be part of an energetic team committed to producing top-quality cannabis.
• This is a full-time position with a weekly schedule of 30-40 hours. Additionally, there's the potential to earn more with up to 10 overtime hours available per week, based on our production demands.

Are you ready to dive into the world of cannabis extraction/cultivation and contribute to our thriving industry? If yes, step into the role of an Extraction/Cultivation Technician at Iowa Cannabis Company and enjoy a fulfilling journey with our dynamic team. Apply today on Indeed and start a new chapter in your horticultural career.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Extraction:

• Perform general manual labor tasks including loading, unloading, lifting, and moving materials.
• Clean glassware and sensitive lab equipment, as well as general cleaning of the lab areas.
• Work at an efficient pace in a production environment while measuring out and packaging all concentrate products and vape cartridges
• Operate technical machinery, following company SOPs.
• Perform general maintenance of equipment, tools, and workspace.
• Preparing equipment and plant materials for extraction, including but not limited to dry biomass grinding and fresh biomass packing in a freezer environment.
• Maintaining strict inventory records of all plant materials, chemicals and equipment used in the laboratory, as well as data logs for the various extraction processes.
• Operate cannabis extraction equipment in a safe, productive manner.
• Perform the following types of cannabis oil processing:
  • Simple distillation or solvent recovery
  • Winterization
  • Filtration
  • Solventless extraction
  • Rosin pressing
  • Edible Production
• Proficiently handle the following hazardous materials: Butane, Propane, compressed Argon or Nitrogen, Ethanol, Isopropyl alcohol, Acetone, as well as hot and cold materials utilizing proper PPE
• Ensures all tools are in working order and clean to prevent the spread of potential diseases.
• Aid in the development of protocols to limit cross-contamination and ensure team members are adhering to SOPs when in cultivation areas
• Maintains all paperwork and records, ensuring any assigned data forms and logs are accurately filled out and completed in a timely manner.

Cultivation:

• Perform daily room maintenance checks to ensure all equipment  is operating correctly
• Perform daily plant health checks to keep record of plant health through growth cycles
• Identify, record, and track daily data logs/checks using FloEnvy, and Growlink Software. 
• Identify/spot and report: pests, poor plant health, nutrient deficiencies and toxicities
• Environmental monitoring and reporting
• Perform plant work in accordance with the needs of the production schedule
• Maintain a clean and sterile working environment
• Perform deep Cleaning and Disinfection tasks throughout the entire facility INCLUDING some janitorial tasks.
• Work with plants at all stages of growth. 
• Harvest plants at the end of their growth cycle
• Trellising plants during flowering cycle
• Package cannabis flower, concentrates and vape products for sale.
• Irrigation line maintenance
• Follow and execute the company's Standard Operating Procedures
• Ensure that all cultivation associates are following and executing the company's standard operating procedures
• Transplanting rooted clones into coco or other mediums
• Daily strain stability checks across all plants and R&D strains
• Topping and pruning vegetative plants as directed and in accordance to companies SOP's
• Taking cuttings from Mother plants and sticking cuttings into grow medium
• Pruning Mother plants according to cultivar and cloning needs
• Preparing grow media for clones and/or transplants
• Mixing and applying soil drenches
• Releases beneficial/predatory insects
• Irrigating by hand according to plants size and needs
• Following strict biosecurity protocols, maintaining sanitation of tools and person
• Cleaning tables, mopping floors
• Standing/squatting/bending with arms extended for long periods of time
• Affixing tags / labels to plants/packages
• Scouting for and reporting any pests and pathogens
• Applying trellis netting, training/manipulating branches to achieve a uniform canopy
• Mixing and applying foliar sprays and drenches
• Mixing and delivering nutrients
• Measuring the EC and pH of nutrient solution
• Hand watering in accordance with companies Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's)
• Filling flowering rooms with vegetative plants
• Working at a fast pace under warm cultivation lights - rooms average 75+ degrees
• Other duties as assigned

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Job duties may include work indoors and outdoors during all seasons, 365 days/year.
• Employees may be exposed to difficult or stressful vendor, customer, or employee situations requiring patience and professionalism to effectively handle.
• Work duties may require sedentary activities, active standing, stooping and/or kneeling. 
• Production facility operates 365 days a year with shifts typically occurring between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.  Job responsibilities occasionally fall outside of typical shifts. 
• Employees are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, hearing protection and safety glasses.
• The production facility may have strong odors and varying temperatures due to the cultivation and processing of cannabis.
• Employees may be required to work in confined spaces, such as plant growing areas or extraction rooms.
• Exposure to potential allergens, such as pollen or plant materials.
• The use of chemicals and pesticides is common in a cannabis production facility, which may require employees to follow strict safety protocols and wear additional PPE.
• Noise levels in the facility may be loud due to equipment or machinery operations.
• The facility has strict security measures, including video surveillance and restricted access, to ensure compliance with regulations and prevent theft.
• Regular cleaning and sanitization of the work area required to maintain a safe and hygienic environment.
• Able to work in low oxygen areas.
• Capable of working with or around caustic and potentially harmful chemicals.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to regularly lift 50 pounds and occasionally lift up to 200 pounds with assistance.
• Must be able to complete job duties that involve frequent bending, reaching, and carrying of heavy materials or equipment.
• Must be able to stand for up to eight hours per day.
• Must be able to proficiently operate computers, tablets and other productivity machinery and technology.
• Must be able to reliably arrive at work on time for scheduled shifts.
• Must be able to ascend/descend a ladder to service displays, products, or service ceiling lights.
• Must be able to type at least 40 words per minute.
• Must be able to move about the retail store, as needed, to assist customers and perform required functions.
• Must be able to remain in a designated work area for up to eight hours per day with the exception of breaks as required by law. 
• Must be able to position oneself to access products within all areas of the production facility.
• Must be able to effectively communicate information and ideas so vendors, customers and coworkers will understand. Must be able to convey and exchange accurate information in these situations.   
• Must be able to continue to assist vendors, customers and coworkers during and after stressful situations resulting from interactions.
• Must be able to accurately observe details at close range in order to recognize, identify, detect, determine and assess objects.
• Must be able to prepare, place and position retail products or items.
• Must be able to effectively communicate information displayed on digital screens.
• Must be able to perform other job duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or college degree
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office
• Record production and test data for each product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle, and pressures during the extraction process.
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must be and remain compliant with any and all regulatory requirements for working in the cannabis industry
• Must be able to internalize training and follow instructions consistently
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
  
  

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

• Pay starts at $17/hr.
• Employee discount includes 50% for Iowa medical cannabis card holders
• Health, Dental and Vision insurance. 
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering in-person, telephonic, texting and video counseling for help with stress, anxiety, depression, family issues, and more.
• Paid Sick Leave (PSL).
• Holiday Pay for anyone working New Years Day, 4/20, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.