At Rubicon Organics, our vision is to be the most trusted house of premium cannabis brands by creating elevated experiences for people everywhere. We are building the future of premium cannabis through innovation, quality, and sustainable cultivation practices. The Tissue Culture & Propagation Specialist will support the development and operation of our new tissue culture and genetics program in Squamish, BC. This is a hands-on role responsible for plant tissue culture, propagation, nursery operations, and supporting the scale-up of our genetics program. This is an exciting opportunity to join during the build phase of the program, where you'll help establish new processes, contribute to workflow development, and play a key role in building a best-in-class propagation operation.
Key Responsibilities Tissue Culture Lab Setup & Commissioning Support
- Support the physical setup and organization of the tissue culture lab, including workspace layout, equipment placement, and supply staging as directed by the senior manager.
- Assist in establishing foundational lab workflows including media preparation, autoclave/sterilization cycles, and culture handling procedures.
- Participate in equipment testing and validation to confirm readiness for initial culture work.
- Maintain organized, clean, and functional workspaces throughout the build phase; flag gaps in materials, equipment, or layout to leadership promptly.
Tissue Culture Execution & Scale-Up
- A core expectation of this role is disciplined execution during early-stage operations and active contribution to scaling throughput as processes stabilize.
- Execute tissue culture activities as processes are introduced, including initiation, subculturing, multiplication, rooting, and acclimatization.
- Maintain strict aseptic technique at all times; support early-stage contamination monitoring and contribute to establishing baseline contamination rates.
- Transition tissue culture processes from small-scale trials to consistent, repeatable production workflows as directed.
- Track and report culture success rates, contamination events, cycle times, and throughput output; identify trends and flag issues early.
- Support increasing output of viable cultures while maintaining quality, traceability, and genetic integrity.
- Contribute to improving efficiency, space utilization, and workflow sequencing as the lab scales.
Plant Propagation & Nursery Integration
- Support cloning, cutting preparation, transplanting, and vegetative propagation activities alongside tissue culture work.
- Assist in integrating tissue culture plantlets into standard nursery workflows, including hardening-off and transition to vegetative production.
- Maintain clear linkage between tissue culture material, source mother plants, and breeding lines throughout the process.
- Support consistent plant quality and uniformity during the transition from lab to nursery environment.
- Execute regular nursery care tasks as part of the core role, including irrigation, pruning, sanitation, transplant support, crop maintenance, and day-to-day plant care activities.
Process Development, SOP & Documentation Support
- Assist in developing and refining SOPs, work instructions, and daily task checklists for all tissue culture and propagation workflows.
- Document processes as they are established — capturing procedures, parameters, and observations in real time rather than retrospectively.
- Identify gaps in process, materials, or workflow and escalate with practical recommendations to leadership.
- Support implementation and maintenance of tracking systems for genetics, culture batches, and production metrics.
- Ensure all documentation is accurate, current, and accessible for audit and review purposes.
Environmental Monitoring & Basic Technical Troubleshooting
- Monitor and record environmental conditions in both tissue culture lab and nursery spaces (temperature, humidity, light, air quality); escalate deviations promptly.
- Perform basic troubleshooting of HVAC and irrigation systems, including filter changes, set point adjustments, minor plumbing repairs, and equipment checks.
- Assist with setup and maintenance of environmental monitoring and propagation equipment as the lab is commissioned.
- Maintain environmental logs and contribute to establishing baseline operating ranges during the build phase.
Biosecurity & Contamination Control
- Execute strict sanitation and biosecurity protocols across lab and nursery environments from day one of operations.
- Maintain and follow cleaning, sterilization, and material handling procedures for all tools, equipment, surfaces, and growing media.
- Prevent cross-contamination between tissue culture lab, nursery, and production areas through disciplined adherence to gowning, hygiene, and access protocols.
- Support quarantine and genetic protection protocols as new material is introduced into the tissue culture program.
- Support the preparation and application of approved pest control products as directed, following all label requirements, internal SOPs, PPE requirements, and regulatory compliance expectations.
- Report any contamination event, biosecurity breach, or protocol deviation immediately to the Nursery Manager or Director.
Health & Safety
- Comply with all applicable occupational health and safety legislation (BC OHS Regulation) and the facility's internal Health & Safety Program at all times.
- Complete all required health and safety training prior to working independently in lab or nursery spaces.
- Follow all WHMIS requirements for chemical storage, handling, labelling, and disposal within the tissue culture lab and nursery; maintain up-to-date SDS records for all products used.
- Use appropriate PPE at all times and report hazards, near misses, and incidents immediately.
Qualifications Required
- 1-3 years of hands-on experience in plant tissue culture, micropropagation, horticulture, or controlled environment agriculture.
- Experience maintaining sterile laboratory techniques.
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Comfortable working in a developing, fast-paced environment.
- Ability to lift up to 25 kg and perform repetitive laboratory and nursery tasks.
- Completion of Health Canada key personnel training and all required compliance onboarding is mandatory prior to independent operation in this role.
Preferred
- Diploma or degree in Plant Science, Horticulture, Agriculture, Microbiology, or a related field.
- Experience in cannabis or other commercial propagation environments.
- Experience working in regulated manufacturing or licensed facilities.
- Basic mechanical aptitude with greenhouse or environmental systems.
Working Conditions
- Full-time, permanent position based on site in Squamish, BC
- Reports directly to the Senior Manager, Genetics
- Regular schedule of either Tuesday to Saturday or Sunday to Wednesday
- Flexible working hours, typically between 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM
- Split between a tissue culture laboratory and indoor nursery environment
- Requires standing for extended periods and lifting up to 25 kg as needed
Why Join Rubicon?
- Competitive base salary of $60,000 to $70,000, depending on experience
- Annual performance bonus of up to 10%
- Monthly phone stipend of up to $70
- Medical and dental benefits after 3 months
- Opportunities for professional growth and career development
- Play a key role in building a brand-new genetics and tissue culture program from the ground up
- Join a collaborative, innovative, and publicly traded company shaping the future of premium cannabis
