Silvaseed is looking for a Nursery Operations Manager. If you’re deeply committed to our mission and capable of working in a high-volume forest nursery and seed operation, we’d love to speak with you.  

As the Nursery Operations Manager, you will be instrumental in seedling production: growing, packing, and distribution of container and bare root seedlings for a high-volume commercial forest nursery. You will join a growing team and serve essential functions to support container and field-grown (bare root) seedling production. You will have a broad suite of roles that require you to ensure the production of seedlings meets quality and standard specifications, and any other requirements specified by the customers.   You will work with other internal teams to mitigate the incidence of disease and other risks to plants during the production. You will also be responsible for reviewing, digitizing, and reporting on growing operations as part of an integrated modernization plan at our facilities.  Working in a startup environment, there will be occasional opportunity for cross-disciplinary work with the other nursery (Cal Forest) and Mast (the parent company). You will have colleagues who are seed specialists, scientists, logistics coordinators, software/hardware engineers, and foresters to ensure an optimized production environment and processes are in place for seedling production for reforestation.  This role reports to the General Manager.  There will be ample opportunity for skills building and personal development toward more senior positions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Produce high quality forest seedling crops by applying effective nursery practices and principles
• Supervise and delegate growing tasks to junior growers
• Assist in training seasonal forest nursery workers in required nursery work activities
• Plan crop cycles including stratification and sowing schedules, bench assignments, and packing schedules
• Mix fertilizers and monitor water quality
• Monitor and measure crop growth rates and conduct audits on lifted crops
• Operate forklifts and other farm machinery such as tractors
• Keep neat and accurate records including computerized record-keeping systems
• Oversee facility repairs
• Implement and operate analog, computerized and other control systems
• Assist with greenhouse sanitization practices
• Maintain, repair, and upgrade nursery facilities as needed
• Help develop a company-directed IPM program, applying pesticides as needed
• Work with field grown (bare root) crops with annual and multi-year trajectories
• Help with packing, storage, and distribution of biological (plant) products to customers
• Identify and advocate for additional resources needed for overall operational success
• Support in developing solutions to identify and address phytosanitary issues or nutrient deficiencies to achieve quality and output goals
• Support in developing a strategic plan to optimize space for surging customer demand
• Support in expanding the growing capacity
• Successful applicants must obtain a Washington pesticide applicator's license within 90 days of hire.

Preferred Qualifications and Durable Qualities:

• Bachelor’s Degree in forestry/horticulture/agriculture/plant sciences or equivalent
• 5+ years of experience in Nursery/Horticultural/Agriculture production
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (Spanish is a plus)
• Excellent judgment with an evident “safety-first” mentality
• Experience in working with laboratory, greenhouse, and field work for plant propagation
• Excellent problem solving skills with demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage multiple initiatives
• Experience and comfort in the greenhouse and outdoor climates (heat/cold)
• Able to travel on occasion for grower or collaborative project meetings
• Able to work in person 5 days a week.  Must have reliable transportation. Shift work and weekend work are required – regular hours are 40 hours per week with varying shift times by growing seasons.
• Scrappy, willing to dive in and do whatever it takes, regardless of the job description

Salary posting and Benefits of working at Mast Reforestation and its subsidiaries: The compensation package includes a base salary plus numerous benefits (see below).  As of October 2024, the geo-located base salary for this role falls within this band: $30-$35 per hour, and the role is qualified for overtime. We’ll determine the final base salary based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills level and residing location during the hiring process.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Location-based compensation
• 80% health insurance coverage for Regular, Non-seasonal employees, including Medical, Dental & Vision insurance plans.
• Voluntary insurance plans with competitive premium rates: Pet insurance, Life insurance, Accidents.  
• Company paid Short Term Disability insurance and Group Term Life insurance- Company’s incentive stock options (ISO) for eligible employee group
• Sustainable Retirement saving plan: 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with climate-focused investment options.
• Commuter Benefits in eligible cities
• 6 paid holidays. Two weeks of company-wide closing per year
• Flexible PTO for Salaried employees.
• Generous PTO accrual rate for Hourly employees.
• Allowances for out-of-state employees
• Relocation support for out-of-state employees