Nursery Technician III

Job description:

Summary

The Nursery Technician is responsible for performing a wide range of technical support functions in the nursery. Everyday tasks may vary depending on day-to-day nursery needs. This position involves a high degree of quality control and requires attention to detail as well as some equipment maintenance functions. Responsibilities include inventory tracking and mapping, manipulation of horticultural and agricultural growing conditions, machine calibration and operation, and chemical mixing and application.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties and responsibilities for the position include the items listed below:

· Communicate effectively with supervisor, staff, and other assigned nursery personnel.

· Assist in training lower-level technicians in learning new techniques and in improving efficiencies.

· Work effectively to meet productivity goals and project timelines while maintaining high quality standards.

· Ensure work area is clean at the end of each shift or assigned task.

· Accurately count, measure, maintain, and communicate records.

· Accurately follow procedures which require measuring, mixing, and formulating.

· Accurately track and log inventory. Map, label, and update production database records.

· Secure and maintain the quality of nursery tools and equipment.

· Set-up and implement trials.

· Perform various seasonal assignments such as initiation of tissue culture plantlets in the greenhouses; processing of budwood, graft wood, or hardwood cuttings; sorting and/or shipping of containers trees; planting of seeds, cuttings and liners; digging and shipping season assignments such as pulling, grading, bundling and loading trees.

Marginal Duties:

· Adhere to safety, and security standards and all company policies and procedures to ensure company objectives are met and communicate to management when safety concerns are observed.

· Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of: Advanced knowledge of agricultural methods and/or mechanical systems; safety requirements; quality standards; operation and calibration of complex equipment; database systems; environmental controls; crop system inputs; calibration techniques; record keeping principles, techniques and filing systems; methods of locating and verifying information using source documents.

Ability to: Understand and carry out oral and written instructions; organize and complete assignments under minimal supervision; interpret and apply policies and procedures; keep technical, complex records; gather and assemble data and prepare reports using database and spreadsheet applications; make mathematical computations (add/subtract, multiply/divide, decimals/percentages) with speed and accuracy; operate modern office equipment; type with speed and accuracy; comprehend and use technical/professional language; and utilize various software programs relevant to the position; be open and willing to work all assigned tasks in all areas of the nursery; cooperate and work will with team members.

Education and Experience: Possession of an associate’s degree from an accredited college with major course work in one or more appropriate disciplines in agricultural, biological or physical science or chemistry; or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge and skills.

Special Requirements

Essential Duties require the following physical skills and work requirements:
Requires the ability to maintain mental capacity of exercising sound judgment and rational thinking under varied circumstances; exert a considerable amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects and to stoop, squat, crawl, crouch, climb, lift; operate a variety of tools which may include equipment and vehicles; requires close visual acuity; sitting and/or standing up to 8 hours a day; occasional walking; may be subject to uncomfortable working conditions including exposure to dust, noise, heat, cold, wet, humid, dry and arid conditions; may be exposed to loud noise and unpleasant odors.

License or Certificate: N/A

Benefits:

• 401(k) 4% Match
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance