Now Hiring – Tree Nursery Specialist

Title: Tree Nursery Specialist
Job Category: 32 hours per week, hourly, non-exempt position
Compensation: Starting at $20/hr
Benefits: Generous PTO Policy, Employee health, dental, and vision benefits, 401k contribution match
Schedule: Tuesday – Saturday (Wed and Sat mornings are required every week)
Supervisor: Urban Forestry Director
Start Date: Negotiable; target is the first week of April 2024

About Community Greening:
Community Greening is an urban forestry non-profit based in Palm Beach County that has planted more than 17,000 trees since 2016. Community Greening is a member of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Alliance for Community Trees, a group of community-based organizations dedicated to the planting and caring of trees. Programming includes tree plantings at parks, schools, churches, right of ways, urban orchards, tree giveaways, Pick Up and Grow and the Youth Tree Team.

Community Greening envisions an engaged community creating sustainable urban green spaces and a vibrant tree canopy to equitably strengthen our environment, economy, society, and health.

Community Greening’s approach is getting local and national recognition including:

• “Outstanding Program of the Year” from the Florida Urban Forestry Council
• “Spirit of the Arbor Day” from the National Arbor Day Foundation
• “Regional Directors’ Honor Award” from the US Fish and Wildlife Service
• “Non Profit of the Year” from the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce
• “Tree Advocacy Group of the Year” from the Florida Urban Forestry Council

About the Tree Nursery:
Community Greening Nursery grows and cares for trees that are used in our tree giveaways and planting programs. We propagate South Florida native trees from seed and care for a variety of fruit trees. We use volunteer support to help us grow a diverse range of native trees that are locally adapted, resilient, and able to thrive into the future.

This is an exceptional opportunity for someone interested in building a career in horticulture and nursery management. Mentoring will be provided, and professional development will be highly encouraged. We anticipate future growth opportunities within the nursery operation for staff that demonstrate integrity and leadership capacity.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Tree Nursery Specialist will work under the supervision of the Urban Forestry Director to maintain the nursery grounds, assist with operations, perform propagation and plant care activities, and provide support for the volunteer programs.

Tree Nursery Maintenance and Operations:

• Implement integrated pest management as directed by supervisor, including monitoring for pests, and using cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods as appropriate.
• Safely use hand tools and operate power equipment like a string trimmer and leaf blower for facilities maintenance.
• Prepare and flag trees for delivery to giveaway and planting events.
• Assist with loading and unloading tree deliveries. Assist with other deliveries as scheduled.
• Support with conducting nursery tree inventories and daily work completed records.
• Maintain clean work areas.
• Assist with irrigation maintenance like flushing lines and drip emitters and with irrigation repairs as needed. 

Tree Care:

• Hand pull weeds from containers, spray and apply granular herbicides to control weeds.
• Apply granular and liquid fertilizers as instructed by supervisor.
• Work in an outdoor production setting to transplant seedlings, plugs/liners, and larger trees up to a 15-gallon container size.
• Prepare and stick cuttings into flats as instructed by supervisor.
• Prune and stake trees.
• Move and consolidate trees as needed.
• Hand water trees when necessary.

Volunteer Program Support:

• Support well-organized volunteer programs by helping with set up, logistics, check in, and program facilitation.
• Interact with volunteers in a friendly and professional manner.
• Lead groups of volunteers in nursery activities.

Other duties:

• Other duties and tasks as delegated.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge or demonstrated interest in horticulture required.
• Experience doing physical work in the outdoors year-round in South Florida required.
• Knowledge of Florida native tree species and/or fruit trees preferred.
• Experience in volunteer management preferred.

Requirements:

• Ability to lift 50 pounds repetitively.
• Ability to work steadily in a physically demanding environment that requires manual dexterity and repetitive use of fingers, hands, and wrists. Work will involve being on your feet, bending, lifting, and walking over uneven ground. Work may require being bent, stooped, and crouched for up to four hours of time.
• Comfortable working outside in all weather conditions, including light rain and high humidity in temperatures ranging from 100+ to 35 degrees as experienced in South Florida.
• Must have reliable transportation and be available to start work shortly after sunrise.
• Willingness to put safety first and use PPE as required.
• Ability to problem solve, take initiative, and follow through on tasks.
• Willingness and ability to work independently and demonstrate mature decision-making skills.
• Willingness and ability to effectively and efficiently maintain and complete projects.
• Willingness and ability to work as part of a team while effectively communicating with other team members.
• Willingness and ability to be an example of integrity and create a respectful work environment with others.
• Valid Florida Driver’s License and clean driving record preferred.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected].