ADMINISTRATOR III SUPERVISOR Nursery Manager

State of Maryland; Maryland; On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service seeks a Nursery Manager for the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery in Preston, MD.

You will oversee administration, staffing, budgeting, seed collection and processing, seedling distribution, and tree improvement programs to deliver high-quality seedlings for conservation and forestry projects across Maryland. The role requires leadership in production planning, facilities management, and contract coordination, with a strong emphasis on

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Six years of administrative staff or professional work.

Responsibilities

• Manage John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery operations.
• Oversee production of about 3 million seedlings annually.
• Supervise permanent, seasonal, and contractual staff.
• Manage budgets, purchasing, and contracts.
• Coordinate seed collection and processing.
• Provide technical information to customers and partners.

Skills

Administrative experience

Staff supervision

Budget management

Procurement

Project coordination

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Introduction

This is a position specific recruitment for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service. This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies for the position and may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification/function. Future vacancies may also be filled via other recruitments. The resulting eligible list will be maintained for one year.

Introduction

This is a position specific recruitment for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service. This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies for the position and may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification/function. Future vacancies may also be filled via other recruitments. The resulting eligible list will be maintained for one year.

GRADE

STD0018

LOCATION OF POSITION

John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery

3424 Gallagher Road, Preston, MD 21655

Main Purpose of Job

This position serves as the Nursery Manager for the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery and is responsible for the administration, staffing, budgeting, production, seed collection and processing, seedling sales and distribution, and tree improvement operations of the nursery. The position establishes annual production and planting plans, manages nursery facilities and specialized equipment, coordinates contracts and purchasing, and provides technical information to customers and partners. These functions support the Forest Service mission by supplying high-quality, locally appropriate tree seedlings for conservation, restoration, and forestry projects throughout Maryland.

POSITION DUTIES

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Maryland Forest Service, is seeking a Nursery Manager to lead the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery in Preston. The manager is responsible for the overall administration and operation of the nursery, which produces approximately 3 million tree seedlings of over 50 species annually for reforestation, restoration, and tree planting programs across Maryland. The position supervises permanent, seasonal, and contractual staff; sets annual production and staffing priorities; manages budgets, purchasing, and contracts; oversees seed collection, seedling production, inventory, customer ordering, and distribution; and ensures equipment, facilities, and production systems are maintained and operated safely. The manager works with Forest Service programs and partners to forecast demand and align nursery production with statewide needs. The position requires practical judgment in balancing crop conditions, labor, equipment, customer demand, and available funding. Work includes regular outdoor activity around agricultural and nursery equipment, particularly during seasonal production periods.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Six years of administrative staff or professional work.

Notes

• Candidates may substitute 30 college credit hours from an accredited college or university for each year up to four years of the required experience.
• Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience in administrative staff or professional work for the required experience.
• Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university for the required experience.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policy, procedures and processes, or overseeing or coordinating unit operations or functioning as a staff assistant to a higher ranking commissioned officer on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Selective Qualifications

Applicants not using a substitution to meet the minimum qualifications, must have one year of experience with tree seedling production, seed collection or processing, propagation, or other nursery production activities. (*job duties must be clearly described in your application to receive credit)

Desired Or Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing nursery, agricultural, horticultural, forestry, or comparable production operations.
• Experience supervising permanent, seasonal, and/or contractual staff.
• Experience managing budgets, purchasing, procurement, contracts, or equipment replacement needs.
• Experience managing customer orders, sales, inventory, or distribution in a production or service operation.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.