Forest Nursery Technician — Lead Crews, Grow Iowa’s Forests

State of Iowa; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance benefits

Paid leave

Nine paid holidays/year

IPERS retirement

Deferred compensation

Professional training

Family-friendly environment

Employee discounts

Flexible schedules

Job summary

Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ State Forest Nursery is seeking Nursery Technicians to grow, harvest, and prepare millions of seedlings for Iowa projects. You will lead seasonal staff and inmate crews, manage records, and operate tractors, irrigation systems, and other equipment.

Ideal candidates enjoy outdoor work and have foundational forestry knowledge, with licenses to obtain within specified timelines. This role offers competitive benefits and opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• Must obtain a Class A Commercial Driver’s License within the first 6 months of employment.
• Must obtain a Commercial Pesticide Applicators License within the first 3 months of employment.
• Experience with nursery operations or forestry is preferred.”

Responsibilities

• Grow and care for tree and shrub seedlings by seeding, irrigating, fertilizing, mulching, and pest control.
• Operate tractors, irrigation, forklifts, mowers, chainsaws, hand tools, trucks and other nursery equipment.
• Lead seasonal employees and inmate crews in planting, nursery maintenance, grading, and packaging.
• Prepare seedlings for customers by organizing storage, grading, packing, and shipping.
• Maintain nursery records, databases, and spreadsheets; prepare reports and purchase orders.
• Analyze budgets and assist with fiscal management and budgeting.
• Purchase goods and services to maintain operations.

Skills

Accountability

Integrity

Team player

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Forestry/urban forestry coursework

Tools

Class A CDL

Pesticide license

Job description

Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ State Forest Nursery is seeking Nursery Technicians to grow, harvest, and prepare millions of seedlings for Iowa projects. You will lead seasonal staff and inmate crews, manage records, and operate tractors, irrigation systems, and other equipment.

Ideal candidates enjoy outdoor work and have foundational forestry knowledge, with licenses to obtain within specified timelines. This role offers competitive benefits and opportunities for growth.