Natural Lands Manager

Casey Trees; Berryville (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Casey Trees seeks a Natural Lands Manager to oversee land management, equipment maintenance, irrigation, and tree production for the DC Metro area. You will supervise Farm Crew and field staff, ensure safety, and coordinate contractor work while communicating operational needs to leadership.

The role requires a degree or equivalent experience, strong mechanical skills, pesticide/IPM knowledge, and the ability to drive and operate farm machinery in all weather.

Qualifications

• Requires strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team and manage multiple activities.
• Strong mechanical skills for heavy equipment maintenance and operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead land management and tree production programs; supervise field crews.
• Maintain and repair farm structures and heavy equipment; oversee irrigation systems.
• Conduct pest and disease scouting; apply nutrients and weed control per IPM protocols.
• Coordinate with management staff; ensure safety and compliance; train staff as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Mechanical skills

Driver's license

Farm machinery experience

Education

Associate or bachelor’s degree

Job description

Salary Range: $90,000.00 To $100,000.00 Annually

Casey Trees offers excellent benefits including health, dental, vision, flexible spending account, paid holidays, paid time off, and retirement plan 403 (b).

About Casey Trees

In pursuit of our mission to plant and protect trees in the National Capital Region for the wellbeing of the communities we serve, Casey Trees (CT) delivers a broad base of programs and services to the DC Metro area. The organization plants more than 7,000 trees each year grown at our own nursery; cares and maintains those trees; conserves greenspace; conducts school and community-based youth STEM programming; and advocates for stronger policies and laws to preserve trees across the area. Casey Trees emphasizes innovative solutions and working with diverse partners to advance and promote tree canopy solutions that meet the needs of the communities that we serve.

Summary

The Natural Lands Manager is responsible for leading and supporting a wide range of activities related to land management, equipment maintenance, structures maintenance and tree production. Tasks including but not limited to; tractor, skid steer, RTV, etc. maintenance; farm structures/buildings maintenance; forest/grassland management; contractor liaison for building/land management projects; pruning; digging; insect and disease scouting; applying nutrients and weed control products; irrigation installation; harvesting; loading trucks and similar tasks. The incumbent is expected to identify and communicate operational challenges, maintenance needs, and opportunities for improvement to the Director of Fram Operations and other appropriate management staff. This position reports directly to the Director of Farm Operations, working and collaborating with other staff members as required – especially with the Farm Field Manager when working on tree production tasks. Finally, the Natural Lands Manager leads by example, serving as a positive and effective role model for Farm Crew in the execution of their work.

Essential Functions

The following essential functions are representative for the Natural Lands Manager in its entirety – including but not limited to:

• Administer land management plans outside of nursery production areas
• Act as contractor liaison for construction contractors, land management contractors, etc.
• Performs and supervises routine maintenance on farm structures/buildings
• Oversee all heavy equipment preventative maintenance/repairs alongside Farm Field Manager
• Supervises, motivates and evaluates a cohort of field staff
• Operates farm equipment in field nursery and grounds maintenance operations, including tractors and track loader, mowers, auger, tree spade, chipper, sprayer, tillage implements, seed drill, wood splitter, stump grinder, pumps etc.
• Operates hand-held power tools and machinery in grounds and facilities maintenance operations, including chainsaws, line trimmers, blowers, drills, saws, etc.
• Plants, maintains, prunes and harvests trees
• Installs, maintains, monitors, and manages irrigation systems
• Monitors nursery fields and farm landscapes for pest/disease
• Follows/develops pesticide application program using IPM protocols; orders and maintains pesticide inventory; maintains pesticide application records; applies pesticides according to all local/state/federal standards and ensures same of subordinate staff
• Ensures that safety protocols are internalized and followed by all staff
• Assists in the inventory process as directed
• Conducts/leads farm tours, educational and related events as required
• Connects people to trees
• Performs other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

• The incumbent will supervise Temporary Labor, Farm Crew, and Farm Crew Chiefs in the field
• Ensures adherence and proper modeling to organizational policies and procedures including, but not limited to attendance, timeliness, conduct, professionalism, appearance, customer service, etc.
• Assists with training farm staff especially on non-tree production items. Included but not limited to heavy equipment maintenance, building maintenance, land management tasks
• Promotes a safety culture by reducing hazardous conditions resulting from human error, equipment and machine operations that may lead to injury and/or property damage
• Field Work
• Safety Orientation
• Teamwork
• Self-Motivation
• Time Management
• Attention to Detail
• Technical Ability

Working Conditions

The incumbent works primarily outside year-round in heat, cold and inclement weather and must have suitable clothing. Must be able to use equipment such as (not an exclusive list): tractors, track loaders, mowers, augers, tree spades, chippers, sprayers, tillage implements, seed drills, wood splitters, stump grinders, pumps, shovels, chainsaws, line trimmers, blowers, drills, saws, etc. The incumbent must also be able to use computers, printers, copiers, telephones, smartphones, and walkie-talkies.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The incumbent is constantly required to use hands and fingers to feel, handle or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The incumbent is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and walk. The incumbent is required to lift and/or move up to 60 pounds frequently. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time exempt position, 40 hours a week. The incumbent must be able and willing to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours when needed. This position requires in person components, there are very few opportunities for telework.

Travel

Local travel for various purposes may be required during the business day. Travel is primarily local to the greater Washington, DC metro area including daily and overnight travel to CT’s headquarters in Washington, DC. Occasional travel out of the area for training/seminars/events, etc., requiring overnight stay may be expected.

Required Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree, or any equivalent combination of education and experience
• One (1) or more years of experience in general building contracting, natural resource management, farming, tree production, horticulture, or related field
• Strong mechanical skills for heavy equipment maintenance
• Ability and motivation to learn new skills quickly, with a focus on horticultural skills
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, ability to safely drive pickup truck and trailer
• Certified Pesticide Applicator license required within one year of hire
• Good communication, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team, and to manage multiple activities simultaneously
• Experience operating/maintaining farm machinery and equipment, power tools, hand tools, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• ISA and/or CPH Certification
• Two (2) years of supervisory field management experience
• Certified Pesticide Applicator’s License, any State

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Casey Trees is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.