NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER II (Operations Lead)

Maryland; Maryland; On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service, seeks an Operations Lead at the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery in Preston, MD. The role oversees daily nursery production, staff leadership, and coordination with management to meet schedules and quality standards.

The position requires seven years of relevant experience, high school diploma, and ability to operate specialized equipment; outdoor work in varying weather conditions is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Seven years of experience in technical natural resources or supervising related work.
• Experience substituting volunteer/part-time work for required experience allowed.
• Military service may substitute for required experience per guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead nursery technicians, seasonal staff, and contractors in crop production, harvesting, grading, packaging, shipping, and maintenance.
• Coordinate daily nursery operations with the Nursery Manager and Operations Supervisor.
• Operate specialized nursery and agricultural equipment and maintain production records.
• Ensure production quality and safety while adapting labor and equipment deployment to schedules.

Skills

Nursery operations

Lead seasonal staff

Equipment operation

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Tractor operation

Irrigation systems

Harvesting equipment

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.

GRADE

STD0016

LOCATION OF POSITION

John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery 3424 Gallagher Road, Preston, MD 21655

Main Purpose of Job

This position serves as the Operations Lead at the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery. The position leads and performs day-to-day nursery production, including crop establishment and care, harvesting, grading, packaging, order fulfillment, and equipment operation and maintenance. It leads assigned nursery staff and contractual labor in carrying out established production schedules and quality standards and provides production records, field observations, and operating recommendations to support nursery planning. The position also performs seed collection and processing activities as assigned and works with the Nursery Manager and Operations Supervisor to coordinate daily nursery operations.

POSITION DUTIES

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Maryland Forest Service, is seeking an Operations Lead for the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery in Preston. This is a hands-on lead-worker position responsible for carrying out and coordinating daily nursery production activities. The position leads assigned nursery technicians, seasonal employees, and contractual labor in crop production, harvesting, grading, packaging, shipping, and maintenance activities; operates specialized nursery and agricultural equipment; performs seed collection and processing as assigned; maintains production and equipment records; and coordinates customer pickup and shipment activities. The Operations Lead works within production priorities established by the Nursery Manager and Operations Supervisor and adjusts daily labor and equipment deployment to keep work on schedule while maintaining quality and safety. The position does not have formal supervisory authority, but regularly assigns and reviews work and provides hands-on direction and training to crews.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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

Experience: Seven years of experience either performing, or supervising workers performing technical natural resources or conservation work.

• 1. Candidates may substitute pertinent volunteer and/or part-time experience for the required experience. Please document the number of hours spent per week in this type of experience on the application.
• 2. Candidate may substitute one year of vocational education from an accredited high school or 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university in a natural resources discipline for one year of the required experience.
• 3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience at a rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher as a non-commissioned officer in the natural resources management and biological sciences classifications or natural resources management and biological sciences specialty codes in the biological science technician field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience performing nursery, agricultural, horticultural, forestry, or comparable production work.
• Experience leading seasonal employees, contractual workers, volunteers, or field crews.
• Experience producing tree seedlings or other woody plant material, including irrigation, fertilization, cultivation, pest management, root pruning, mowing, harvesting, grading, or storage.
• Experience operating tractors, harvesters, aerial lifts, irrigation systems, or other specialized agricultural, nursery, or forestry equipment.
• Experience with seed collection, seed processing, seedling grading, packaging, cold storage, shipping, or customer order fulfillment.
• Experience performing routine maintenance or coordinating repairs for tractors, irrigation systems, vehicles, or production equipment.

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.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

This position requires regular outdoor work in varying weather conditions and around agricultural and nursery equipment. The employee must be able to perform the physical duties identified in the position description, including climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and lifting materials used in nursery operations.

SELECTION PROCESS

All information concerning your minimum qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates may be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year.

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must be provided prior to hire.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

Your application is part of the examination process. The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of this position. The rating will be based on the information provided on your application. Therefore, it is important you provide all the experience and education related to this position completely and accurately.

BENEFITS

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS