Nursery Manager

Cannabis For Conservation; Blue Lake (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two weeks paid vacation

Parental leave and childcare stipend

Healthcare coverage

403(b) retirement plan with 3% match

Professional development

Job summary

Cannabis for Conservation, based in Blue Lake, California, is seeking a Nursery Manager to lead the development and operation of a native plant nursery for restoration projects. You will plan, design, and manage infrastructure, propagation systems, and staffing to ensure a reliable supply of native plants and seed across multiple counties.

The role oversees SOPs, IPM, budget tracking, staff training, and collaboration with restoration planners, landowners, and partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture or related field; substitutions allowed.
• 3+ years nursery management or 5 years as nursery assistant.
• Experience in ecological restoration and knowledge of Northern CA native species.
• Experience with nursery infrastructure, irrigation, and maintenance.
• Knowledge of IPM, phytophthora prevention, and pest management.
• Valid driver's license; willingness to travel; able to operate 4WD.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and operation of a native plant nursery for restoration projects.
• Develop SOPs for plant care, IPM, infrastructure maintenance, and seed storage.
• Oversee nursery construction, greenhouses, irrigation systems, and equipment.
• Manage Nursery Assistant and volunteers; plan tasks and inventories.
• Coordinate plant production with restoration timelines and field installations.

Skills

Nursery management

Native plant propagation

Project coordination

Communication skills

Problem solving

Budget tracking

Field travel

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Botany, Environmental Science, Restoration Ecology, or related field

Tools

Irrigation systems

Pesticide knowledge

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Asana

4WD vehicle operation

Job description

Cannabis for Conservation (CFC) is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit seeking to hire a Nursery Manager to lead the development and operation of a native plant nursery supporting our restoration projects. This role will plan, design, and manage a functional and sustainable nursery — including infrastructure, propagation systems, and staffing — to ensure a reliable supply of native plants and seed for restoration work across Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties. The right candidate will bring hands‑on nursery management experience, technical knowledge of native plant propagation, and the ability to work closely with restoration planners, private landowners, and organizational staff.

Position Overview

The Nursery Manager will be responsible for operating and taking a lead role in the development of a nursery to grow native plants for use in CFC restoration projects. This position will manage a functional and sustainable native plant nursery, including developing and implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for plant care, propagation, integrated pest management, infrastructure maintenance, and seed collection and storage.

The Nursery Manager will oversee nursery construction and infrastructure development, including greenhouses, irrigation systems, materials, equipment, and plant production systems. This position will also oversee native seed and cutting collection and propagation, maintaining appropriate species and phenotypes for project locations and ensuring plant material is available according to restoration timelines and seasonal considerations.

The Nursery Manager will manage, train, and supervise a Nursery Assistant and volunteer crews, ensuring nursery activities are appropriately staffed and operational, including contingency planning during staff absences. The position will maintain accurate inventories of plants, seeds, cuttings, supplies, and equipment; coordinate supply orders; track the nursery budget; and work with organizational staff to ensure nursery production remains aligned with project budgets and restoration needs.

The Nursery Manager will collaborate closely with restoration planners, subcontractors, project managers, and restoration crews to coordinate plant production with work plans and installation schedules. This position will conduct field visits as needed to support plant installation, verify proper planting methods, and troubleshoot plant material or site‑related challenges and will assist in monitoring to ensure project success. The Nursery Manager will also communicate with regulatory agencies, private landowners, collaborators, and internal staff to coordinate nursery‑related project needs and ensure compliance with applicable county, state, and federal regulations, including requirements related to pesticide use.

In coordination with organizational leadership, the Nursery Manager will develop and implement a long‑term nursery sustainability and business plan, including integrating nursery production into future CFC grants and restoration projects. This will include identifying and securing contracts for native plant propagation and supply to partner organizations, agencies, and private landowners; developing cost‑recovery and earned‑income models; establishing pricing structures; tracking costs; and evaluating profitability.

The Nursery Manager will manage external client relationships related to nursery services, including quote development, invoicing coordination, delivery logistics, and post‑project reporting. The position will track and report nursery financial performance and operational metrics to inform budgeting and strategic growth, and will collaborate with the Director of Development and the Natural Resources Program Director to identify grant opportunities and partnerships that support ongoing nursery operations and expansion.

This is not an entry‑level position. The successful candidate will bring several years of relevant experience in native plant nursery management, propagation, seed and cutting collection, and hands‑on restoration or field‑based work.

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Botany, Environmental Science, Restoration Ecology, or related field; relevant experience may substitute for education;
• An extensive background in native plant propagation, and a minimum of 3 years of experience in managing a nursery, or 5 years working as an assistant;
• Experience working on ecological restoration projects, strong knowledge of native Northern California plant species, importance of phenotypes, companion planting, and seed sourcing; ability to carry out and manage a crew for native seed collection;
• Working knowledge of nursery infrastructure and irrigation systems, with demonstrated ability to troubleshoot operational problems, oversee routine maintenance and repairs, and coordinate specialized service when needed;
• Working knowledge of nursery sanitation, decontamination strategies, and integrated pest management principles, including Phytophthora prevention, Best Management Practices, identification of common pests and pathogens, and appropriate corrective measures;
• Knowledge of permitting requirements related to seed collection on public and private lands, ability to obtain relevant permits;
• A CA Dept. of Pesticide Regulation Qualified Applicator License (QAL), or ability to become licensed;
• Strong and clear communication (written and verbal) skills; with the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of project staff including regulatory agencies, construction workers, restoration crew members and planners, engineers, biologists, and private landowners;
• Self‑directed and creative problem‑solving abilities, sound judgment, and adaptability;
• Strong ability to take initiative and contribute meaningfully to project work;
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and Adobe PDF Reader;
• Valid driver’s license; willingness to use a personal vehicle for field travel intermittently (mileage reimbursed at the current GSA rate) and to travel overnight (Note: field vehicles are available through CFC, but on occasion personal vehicle use for field work may be requested);
• Ability to operate 4WD vehicles and work safely and navigate in steep, remote, rugged terrain;
• Ability to work outdoors in variable weather conditions, including rain, heat, and cold and to be able to move, lift, carry, and in general conduct physical labor for the entirety of the work day;
• Comfortable with exposure to poison oak, ticks, and other common backcountry hazards; and
• Willingness to be adaptive, a team player, and cross‑trained in diverse tasks as part of a scaling organization.

Desired Qualifications

• Deep familiarity with Northern California landscapes and environmental history, particularly Humboldt, Trinity, or Mendocino counties;
• Additional experience in aquatic biology, soil science, forest management, or another environmental science field;
• Strong understanding of permitting processes through CDFW, Regional Water Board, and local county agencies;
• Established relationships with regional NGOs, watershed organizations, and public agencies; and
• Familiarity with task management software (e.g., Asana) for task tracking.

Supervision and Coordination

The Nursery Manager will report directly to the Natural Resources Program Director and will directly supervise and train the Nursery Assistant, in addition to coordinating closely with restoration planners and organizational staff. This position involves regular coordination on restoration timing, work plan scheduling, and budget tracking. Weekly check‑ins and structured task tracking through Asana will be used to maintain schedules, deliverables, inventory needs, and communication with staff and partners.

Location and Work Environment

Given the hands‑on nature of nursery operations, this is not a remote position. This position is based at CFC’s native plant nursery site and out of CFC's office in the Glendale area of Blue Lake, California. The Nursery Manager must reside in or be willing to relocate to the North Coast region and be available for regular on‑site nursery operations as well as periodic field visits across Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties to support restoration plantings.

Candidates should be prepared for physical labor for the entirety of the work day, and must be able to operate a 4WD vehicle and pull a trailer to support field visits and supply transport, often in terrain without cell service.

Compensation

This is a full time, hourly, non‑exempt position eligible for overtime, with a compensation range of $38-45 per hour, commensurate with experience, and annual 3% performance‑based raises.

Benefits

Benefits include:

• Two weeks paid vacation plus federal holidays (vacation accrual increases with tenure)
• Weekly flex‑time, flexible scheduling, and work‑from‑home options
• Paid sick leave and bereavement leave
• Three months full‑paid parental leave and a monthly childcare stipend
• Healthcare coverage (Anthem Blue Cross)
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% employer match
• Opportunities for paid professional development

Equal Opportunity Employment

Cannabis for Conservation is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact Vanessa Salamon, Operations Director, at [e-mail] .