Seed Orchard Specialist

PRT Growing Services Ltd.; Verbena (AL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K matching

Health, vision, dental

Paid vacation & holidays

Career development opportunities

Job summary

PRT Growing Services Ltd. in West Verbena, Alabama, seeks a Seed Orchard Specialist to lead seed processing and orchard activities at our new facility.

You will supervise Alabama seed orchards, operate tractors, forklifts, and other equipment, and maintain comprehensive records to drive CMP and cone production. The ideal candidate holds a degree in horticulture, agriculture, or forestry, plus strong mechanical, communication, and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in horticulture, agriculture, or forestry or equivalent experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent mechanical skills with ability to diagnose and repair minor breakdowns.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, Outlook, and Epicor.
• Strong time management and the ability to multitask in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Practical skills operating seed processing equipment, forklifts, tractors, UTVs, and tools.
• Reliability and flexibility; willing to work full-time including weekends during peak seasons.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Seed Orchard Operations: plan, implement and supervise seed orchard activities including establishment, grafting, fertilization, CMP, and cone harvest.
• Maintain meticulous records of orchard activities, pollen inventory, grafting maps, and data.
• Evaluate operations and implement safety, efficiency and accuracy improvements.
• Ensure maintenance of equipment and service records; address housekeeping and safety concerns.
• Lead CMP production efforts and care for orchards, equipment, and facilities.
• Operate equipment safely (tractors, forklifts, boom lifts, UTVs, power tools).
• Supervise Seed Orchards team in Alabama and coordinate labor and training.
• Collaborate on capital plans, SOPs, and contract labor; communicate findings to management.
• Work with internal/external resources to meet production and research objectives safely.

Skills

Mechanical skills

Communication skills

Time management

Independent work

Team leadership

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree or diploma in horticulture, agriculture, or forestry

Tools

Excel

Word

Outlook

Epicor

Job description

WHO WE ARE: From a humble beginning in 1988 with six nurseries, PRT has grown into North America's largest grower of forest seedlings, having grown over 6 billion trees. With 27 Nurseries & 14 Seed Orchards across the US and Canada, we annually cultivate over 630 million high-quality seedlings, playing a vital role in reforestation and sustainable forestry. We're driven by a passion for environmental stewardship and a commitment to nurturing relationships, driving excellence, and fostering a people-first mindset, all to make a difference for a greener future.

Here’s What You Can Expect When You Join PRT

• Competitive Compensation & Financial Growth: Earn a competitive annual salary with opportunities for bonus or short-term incentives and build your financial future with our matching 401K program.
• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Take care of yourself and your family with our extended health, vision, and dental coverage, along with paid vacation and holidays.
• Career Development & Learning: Grow your skills and advance your career with personalized guidance and a learning-focused culture that prioritizes continuous development.
• Stable, Inclusive & Collaborative Environment: Join a year-round stable company where your voice matters in a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Make a Difference for the Planet: Contribute to environmental sustainability and a passion for nature solutions

Job Description

Seed Orchard Specialist

We are currently seeking to fill an existing vacancy on our team.

Join PRT as a Seed Orchard Specialist in West Verbena, Alabama, where you'll be actively shaping the landscape of tomorrow by effectively participating in our new cutting-edge seed processing facility. In this vital role, you will be at the forefront of sustainable forestry, producing top-quality, genetically improved Southern Pine seed. This is a unique, hands‑on position perfect for someone who loves both technical production and machinery; you will safely operate advanced seed processing systems while leading the routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of the facility's equipment. If you are looking to combine a passion for forestry with strong mechanical skills, we want you on our team.

What will YOU be doing as a Seed Specialist?

Responsibilities

• Seed Orchard Operations:
  • Assist the Seed Sourcing & Processing Manager in planning, implementing, and overseeing all seed orchard activities, including:
  • Orchard establishment and maintenance
  • Grafting operations
  • Fertilization and herbicide/insecticide applications
  • Controlled Mass Pollination (CMP)
  • Cone harvest
• Maintain meticulous records of all orchard activities, including cone harvest collection, CMP bagging, pollen inventory, grafting maps, and other crucial data.
• Continuously evaluate orchard operations, identify areas for improvement, and implement innovative solutions to enhance safety, efficiency, and accuracy.
• Ensure proper maintenance of all equipment and maintain accurate service records.
• Regularly inspect orchard facilities to address housekeeping and safety concerns.
• Play a key role in CMP production efforts, ensuring optimal pollen collection, storage, and application.
• Oversee the care of orchards, equipment, and facilities to ensure the development of future cone crops.
• Equipment Handling:
  • Safely operate a range of equipment including tractors, forklifts, boom lifts, UTVs, and power tools.
• Team Leadership & Development:
  • Foster a culture of safety and ensure adherence to all PRT safety policies and procedures.
  • Supervise and coordinate the activities of the Seed Orchards in Alabama.
• Recordkeeping & Tracking: Maintain accurate records of seed processing activities and track progress against key production and timeline targets.
• Collaboration & Reporting:
  • Collaborate with the Seed Sourcing & Processing Manager on:
    • Developing annual capital plans and budgets
    • Developing and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
    • Managing and reporting on contract labor crews
  • Effectively communicate key findings and improvement ideas to management.
  • Work with internal and external resources to achieve production and research objectives in a safe and efficient manner.

Qualifications

What YOU bring to the table

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in horticulture, agriculture, or forestry, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills that ensures clarity and alignment across all aspects of operations.
• Excellent mechanical skills along with experience diagnosing and repairing minor mechanical breakdowns effectively.
• Proficiency with digital tools including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Epicor.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize, multitask, and adapt in a dynamic work environment.
• Confidence working independently or as part of a team environment.
• Practical skills in operating and maintaining equipment, including seed processing equipment, forklifts, tractors, UTVs, and tools for safe use.
• Reliability and flexibility, with a willingness to work full-time—including weekdays and weekends during peak seasons.

Additional Information

We embrace openness and different perspectives to challenge conventional approaches and continuously improve our company’s performance and progress. We believe that diversity of thought helps us drive innovation, make better decisions, achieve effective stewardship of our business and enable our people to thrive.