Tree Yard Manager - Coachella Valley

Norman's Nursery; Mecca (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Norman's Nursery in California is seeking a Yard Manager to oversee day-to-day operations of a large-scale wholesale plant nursery across a 100-acre yard, including production, irrigation, fertilization, pest and disease control, pruning, inventory, and scheduling.

The role emphasizes safety, cost management, and a productive work environment, with responsibilities for staffing, equipment maintenance, and coordination with sales on production status and shipments.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of nursery production experience.
• Knowledge of irrigation, fertilization, pruning, plant nutrition, pests, diseases, and weed management.
• Ability to identify common plant-health problems.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to operate nursery equipment and machinery.
• Bachelor's degree or AS preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain nursery quality standards through plant monitoring and issue resolution.
• Deliver production forecasts, refine schedules, maximize plant quality and health, minimize waste, and ensure shipment readiness.
• Manage staffing levels, hiring employees as needed, and scheduling work hours to meet operational requirements.
• Ensure that all equipment used in operations is properly maintained and serviced.
• Maintain inventory accuracy, communicate real-time production status to sales and management, achieve revenue and profit targets, and effectively manage materials, labor, schedules, and costs.
• Verify that orders are accurately picked, staged, and loaded, provide accurate information on plant availability and production schedules, and oversee truck unloading by verifying quantities, inspecting the quality of received material, and coordinating with management on appropriate storage locations.
• Ensure a safe work environment for employees and customers by enforcing safety protocols and procedures, including proper equipment use, PPE compliance, and adherence to OSHA guidelines.
• Stay current on pesticide management regulations and ensure all production employees are properly trained and compliant with applicable worker protection standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Nursery operations

Irrigation management

Pest & disease control

Staff management

Safety compliance

Inventory control

Education

Bachelor's in Horticulture

Tools

Forklift operation

Loader operation

Job description

The Yard Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a large-scale wholesale plant nursery, managing plant production, irrigation, fertilization, pest and disease control, pruning, spacing, inventory, labor, equipment, quality control, safety, and scheduling. This role will ensure efficient production, consistent plant quality, responsible cost management, and a safe, organized, and productive work environment across a 100-acre yard.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain nursery quality standards through systematic plant monitoring, diagnosing and resolving issues related to fertilizers, irrigation, pests, diseases, and weeds.
• Drive business growth through production excellence by delivering accurate production forecasts, refining schedules, maximizing plant quality and health, minimizing waste, and ensuring shipment readiness.
• Manage staffing levels, hiring employees as needed, and scheduling work hours to meet operational requirements.
• Ensure that all equipment used in operations, such as forklifts and loaders, is properly maintained and serviced.
• Maintain inventory accuracy, communicate real-time production status to sales and management, achieve revenue and profit targets, and effectively manage materials, labor, schedules, and costs.
• Verify that orders are accurately picked, staged, and loaded, provide accurate information on plant availability and production schedules, and oversee truck unloading by verifying quantities, inspecting the quality of received material, and coordinating with management on appropriate storage locations.
• Ensure a safe work environment for employees and customers by enforcing safety protocols and procedures, including proper equipment use, PPE compliance, and adherence to OSHA guidelines.
• Stay current on pesticide management regulations and ensure all production employees are properly trained and compliant with applicable worker protection standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in nursery production, horticulture, agriculture, landscaping, or a related field.
• Knowledge of irrigation, fertilization, pruning, plant nutrition, pests, diseases, and weed management.
• Ability to identify common plant-health problems.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to operate or understand nursery equipment and machinery.
• Bachelor's degree or A.S. in Horticulture, Agriculture, Plant Science, or related field preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills preferred.