Full-Time Nursery Operations Assistant
Job Description
Tree Pittsburgh seeks an energetic, detail-oriented individual to join the Heritage Nursery team as a Nursery Operations Assistant.
This full-time, hourly position will maintain the nursery grounds and provide program support in the Heritage Nursery. This includes nursery maintenance, volunteer program support, plant care, order fulfillment, winter pruning, and more.
This individual should have at least one year of experience in landscaping, grounds maintenance, nursery work, or a similar field. No formal education or certification program is required.
Reports to: Nursery Operations Manager
About Tree Pittsburgh:
Tree Pittsburgh is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing community vitality by restoring and protecting the urban forest through tree planting and care, education, and advocacy. Founded in 2006, our vision is to create a healthy urban forest for all by inspiring and engaging people to maintain, plant, and protect trees. We believe that all peoplehave the right to benefit from the many health, environmental, and social benefits that trees provide.
The Tree Pittsburgh Heritage Nursery, located at our campus in Lawrenceville, supports the organization’s mission by growing locally adapted, genetically diverse nursery stock for planting projects in the region.
The Nursery Operations Assistant position is funded through a special grant to the Pittsburgh Canopy Alliance from the USDA Forest Service Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
Position Summary/Objective:
Under the supervision of the Nursery Operations Manager, the Nursery Operations Assistant (NOA) will maintain the nursery grounds and provide program support in the Heritage Nursery.
Job Responsibilities:
Nursery Maintenance:
The primary responsibility of the NOA is to maintain the nursery grounds. This includes:
- Keeping the nursery grounds neat and free from weeds/ debris using methods such as weed-whacking, mowing, manual weeding, and herbicide applications.
- Edge and gravel maintenance, fenceline maintenance, and general upkeep of the nursery site.
- Upkeep and repair of nursery infrastructure including deer fencing, hoop houses, greenhouses, irrigation systems, structures, storage areas, overwintering systems, and other infrastructure.
- Support the Facilities Manager with construction and repair of infrastructure in the Heritage Nursery and campus-wide.
Volunteer Program Support:
- The Heritage Nursery relies heavily on volunteers to achieve its mission. The NOA will provide support during volunteer events. This includes filling benches with soil, moving and stocking plant material, watering plants, applying fertilizer, and other logistical tasks. The NOA will also be expected to interact with volunteers in a friendly and professional manner.
Plant Care:
- The NOA will assist the Nursery Operations Manager and Horticulture Technician to care for and maintain nursery stock. This includes weeding, pruning, staking, watering, fertilizing, moving trees, and providing any other necessary care for seedlings so that they thrive.
Order Fulfillment:
- The NOA will assist with pulling, prepping, and staging nursery stock for orders, and delivering trees to customers.
Winter Pruning:
- In January, February, and March the NOA will work on Tree Pittsburgh’s Winter Pruning Crew, focusing on developmental pruning of young street and park landscape trees throughout the City of Pittsburgh. The ability to work in cold weather (down to 20F) is a must, as is a full commitment to safety as the top priority. Experience with pruning is a plus, but on-the-job training is provided.
Additional Tasks:
- The NOA may provide periodic assistance with other Tree Pittsburgh programs and events including campus facilities maintenance, tree care, tree plantings, and fundraising events. The NOA is expected to be able to speak to Tree Pittsburgh’s mission effectively and represent the organization in a positive light at all times.
Expectations and Qualifications
- Skilled at using a variety of motorized landscaping maintenance equipment including a string trimmer, lawn mower, leaf blower, air compressor, generator, water pump, etc.
- Skilled at safely operating power tools such as drills, drivers, saws, etc.
- Basic carpentry and plumbing skills are a strong plus.
- Hard-working and disciplined work ethic.
- Must be accountable and reliable.
- Attention to detail.
- Friendly and approachable personality.
- Must be able to work both independently and as a part of a team.
- Ability to problem solve, take initiative, and follow through on tasks.
- Openness to receiving direction from supervisors and improving work methods based on feedback.
- Ability to drive a utility vehicle.
- A valid PA driver’s license and the ability to drive a heavy-duty work truck is a plus, but not required.
- Ability to operate a skid steer OR the ability and willingness to learn.
- This position requires some Saturday shifts during the growing season (April-September).
Experience / Education
- Must have at least one year of experience in landscaping, grounds maintenance, nursery work, or a similar field.
- No formal education is required.
Physical / Other Requirements
This job requires the ability to stoop, bend, twist, and crouch for up to four hours at a time; requires standing/walking for up to eight hours; ability to work outside throughout the year in all weather conditions; ability to effectively operate power and manual work tools such as drills, saws, hammers, shovels, rakes, and pole pruners; the ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds over uneven terrain; and the ability to perform all duties consistently as described above. Tree Pittsburgh is a tobacco-free workplace and its use is strictly prohibited on Tree Pittsburgh premises.
Compensation/Benefits
This is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt position starting at $18.00/hr. Tree Pittsburgh offers health, dental, and vision benefits, paid time off, a 3% retirement match, and other benefits. Terms and conditions of employment are as per the Tree Pittsburgh Employee Handbook and an Offer Letter.
How to Apply
To apply, email the following items to jobs@treepittsburgh.org and use the subject line “Your Last Name_NurseryOperations":- A cover letter with the filename Last Name_NurseryOperations_Letter
- Your resume with the filename Last Name_NurseryOperations_Resume
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