Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities involving skilled and specialized work associated with forest regeneration and tree improvement programs, providing genetically improved forest tree and shrub seed and seedlings for natural resource and conservation projects including windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife habitat, reforestation, and other purposes. This includes specialized cultural practices such as seed processing, stratification and sowing, application of nutrients and soil conditioners, diagnosis of pest problems; pollination, grafting and tree breeding, fumigation and pesticide application, handling of tree and shrub seedlings, and other related activities.
TYPICAL FUNCTIONS
The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:
Locates, collects, cleans and processes seeds from forest trees and shrubs; prepares fields for planting, including sub soiling, plowing, disking, fumigating, tilling, bed shaping, land leveling, and sowing.
Performs or supervises root management practices such as undercutting, lateral root pruning, irrigation, and grafting; applies proper amounts of nutrients and soil conditioners to maintain proper pH and nutrient levels.
Conducts and supervises seed analysis, seed treatment including stratification, scarification, germination testing and determining moisture content and purity of seed and seed storage.
Supervises and trains regeneration specialists, equipment operators, farm hands and laborers in the areas of equipment maintenance, planting, weed control, seed collection, irrigation, harvesting, and other duties; performs or supervises harvesting procedures and storage of nursery stock; ensures that shipping operations are conducted at maximum efficiency; conducts and prepares annual pre-harvest seedling inventory.
Maintains inventories and records of time, materials, chemicals, fertilizers, seeds and other supplies; analyzes data and prepares reports.
Provides general forest management assistance and planting recommendations to landowners upon request.
Coordinates maintenance of equipment and facilities used in program operations.
Conducts and supervises management of forest seed production and seedling test areas, including tree and shrub planting and maintenance, applying pesticides to control weeds, insects, and disease, tree pruning and grafting, pollinating, and other related duties.
Supervises or provides input into seed and seedling production goals, program objectives, operational and strategic plans; coordinates program activities with other agencies and cooperators.
Performs various administrative tasks as required, including work planning, budget preparation, writing contracts, purchasing, and accomplishment reporting.
Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates tours, meetings and other agency and public events.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES
Level I: Knowledge of bare root forest tree nursery or seed orchard operations; of the propagation of tree and shrub seedlings; of tree and shrub physiology; silvicultural requirements of the species grown; of growing bare root seedling nursery stock; of common plant pests and appropriate pest control measures; and of report writing; of the treatment and protection of seed, and seedling trees and shrubs from insects and disease; of fertilizers and insecticides; of farm machinery and implements; and of record keeping. Ability is required to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and to follow written and oral instructions.
Level II: Those identified in Level I plus knowledge of seed collection, processing and storage; of tree growth and maintenance; of mulching, chemicals, treatments and fertilizers utilized in bare root nursery or seed orchard operations; of selective pollination techniques and grafting; and of record keeping and data collection and analysis. Ability is also required to supervise operations in a bare root nursery or seed orchard operation.
Level III: Those identified in Level II plus knowledge of field operations, cultural practices and equipment utilized in a bare root nursery or seed orchard operation; of controlled pollination techniques and grafting; of record keeping, data collection and analysis; of communication and public speaking, public relations and promotional techniques; of long-range planning; and of purchasing and budget administration.
Level IV: Those identified in Level III plus knowledge of effective supervisory principles and practices. Ability is also required to establish realistic direction for the state forest regeneration and tree improvement program; and to supervise the work of others.
LEVEL DESCRIPTORS
This job family consists of four levels which are distinguished based on the complexity of assigned duties, the level of expertise required for completion of work assignments, and the responsibility assigned for the supervision of others.
Level I: This is the basic level where employees are assigned responsibilities involving entry-level work in planting, transplanting, harvesting and management of trees and shrubs. In this role they will work under close supervision in a training status to build their skills in working with trees and shrubs in a specialized nursery or seed orchard, collecting and processing cones, pollen, and seeds, and completing activities related to the application of nutrients and soil conditioners, the care of tree and shrub seedlings and seedling beds, harvesting plants as appropriate, applying pesticides, grafting rootstock, operating irrigation systems, and other related operations.
Level II: This is the career level of this job family where employees are assigned responsibilities for performing a full range of duties in performing skilled and specialized work at the full performance level in the operations of a bare root forest tree and shrub seedling nursery or seed orchard. In this role they will be responsible for all phases of specific operations or activities which are a part of the total operation and may also be responsible for providing guidance, supervision, and training to laborers, equipment operators, Level I specialists, and others assigned to the operation.
Level III: This is the specialist level where employees are assigned responsibilities involving planning, coordinating, organizing and developing all aspects of the Forest Regeneration or Forest Tree Improvement programs in an assistant program manager capacity. In this role they will be responsible for all phases of specific operations, tasks or activities that are a part of the overall operation. They may also be responsible for providing functional supervision and training for field inmate supervisors, laborers, equipment operators, lower-level regeneration specialists and others as assigned. May also survey and evaluate results of seedling survival, administer seedling marketing programs, and conduct tours or present programs.
Level IV: This is the leadership level where employees are assigned responsibilities for directing and supervising the overall operation of a state nursery or seed orchard. This will include planning and organizing the work to be done, training and supervising personnel responsible for various parts of the total operation, coordinating the program with various agricultural agencies, landowners, and other states, coordinating seedling marketing programs, and performing related administrative tasks.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Level I: Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in forestry, nursery management, horticulture, agronomy or botany.
Level II: Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level I plus two years of experience in a bare root tree nursery or seed orchard.
Level III: Education and Experience requirements at this level include those identified in Level II plus one additional year of qualifying experience.
Level IV: Education and Experience requirements at this level include those identified in Level III plus one additional year of qualifying experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT
Applicants must be willing and able to fulfill all job-related travel normally associated with this position.
Certification by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry as a Pesticide Applicator must be obtained prior to the completion of the probationary period.
NOTES
Please read instructions carefully and include all required documents when you submit your application.
No additional information will be accepted after the application has been submitted.
CLASS: L22A; EST: 9/7/2007; REV: 7/2/2012 7:45:00 AM;
CLASS: L22B; EST: 9/7/2007; REV: 7/2/2012 7:45:00 AM;
CLASS: L22C; EST: 9/7/2007; REV: 7/2/2012 7:45:00 AM;
CLASS: L22D; EST: 9/7/2007; REV: 7/2/2012 7:45:00 AM;
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