Title: Forest Nursery Manager
Requisition Id: 4228
Salary: $51,696.00 - $64,512.00
Salary Grade: S8
Job Location: George O White Nursery (LICKI1)
Closing Date: November 4, 2025
Our Culture: The Missouri Department of Conservation supports a culture of trusted professionals that is dedicated to our mission, practices responsible stewardship, and believes in One MDC.
To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please email the hiring supervisor, Michael G Fiaoni at Michael.Fiaoni@mdc.mo.gov or call 573 6743229x6274, during regular business hours. We would love to hear from you!
Summary/Objective
Supervise the daily operations of the nursery to ensure the production of high quality seedlings and the efficient and accurate distribution of orders.
Essential Job Duties
- Serve as the Forest Nursery Supervisor in their absence.
- Supervise staff, conducts performance appraisals, recommend corrective action.
- Assure all staff receive necessary technical and safety training including best safety practices with herbicides/pesticides and use of specialized equipment.
- Stay up to date with new and improved chemicals for insect, disease and weed control.
- Monitor soils through soil tests and work with Nursery Supervisor and labs to maintain the proper nutrients for seedlings.
- Work with the Forest Nursery Supervisor to hire staff and recommend candidates for hire.
- Coordinate staff schedules and hiring of up to 40 hourly employees to accomplish annual operational plan objectives.
- Assist in planning, supervising and implementing all aspects of plant production including soil management, crop scheduling/planting, use of irrigation, insect and disease monitoring and control, seedling lifting, grading and storage, seedling shipping, management of inventory and record keeping associated with rotation of crops, use of chemicals, and shipping.
- Oversee and assist with ground work necessary to prepare the ground for planting including disking, cultivating, and bed formation.
- Monitor and manage weed and insect and disease control at the nursery.
- Oversee the lifting, grading and shipping of seedlings. This includes ensuring communication between the lifting and grading teams to assure supply of the necessary seedlings for shipping and productivity goals.
- Provide excellent customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
- Work with Nursery Supervisor and other divisions to coordinate infrastructure improvements and equipment repairs.
- Work with Nursery Supervisor and Office Supervisor to calibrate and troubleshoot hardware associated with tree seedling program.
Ancillary Job Duties
- Organize and/or participate in special events and programs, as needed.
- Other duties, as assigned.
Education and Experience
- High school diploma or GED/HiSET required.
- Five (5) years’ experience in management and/or supervision, farming, and knowledge of bare root nursery operations.
- Prefer a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry or Forest Management and three (3) years of management experience in a tree seedling nursery operation.
- Certified Pesticide Applicator’s License.
- Must maintain a valid, current driver's license.
- Ability to obtain a Class B CDL with air brakes within 12 months
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge to observe and classify trees and common insects and diseases.
- Ability to keep focused on understanding, anticipating and responding to the needs of customers.
- Ability to coach and challenge others to achieve their potential.
- Ability to define a problem, analyze relevant information, and develop solutions and plans to solve the problem.
- Ability to develop and sustain cooperative working relationships.
- Ability to work independently at field locations despite adverse field conditions.
- Ability to adapt to a variety of job situations involving long hours, hazardous conditions and difficult circumstances.
- Ability to train and supervise other employees.
- Ability to accept all responsibilities of the job and assigned tasks.
- Ability to accept change and new information and cope with job pressure and stress.
- Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to travel and stay overnight occasionally.
Work Environment
- Occasionally work in outdoor weather.
- Occasionally exposed to loud noises which may require the use of hearing protection.
Physical Abilities
- Move about grounds, both inside and outside of buildings.
- Constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.
- Frequently communicate and exchange accurate information.
- Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and 20 feet or more, and three-dimensional vision
- Regularly lift up to 50 pounds, correctly lift up to 100 pounds.
- Concentrated attention is required at all times.
- Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
Disclaimer
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required. The Missouri Department of Conservation reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Management reserves the right to change job descriptions, job duties, functions, and requirements.
Exemption Status/Special Notes
This position has been determined to be Nonexempt according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Employees must agree to accept compensatory time in lieu of cash payments in accordance with the Department's Compensatory Time Off and Overtime Policy.
Salaried and hourly employees are expected to use a mobile device-cellular phone for Department business, as needed.
MDC promotes a Tobacco-Free (smoke and smokeless) working environment.
The Department of Conservation will only hire United States citizens and aliens authorized to work in the United States. All new employees will be required to complete an "Employment Eligibility Verification" (Form I-9) and produce requested documentation after employment.
Candidates seeking initial employment or re-employment must submit to a drug screen following offer of employment.
All persons employed with the state of Missouri shall file all state income tax forms and pay all state income taxes owed.