Forestry Careers at ArborGen

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

1. Operate, maintain, modify and calibrate farm tractors, chain saws, agricultural equipment, conveyors, and strappers and other equipment used on the job.
2. Ability to operate a 5-function forklift for extended periods
3. Ability to operate and work out of bucket trucks and/or self-propelled aerial lifts
4. Ability to obtain and maintain a Commercial Drivers License (if the need arises) and a Restricted Use Pesticide Applicators License;
5. The physical strength and stamina to perform physically demanding tasks for extended periods such as chain / pole saw operation for tree felling and limb pruning, cone harvesting, and repeated lifting and movement of 50 pound boxes and/or bags of pine seed or pine cones.
6. Maintain records including but not limited to equipment maintenance, parts inventory, safety inspections, and fuel records.
7. Assist in the operation and maintenance of an automatic irrigation system including pump station, below ground main lines, above ground supply system, and digital controllers.
8. Weld and fabricate metal items.
9. Assist in all phases of weed control, including herbicide application, mechanical control and hand weeding.
10. Assist in all phases of crop nutrition including fertilization recommendations and applications.
11. Operate and work from aerial lift trucks during cone harvest, breeding, pollen collection and tree limb pruning operations for extended periods.
12. Ability to identify tree damage symptoms / pest species and perform all phases of pest control, including herbicide and insecticide applications.
13. Conduct scion collection, grafting, bagging, control pollination and pollen collection.
14. Wear safety personal protective equipment, maintain facility, and maintain a safe working environment.
15. Supervise labor in various nursery / orchard operations.
16. Serve as a team member in group work improvement projects.
17. Work extended hours, weekends and holidays, outdoors in all types of weather conditions as required.
18. Participate in and complete required safety training and the ability to oversee and manage contract labor safety program.
19. Other duties and projects as assigned.

Ongoing Interaction:

1. Department: Daily interaction with direct reports if applicable. Frequent interaction with peers in the immediate work group. Regular interaction with peers in the other groups within the department.

Frequent interaction with Supervisor.

2. Company: Regular interaction with peers in other research groups across the company as related to common research targets. Occasional participation in review sessions with CTO and Science Team
3. Outside Company: Participation in outside conference and symposia.

Education/Experience/Skills: 

• Experience in construction, welding, metal fabrication, and equipment maintenance.
• Ability to be innovative and be resourceful to accomplish goals
• Basic math, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills
• Associate Degree in Agriculture or Horticulture, or 5+ year’s experience operating and maintaining agricultural equipment in lieu of education preferred.
• Experience in a bare root nursery and/or pine seed orchard preferred.
• Good human relations skills to serve as a team member and a team leader.

Physical Requirements: 

This is heavy work exerting up to 40-100 pounds of force; work may involve climbing, stooping, crouching, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting and grasping; worker is subject to inside and outside environment, noise, vibration, working hazards, fumes, odors, dust, gasses and chemicals; visual acuity is required for experiments; requires hearing sufficient to perceive noises for diagnostic purposes.   This can be inside or outside work or working in hot, humid cold and damp conditions.  Will need to be able to wear a respirator for pesticide spraying.  Must be able to pass respirator fit test and pulmonary function exam.  Applicant must pass a drug screening test.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent.  It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the incumbent.  Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required and the responsibilities of the position may change.

AA/EEO/M/F/D/V

• Nursery crop management – maintain a precise schedule for soil preparation, sowing of seed, irrigation, fertilization, pesticide spraying, cultural practices and lifting of
• Maintain nursery crop records working with
• Monitor seedling crop for quality, growth, density and
• Research – Assist research activities in conjunction with the Product Development
• Administrative — Directly supervise full time employees and seasonal temporary labor.
• Manage a strong safety program, operational purchasing, seedling distribution and record
• Keep work on schedule and report progress. Complete tasks independently.

• Department: Daily interaction with direct reports. Frequent interaction with peers in the immediate work group. Regular interaction with peers in other groups within the department. Frequent interaction with
• Company: Regular interaction with peers in other groups across the company as related to common production
• Outside Company: Participation in outside conferences and industry

• Bachelor’s degree in an Agricultural/Horticultural field, or Plant & Soil Science with 2 years work experience in an agricultural/horticultural/forestry -related field. Will consider Associate degree or HSD with 5-10 years’ experience in related field.  Nursery experience   Farm equipment operation experience required.
• Inventory and logistics experience associated with nursery crops preferred.
• Necessary computer skills include: Microsoft Office Suite and SAP B1 software. Preferred: ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software knowledge.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory
• Strong sense of financial and asset
• Valid driver’s

Physical Requirements: 

This is heavy work exerting up to 40-100 pounds of force; work may involve climbing, stooping, crouching, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting and grasping; worker is subject to inside and outside environment, noise, vibration, working hazards, fumes, odors, dust, gasses and chemicals; visual acuity is required for experiments; requires hearing sufficient to perceive noises for diagnostic purposes.   This can be inside or outside work or working in hot, humid cold and damp conditions.  Will need to be able to wear a respirator for pesticide spraying.  Must be able to pass respirator fit test and pulmonary function exam.  Applicant must pass a drug screening test.

Key personal traits include good interpersonal and communication skills along with a strong work ethic and ability to manage a variety of tasks simultaneously. This is an exempt position, with limited travel required.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent.  It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the incumbent.  Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required and the responsibilities of the position may change.

AA/EEO/M/F/D/V

1. Operate, maintain, modify and calibrate farm tractors, agricultural equipment, conveyors, and strappers and other equipment used on the
2. Maintain records including but not limited to equipment maintenance, parts inventory, safety inspections, and fuel
3. Assist in the operation and maintenance of an automatic irrigation system including pump station, below ground main lines, above ground supply system, and digital controllers.
4. Weld and fabricate metal
5. Assist in all phases of weed control, including herbicide application, mechanical control and hand
6. Assist in all phases of crop nutrition including fertilization recommendations and applications.
7. Wear safety personal protective equipment, maintain facility, and maintain a safe working
8. Supervise labor in various nursery
9. Serve as a team member in group work improvement
10. Work extended hours, weekends and holidays, outdoors in all types of weather conditions as
11. Participate in and complete required safety
12. Other duties and projects as

Ongoing Interaction:

1. Department: Daily interaction with direct reports if applicable. Frequent interaction with peers in the immediate work group. Regular interaction with peers in the other groups within the department.

Frequent interaction with Supervisor.

2. Company: Regular interaction with peers in other research groups across the company as related to common research targets. Occasional participation in review sessions with CTO and Science Team
3. Outside Company: Participation in outside conference and symposia.

• Tractor and forklift operation experience preferred but not required.
• Private Pesticide applicator license preferred, but not required.

Physical Requirements: 

This is heavy work exerting up to 40-100 pounds of force; work may involve climbing, stooping, crouching, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting and grasping; worker is subject to inside and outside environment, noise, vibration, working hazards, fumes, odors, dust, gasses and chemicals; visual acuity is required for experiments; requires hearing sufficient to perceive noises for diagnostic purposes.   This can be inside or outside work or working in hot, humid cold and damp conditions.  Will need to be able to wear a respirator for pesticide spraying.  Must be able to pass respirator fit test and pulmonary function exam.  Applicant must pass a drug screening test.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent.  It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the incumbent.  Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required and the responsibilities of the position may change.

AA/EEO/M/F/D/V