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

• Operate, maintain, modify and calibrate farm tractors, agricultural equipment, irrigation system components, and other equipment used on the job.
• Maintain records including but not limited to equipment maintenance, parts inventory, safety inspections, and fuel records.
• 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.
• Assist in all phases of weed control, including herbicide application, mechanical control and hand weeding.
• Assist in all phases of crop nutrition including fertilizer applications and crop tissue and soil sampling.
• Wear safety personal protective equipment, maintain facility, and maintain a safe working environment.  Participate in and complete required safety training.
• Supervise labor in various nursery operations.  Will be working with a contract labor crew on a daily basis during certain times of the year.
• Serve as a team member and/or leader in group work improvement projects.
• Work extended hours, weekends and holidays, outdoors in all types of weather conditions as required.  Examples would be weekend irrigation duty or repair, planting season, and lifting season to meet production goals.
• Ability to work closely with colleagues to meat peak needs and production goals.
• Adapt quickly to changing conditions including job functions.
• Ability to be innovative and resourceful to accomplish goals.
• 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.

• 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

The business specialist has full responsibility for all accounting procedures using the corporate software according to ArborGen guidelines, including purchasing, accounts payable and receivable, inventory control, petty cash, purchase orders, transmittals and invoices. This position also involves the following specific responsibilities:

• Proficiently mastering the use of the seedling sales accounting package and the SAP accounts payables program. Monitor collection of accounts receivables and payments of accounts payables under the guidelines of the company policies and procedures.  Monitor customer and vendor accounts for accuracy and timeliness for all departments at BV (Nursery, Seed Orchard and PD).
• Serving as receptionist/customer contact person for the nursery.
• Transcribe, compose and type correspondence and special reports.
• Organize and maintain files and records according to company policy and procedure.
• Develop computer databases, spreadsheets and presentations as needed.
• Schedule seedling shipments, appointments and travel.
• Wear safety personal protective equipment, maintain facility, and maintain a safe working environment.
• Travel as needed to represent the nursery at trade shows and meetings (less than 10 days per year.
• Maintain office supply inventory.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.
• **Hours may vary during lifting seasons**

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

·         Minimum of five years experience in office administration and data processing, or a two-year college diploma and two years experience.

·         Formal computer training or comparable experience in Microsoft office, especially Excel.

·         Excellent word processing skills.

·         Basic math and accounting skills.

·         Excellent oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.

·         The ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.

·         Ability to work without close supervision.

·         References indicating dependability, punctuality, courtesy, self-motivation and teamwork skills.

Physical Requirements: 

This position is an office position, but is sedentary to medium work exerting up to 40 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; visual acuity is required; requires hearing sufficient to perceive noises for diagnostic purposes.

Problem Solving

The SuperTree Nursery produces millions (varies by nursery) seedlings per year.    The N&O Group produces over 400 million seedlings annually.  The Business Specialist position is vital to the operation of the nursery and the N&O Group. 

The position impacts the operations in the following ways:

• Is first point of contact for customers to convey their needs and concerns.
• Supports management with office duties, including confidential correspondence.
• Manages data for effective and efficient operations.
• Provides financial and accounting services.
• The business specialist has the liberty to determine the best methods for carrying out assigned duties.

Accountability

• Ensure that accurate accounts payable and receivable records are maintained by implementing accounting policies and procedures.  Provide management with complete financial information of expenditures and revenue.
• Support management by providing accurate detailed correspondence, presentations and reports in a professional appealing manner.
• Support N&O objectives by providing interaction with customers and other stakeholders in a positive, professional manner.

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.

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