Assistant Nursery Manager

Help Grow Colorado’s Forests. Lead Nursery Production. Support Reforestation Across the State.

The Colorado State Forest Service is seeking an Assistant Nursery Manager to help lead production operations at the CSFS Nursery in Fort Collins, Colorado. This position is ideal for an experienced nursery, greenhouse, horticulture, or agricultural production professional who enjoys managing crop production, supervising staff, and improving operational systems while contributing to Colorado’s reforestation and conservation efforts.

Working under the direction of the Nursery Manager, the Assistant Nursery Manager oversees daily container and bareroot seedling production operations to ensure the delivery of high-quality Colorado-grown seedlings for landowners, conservation districts, government agencies, and other customers. This position plays a critical role in expanding nursery production capacity while maintaining quality, efficiency, safety, and environmental compliance.

The CSFS Nursery currently produces 300,000–500,000 seedlings annually and is actively expanding operations to meet growing statewide demand, with long-term goals of producing 1–2 million seedlings each year.

If you are passionate about plant production, operational leadership, and supporting the future of Colorado’s forests, apply now!

Location: Fort Collins, CO

Salary Range: $70,000 – $80,000 (based on experience)

What You’ll Do:

• Lead and coordinate container and bareroot seedling production operations, including sowing, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, harvesting, and crop maintenance activities.
• Plan and implement annual production schedules and crop plans to meet customer demand, operational goals, and nursery capacity.
• Monitor crop health and development, diagnose production challenges, and adjust cultural practices to optimize seedling quality and production timelines.
• Supervise, train, schedule, and coordinate permanent, temporary, and seasonal nursery staff to ensure safe, efficient, and productive operations.
• Develop, implement, and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs) to enhance production efficiency, consistency, and quality.
• Oversee seed handling activities, including storage, stratification, testing, inventory management, and recordkeeping.
• Manage seedling grading, packing, storage, and distribution processes to ensure product quality and order accuracy.
• Maintain accurate production, inventory, pesticide application, and operational records to support planning, reporting, and regulatory compliance.
• Promote and enforce workplace safety standards while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, certifications, and CSU policies.
• Assist with evaluating and implementing new technologies, production methods, and operational improvements that support nursery growth and expansion goals.
• Collaborate with the Nursery Manager to support strategic planning, infrastructure improvements, budgeting, and long-term production objectives.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Horticulture, Plant Science, Agronomy, Agriculture, Natural Resources, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of three years of applied experience in nursery operations, greenhouse production, agricultural crop production, or a related field.

Working Conditions:

• Ability to work irregular hours, including long days, evenings, and weekends during peak seasonal production periods.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and perform physically demanding work.
• Occasional off-site and overnight travel may be required.
• Must reside within 30 miles of the Fort Collins Nursery to participate in shared after-hours emergency response responsibilities.

Why Choose Colorado State Forest Service?

We not only value our forests; we also value our employees. Joining our team comes with incredible benefits:

• Identity Wear Stipend: Elevate your professional image with a stipend for personalized executive wear.
• Work-Life Harmony: Achieve optimal work-life integration through tailored and flexible scheduling options.
• Connectivity Privilege: Stay seamlessly connected with either a cell phone allowance or a provided work cell.
• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Prioritize your well-being with access to exclusive and comprehensive healthcare benefits.
• Time-Off: Recharge with 15 days of sick leave and 24 days of annual leave.
• Retirement Plan: Secure your financial future with a remarkable 12% employer contribution to your retirement plan.
• Assistance Program: Access premium well-being resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
• Professional Development: Enhance your skills through personalized professional training opportunities facilitated by CSU.
• Educational Empowerment: Receive 9 hours of education credits annually through CSU.
• Tuition Privileges for Family: Secure your family’s future with 50% off tuition for children, partner, and spouse.
• Community Leadership Initiative: Give back to your community with paid administrative leave dedicated to volunteering.