Nursery Production Manager

The Nursery Production Manager plays a vital role in implementing grow plans and planning day-to-day nursery operations at the Conservancy’s native plant production site in Smith Valley. This position ensures the successful production of approximately 400,000 high-quality seedlings annually, supporting large-scale habitat restoration and conservation projects.

Working closely with the Native Seed Manager and Nursery Supervisor, the Nursery Production Manager performs production planning, procurement, shipping logistics, and customer fulfillment to meet strategic and contractual objectives. The person in this role will prioritize plant health, safety and quality standards, and operational efficiency.

The Ideal Candidate Will

• Have strong horticultural or nursery production management experience, preferably in the Intermountain West.
• Demonstrate commitment to safety, plant quality, and continuous improvement.
• Thrive in outdoor, physically demanding work environments.
• Balance plant health priorities with production goals, inventory management, logistics, and order fulfillment.

Expectations and Core Accountabilities

Nursery Production and Operations

• Implement annual and seasonal grow plans in alignment with production targets.
• Develop and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all nursery practices.
• Oversee recordkeeping, production data, and quality control systems to evaluate and improve performance.
• Collaborate with the Nursery Supervisor to establish daily and weekly work priorities for nursery staff to meet production timelines.

Inventory, Shipping, and Procurement

• Maintain oversight of all plant, soil media, container, and supply inventories, ensuring accuracy and readiness for production demands.
• Implement production forecasting and reporting systems to deliver precise, timely data for operational and organizational needs.
• Authorize and coordinate all plant order fulfillment activities, including harvesting, staging, and shipping.
• Manage procurement by forecasting supply needs, submitting purchase requests, negotiating vendor relationships, and ensuring cost-effective purchasing.

Plant Health, Safety, and Quality

• Set plant health and quality standards and implement preventative treatment plans.
• Lead monitoring for pests, disease, and cultural issues, authorizing corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with safety protocols, conducting training and holding staff accountable for proper PPE use.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to raise production efficiency and plant quality.

Facility and Equipment Oversight

• Ensure cleanliness, organization, and maintenance of greenhouse, shade structures, and nursery infrastructure.
• Direct maintenance of irrigation systems, tools, and equipment, ensuring timely repairs.
• Assess facility needs and coordinate with operations staff or contractors to complete improvements.

Coordination and Outreach

• Communicate with Nursery Supervisor to align the daily, weekly, and seasonal work of the nursery team with production schedules.
• Coordinate with administrative team and Native Seed Manager to ensure timely ordering and delivery of supplies.
• Maintain positive customer relations through clear communication around plant availability, orders, and delivery timelines.
• Represent the nursery during site tours, volunteer days, and outreach activities.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of nursery or horticultural production experience, with preference for native plant or restoration-focused work.
• Strong background in propagation, greenhouse management, irrigation systems, pest control, and shipping logistics.
• Advanced organizational skills with experience in inventory systems, recordkeeping, and procurement processes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to coordinate across teams and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs., work in outdoor conditions, and operate nursery tools and equipment.
• Valid driver’s license; ability to travel within the Smith Valley region.