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Lawyer Nursery Plant Propagator Detailed Job Description

Abstract

Lawyer Nursery is looking for a skilled plant propagator to join our Montana production team. The Plant Propagation Specialist will work with the Nursery Manager, aiding in all aspects of nursery stock production. The general responsibilities of the position require an individual who works well independently, under direct supervision, or in a teamwork environment. Much like an apprenticeship, the Plant Propagation Specialist will engage in on the job training and exposure, with the expectation of assuming much greater responsibility for propagation decisions over the course of 3 – 5 years.

Application Process

We recommend that you email your resume to trees@lawyernursery.com, fax it to (406) 826-5700, or mail it to us. Send along a cover letter and mail or attach a photocopy of your academic transcript. You may also come to our office and apply in person. In addition, our standard employment application is online in PDF and must be submitted as well. Once we have your complete application package, we will send a questionnaire and a request for a writing sample (no more than one page).

The next step is a two-tiered interview process. All interviews are conducted by appointment only. The first interview is a panel style interview with selected members of Lawyer Nursery’s Management Team. Prior to this initial interview your application, as submitted, will be reviewed by each of the panel members. Because we are conducting a nationwide search for this position, this interview may be conducted as a telephone conference call. Interview times may vary, but please expect this interview to last up to two hours. 

Following a positive endorsement by the panel, there is a second interview one-on-one with Senior Management. This interview will either be in person at Lawyer Nursery’s Corporate Headquarters at Plains Montana or by teleconferencing.

At this point, the most promising candidate(s) that we have not personally met, that live well outside our immediate area, and that have not visited our offices, will be invited on an expense paid interview trip to Plains, Montana. Local candidates will be expected to come at their own expense.

Past employment, references are very important. At least one of these must be from your supervisor or former supervisor(s) or a business owner. In addition, another nursery sales professional is very helpful. We do call and check all references so please provide the necessary contact information.  

Thank you for your interest in Lawyer Nursery, Inc. Look over our website for more information. If you have any questions, comments or concerns don’t hesitate to call or send an email. 

Nursery Department

We currently grow and harvest over 700 varieties of woody ornamentals, conifers, native shrubs, fruit trees, and ground covers. We buy in tree and shrub seed from all over the U.S., Canada, and 30 countries internationally. As a company, we produce between 14 and 15 million seedlings, transplants, cutting grown liners, plugs, fruit trees, finished shrubs and shade trees.

Our Plains, Montana operation has approximately 350 acres of farm land in nursery stock field production and about the same in rotational use. We grow a wide variety of woody plants, mainly large quantities of seedlings and cold-hardy transplants. We also have a shadehouse operation in Plains for propagation of difficult crops. There is much room for facility improvement and growth for the motivated propagator.

General Applicant Profile

Education: A Bachelor of Science degree is required. Degrees in Horticulture, Plant Science, Forestry, Botany, Biology, or a related field, will help prove the applicant is qualified for the position and its responsibilities. Demonstrated experience researching technical topics using academic journals, the internet, etc. is important.

Knowledge: An understanding of horticultural and agricultural production techniques and propagation protocols is preferred. Lab experience is helpful, but not required.

Experience:  No minimum professional experience is required, although previous exposure to a fast paced, dynamic work environment will be beneficial to any applicant.

Professional: The successful candidate will be self-motivated with the desire to consistently produce the best results possible. We insist on a willingness to engage in debate and analysis of current practices and of new ideas. This position interacts with co-workers on many levels of production, and the Plant Propagation Specialist must be capable of coordinating resources to ensure successful production. Proper planning and a proactive approach are necessary to ensure timely completion of every aspect of propagation. Flexibility is necessary and one must be willing to accept the responsibility for completion of assigned projects.

Personal: Must be self-motivated, resourceful, innovative, and thorough. Attention to detail is of the utmost importance. Autonomy is not expected, but the Plant Propagation Specialist should be capable of working within broad parameters with minimal supervision. Must be able to work with co-workers in a courteous professional manner at all times. Well-organized in all aspects of work, with the ability to multi-task.    

General Position Responsibilities

1. Propagation and Growing

• Propagation Material Acquisition – Help locate and harvest local propagation materials, as needed, for the Montana Nursery. Help establish and maintain on-site orchards and mother blocks for seeds and cuttings. Plan, manage, and assist with taking cuttings and collecting seed.
• Preplanting Treatments – Prepare and inspect stratification equipment and facilities to insure proper working order. Perform seed stratification/scarification to initiate germination for spring, summer and fall plantings. Ensure storage and monitoring of designated seed lots in production preparation.
• Seed Testing – Test for all pertinent seed properties including tetrazolium, germination and cut tests, as well as any other tests necessary to ensure quality plant production.
• Field Propagation – Execute sowing, transplanting and cutting production operational plans, as directed by the Nursery Manager. Help supervise land preparation and planting activities. Make frequent observations, tests and treatments of Nursery stock as needed.

2. Shadehouse Production

• Prepare, maintain, and, if necessary, expand our shadehouse production facilities. Manage crews to ensure proper maintenance, watering, and harvest of shadehouse crops, in addition to propagation responsibilities relevant to shadehouse production.
  

3. Field Inspections

• Label all field crops, document for inventory records, and enter into database system. Make weekly inspections of crops to provide quality control/other recommendations to the Nursery Manager.

4. Administrative

• Perform annual review of sowing data to ensure procurement of sufficient propagation quantities to meet production goals. Adjust plans to incorporate improvements in production methodology. Submit seed, plant and soil samples to appropriate agencies (i.e. the National Tree Seed Laboratory) for testing. Maintain and establish comprehensive records covering production plans, propagation, growing, procedures, and results. This includes notebooks, field observations, protocols, computer records, etc.

5. Teamwork

• Work with Plant Propagation Specialists in other facilities to aid in successful production. May require visits to Washington facilities, distribution of seed to appropriate locations, and paperwork coordination.

6. Research

• Research new treatments, and growing protocols. Must be constantly inquiring for latest production techniques to ensure use of relevant technology. Must be willing to try new, untested or unverified production techniques in consultation with the Nursery Manager. Research will include internet, trade publications, scientific journals and peer advice.
  

7. Equipment Operation

• Operate and calibrate production and laboratory equipment to perform assigned duties. 
  

8. Technical Assistance

• Provide technical expertise to Nursery Manager in all aspects of production.

9. Other duties as assigned

• May include equipment operation and assistance with other production related activities, harvesting, miscellaneous projects, customer relations and other unrelated duties.

Position Details

Working Hours: Basic assigned working hours are 7:15am – 4:00pm M-F, 6:15am – 3:00pm from June to August. Therefore, additional hours may be required as needed to ensure that production deadlines are met. Occasional Saturdays, all or part day, may be necessary, on a seasonal basis.

Work Location:This position is based at our location in Plains, Montana. For a further description of this community see our general company profile. A majority of the work time is spent outdoors working hands on with seeds and plants. As expected, the climate in Western Montana can vary dramatically and be extreme. A willingness to work in hot, cold, wet and dry conditions is essential.

Compensation: Starting salary range is between $28 - $35k per year (commensurate with education and experience). This position does not qualify for overtime pay.

Benefits:  Position is eligible for our normal salaried professional benefits including six paid holidays, two weeks per year of paid vacation, health insurance for the employee and immediate family dependents living in the same household (dependent age and student status restrictions may apply), and participation in our 401K Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan (subject to enrollment and vesting).