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In operation since 1982, Fourth Corner Nurseries is a renowned producer of native plants for the ecological restoration and container nursery markets for the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We specialize in source-identified, seed-propagated, bare root native plants including trees and shrubs, perennials, bulbs, graminoids, and aquatics. We are seeking a motivated production assistant to join our greenhouse team.
Job Description & Duties
The Production Assistant is responsible for fulfilling the daily needs of two greenhouses and adjacent outdoor growing spaces. Daily tasks include assessing crops to determine irrigation needs, hand watering, programming and/or manually running overhead irrigation, using a fertilizer injector, and keeping accurate irrigation records.
The primary responsibility of this position is weekend watering. Once trained, you will be expected to independently assess crop needs and irrigate according to growing plans on Saturdays AND Sundays for the duration of this position. Beyond irrigation responsibilities there will be opportunities to assist with other greenhouse-related tasks including sowing, thinning, transplanting, weeding, and pulling orders. Good communication between the greenhouse manager, greenhouse grower, and production assistant is essential, and will be both written (through watering logs and email/text) and in person.
This is a physical position, requiring extended periods of standing, walking, bending, and at times repeated lifting of up to 50 pounds in a wide range of temperatures and humidity. We occasionally apply fungicides to maintain crop health. You will be trained in how to safely work around pesticides, and must be willing to work around crops that have been sprayed. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be provided.
Qualifications
An ideal candidate will be:
● Ready to learn on the job and willing to take on responsibility
● Extremely reliable and available to work Saturdays and Sundays- consistent attendance at work is essential to this position
● Possess good communication skills and strong attention to detail
● Possess professional or academic experience working in plant production
● Able to solve problems independently, know when to ask for help
● Flexible and willing to adapt to changes in methods, protocols, and the needs of the season
● Work well independently and with a team; be able to accept constructive feedback
● Familiarity with native plant species and botanical nomenclature is helpful but not essential
Days & hours of employment
This position is seasonal. Hours are full time (40 hours per week) during April and May, and then go to part-time (roughly 20 hours per week) June - Oct. Watering on Saturdays and Sundays is the primary responsibility of this position. The number of hours required to water all crops will fluctuate throughout the year. The rest of your hours are flexible, but should take place during weekdays (between our business hours of 8-4) so that you can communicate with the greenhouse manager and greenhouse grower, be trained on new tasks, and assist with other projects in the greenhouse and around the nursery.
Option to extend the position to full time-
We will be hiring a part-time Seed Collection Assistant to start in June. For the right candidate, this position could dovetail well with the Greenhouse Production Assistant. For the combination Greenhouse/Seed Assistant position, additional hours from June-October (totaling 40 hours/week) would be spent assisting the primary seed collector with wild seed harvest and seed cleaning/processing. The full schedule would consist of two weekend days (watering) and three weekdays, with two weekdays in the field most weeks starting in June. Specific days of the week are flexible.
Harvesting seed is physically demanding, farm-labor-type work with long hours spent standing, lifting, reaching, and stooping. Harvest activities generally take place in Whatcom, Skagit, and Island County as day trips, with occasional trips farther afield. These days require some flexibility with departure and return time, as there will be occasions when it is most efficient to work a longer day farther afield and other times when heat may require an early start, for example. Time on the farm would be spent cleaning and processing seed and working on greenhouse-related tasks.
Additional requirements for the combination Greenhouse/Seed position include:
● Possess a valid driver’s license. Can safely operate a motor vehicle across a variety of road surfaces, in both high and low traffic areas. Good driving record.
● Physically fit, able to lift 50 lbs, and able and willing to work outdoors with extended periods of standing, bending, reaching, and walking on uneven terrain in all weather conditions. Able to work safely both alone and with others.
● Able to effectively impart and share schedule, plans, whereabouts, priorities and needs, as well as understand and respond to the needs, priorities and schedules of others.
● Experience with plant identification and a strong interest in continuing to learn.
The following skills are highly desirable for the seed collecting position:
● Experience navigating with both maps and GPS apps.
● Understanding of basic principles of plant breeding and genetic diversity.
● Competent in data entry. Working experience of relational databases and spreadsheets.
● Basic knowledge of seed cleaning techniques and equipment.
● Experience in production agriculture such as fruit/berry harvest, manufacturing, or food production or related field where speed, efficiency and accuracy are critical.
● Ability to identify Pacific Northwest native trees and shrubs.
Please let us know if you are interested in this combination Greenhouse/Seed Assistant position when you apply.
Dates of Employment: Early April- October 31st, 2024
Compensation: $18-20 hourly DOE
Benefits: Employees receive 8 hours of paid leave for every 160 hours worked
Closing Date: We will begin reviewing applications on Tuesday, March 5th, and will continue accepting applications until the position is filled.
How to apply: Reply to posting with a resume and a quick statement about your interest in the position (250 words or less). Pease specify whether you are applying for the Greenhouse Production Assistant or combination Greenhouse/Seed Assistant position in the subject line. We look forward to hearing from you!
