~ Job Announcement ~
Assistant Nursery Manager
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Part-time, Non-Residential Position
10 hours/Week All Year
Up to Full-Time Seasonally
The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC) is seeking a part-time, non-residential Assistant Nursery Manager to work in OAEC’s Nursery and Greenhouses at least quarter time and up to full-time in the two to three months before each of our three annual Plant Sales which occur in April, May and August.
OAEC is a non-profit educational and advocacy institute working in the areas of ecology, watershed restoration, horticulture, the arts and social justice activism. OAEC is located on an 80-acre retreat facility and intentional community, 65 miles north of San Francisco in western Sonoma County, California (www.oaec.org).
Job Summary:
The Assistant Nursery Manager is an essential position in the operation of the OAEC Nursery and is involved in the maintenance and care of the greenhouses and nursery, in the production of our three Plant Sales and Open Weekends and in the expansion and development of the nursery business. This nursery position has the potential for expansion and growth in hours and responsibility depending on the evolution of OAEC’s Nursery Program and business.
The Assistant Nursery Manager is involved with the pricking out and potting up of thousands of annual seedlings, in the vegetative propagation of perennial mother plants in the nursery and in the OAEC Mother Gardens and in the sowing of seeds.
The Assistant Nursery Manager works directly with OAEC’s Nursery and Garden Manager and Garden Production Manager. The position involves the supervision of seasonal plant sale workers, volunteers and weekend nursery staff. It also involves being present for at least half of our six Plant Sale days, and if possible, for our Open Nursery Weekends, depending on availability.
Job Responsibilities:
Being primarily responsible for pricking out and potting up sown annual seedlings for the three annual Plant Sales
Supervising seasonal nursery Plant Sale workers, Garden Interns and volunteers in the accomplishment of this task. Managing nursery staff on Open Weekends, including training on cashiering and performing opening and closing procedures
Inventorying and ordering of potting mixes, amendments, nursery supplies and equipment in coordination with Nursery Manager
Ordering tags, maintaining of tag machine, entering inventory and printing and organizing of labels
Supervising tagging of all plants for Plant Sales and Nursery weekends with garden staff and volunteers
Tracking inventory of cuttings and plants for labeling and production purposes
Designing program for Integrated Pest Management and foliar feeding in coordination with Nursery Manager
Supporting Nursery Manager in watering of plants
Programming automated greenhouse and irrigation functions
Producing laminated Plant Sale signs for nursery display, write descriptions and finding photographs
Being involved with marketing research for further promotion of Plant Sales and Nursery
Qualifications for the Job:
Experience in working in a professional nursery and greenhouse
Experience with watering, care and maintenance of greenhouse plants
Experience with plant pests and diseases; knowledge of plant nutrition
Ability to work well with others as well as being comfortable working alone
Proficiency in basic computer skills in PC, including but not limited to word processing, Excel spreadsheet creation and maintenance, and network management
Experience with designing and managing point of sale systems or a capacity to learn and manage such systems
Excellent communication skills and comfort with leadership role
Great organizational skills
Skill in energetic self-starting, ability to work quickly and efficiently
A love of plants
Compensation:
· This is a part-time, non-residential position. Part-time OAEC staff can use the OAEC facilities (pond, hot tub, and sauna) and harvest from our gardens and orchards.
To Apply:
· Please refer to www.oaec.org for background on OAEC and our programs. We are accepting applications until 5 pm on Monday, July 15, 2013. Early application is encouraged. Qualified applicants please email a cover letter, resume, and list of current references to Doug Gosling at doug@oaec.org. Resumes without cover letters will not be considered.
· Applicants will be notified by email if OAEC requests more information or an interview. The planned start date for the position is Thursday, August 8, 2013.
OAEC is committed to equal employment opportunities. We do not discriminate based on an individual’s race, sex, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or on any other basis prohibited by law.