Grow and produce seedlings in a forest nursery; assists in planning and directing operational activities such as planting, lifting, irrigating, fertilizing and chemical spraying; supervises crews as needed to complete work projects.

Develops, locates, installs, maintains, and measures plots for tracking variables influencing the growth and production of nursery seedlings;

Maintains soil nutrient, irrigation and other records related to nursery growing conditions;

Ensures genetic integrity of seedling crop through accurate labelling and inventory;

Inspects and reports on signs of damage, disease and insect infestation in nursery seedlings and seed beds;

Orders and maintains security of chemicals; calculates mixtures and trains personnel in methods and procedures for safe usage;

Recommends changes to seedling growing, packing and production procedures and the application of various materials to nursery seedlings or seed beds;

Oversees and is responsible for mixing and application of materials and procedures to nursery seedlings and seed beds;

Installs, maintains, measures and records data on research plots utilizing methods and techniques as directed by research scientist;

Prepares internal reports on tests, studies and experiments;

Plans and lays out nursery operational activities;

Trains, supervises, and evaluates personnel;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of: cultural practices used in a forest nursery; soil elements; damage, diseases and insects common to forest nursery; methods and techniques of nursery irrigation; uses and application techniques of common fertilizers and chemical sprays.

Ability to: recognize the presence and effects of damage, disease and insects on nursery seedlings; follow written work plan; collect and compile data; write internal reports; train and supervise crews; understand and develop technical competence necessary to guide the growing and production of forest nursery seedlings.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Two years of college-level course work with major study in agronomy, horticulture, forest science or closely related field and two years of technical or supervisory forest nursery experience.

OR

A bachelor’s degree involving major study in agronomy, horticulture, forest science or closely related field.

Equivalent education/experience.

Some positions may require a valid Washington State driver's license.

Establish new job classification: Forest Nursery Specialist; class code: 521L; adopted June 23, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.