Nursery Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
shrubs and trees – container and field.
Experienced nursery workers to plant, cultivate and harvest bare root, ball-and-burlap trees and shrubs, containerized trees, shrubs and perform other duties related to nursery production. Specific duties and skills required include the following:

Plant Cultivation: Thorough knowledge and judgment of proper pruning techniques for wide range of Clinton Nurseries' plant varieties. Exhibit understanding of pruning protocols to ensure uninterrupted availability goals for key crops. Possess ability to identify individual plants that require staking and then decide on the particular staking protocols for that plant. Stick cuttings, transplant plants, pot plants, space plants and water plants.
Must possess ability to understand verbal and/or written work instructions. Must be able to understand and identify plants by botanical name and apply proper identification tag.

Plant Harvest and Shipping Activities: Harvest, pack, label, stack and load trees and shrubs using techniques appropriate for individual varieties of plants. Possess ability to identify and select appropriate color picture tags for placement on plants.

Possess ability to determine the exact grades and quantities for selecting trees and shrubs for sale. Must be able to measure and understand Clinton Nurseries' appropriate quality standards for each shipment depending on individual customer demands.

General Nursery Duties: Drive tractors while pulling multiple wagons, including ability to properly back tractors pulling wagons. Work may also include mechanized nursery work using other power equipment. By way of example and not limitation, other power equipment also may include planters, sprayers and other equipment. Workers will be expected to be able to operate agricultural equipment including but not limited to mowers, weed eaters and ATVs as well as daily use of field trucks and tractors with or without direction.

Cover, uncover or move the poly-covered winter plant storage facilities (“hoop houses”). May be required to assemble or repair pallets and or racks. May be required to perform general nursery repairs, maintenance and labor.

Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and able to obtain an insurable driver's license may drive company vehicles. Workers with appropriate licenses and a valid doctor's certificate may transport other workers.

Jobs are repetitive in nature and must be performed in all climate conditions including hot, humid weather as well as rain, snow and sleet. These jobs require the ability to perform heavy lifting. Must be able to lift up to 60 pound containerized plants and transport them by hand up to a distance of 50 feet for up to 8 hours a day when performing spacing and loading trucks with nursery stock and materials.

Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers' ability to perform the job.

Employer-paid post-hire drug and alcohol testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use.

Persons seeking employment as experienced nursery worker must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Workers are encouraged to bring warm clothing and boots.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break.

TERMINATION.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable prior experience working in a nursery handling both manual and machine tasks associated with nursery production and harvest activities. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Must lift/carry 60 lbs. Post-hire employer-paid drug and alcohol testing required. Employer has a zero tolerance policy for alcohol use during the entire period of the contract.