Specialist, Forest Nursery Operations (Silvaseed)

Mast Reforestation is seeking a Specialist in Forest Nursery Operations for its Roy, WA location. The role involves supporting the production, packing, and distribution of container and bare root seedlings in a high-volume commercial nursery. Key responsibilities include applying nursery practices, collaborating with team members, training staff, monitoring crop growth, managing records, and ensuring greenhouse hygiene. This position offers opportunities for skill development and advancement within the company, which focuses on scalable reforestation solutions.
About Mast Reforestation (Mast): As the leading end-to-end reforestation company in the U.S., Mast is on a mission to make reforestation scalable. As bigger and hotter fires destroy more forestland every year, Mast provides fast, resilient forest restoration for landowners impacted by devastating wildfires. As the only vertically-integrated reforestation company in the industry, Mast has removed the financial, procedural, and seed supply barriers that typically stand in the way of getting reforestation done. Mast collects native, diverse seed species and manages site preparation, planting, and ongoing monitoring, delivering high quality projects. By assembling first-of-its-kind third party capital, Mast delivers these projects at no-cost to landowners.

About Silvaseed: With trusted forestry companies Silvaseed and Cal Forest in its portfolio, Mast is the largest seed bank and reforestation container stock producer in the Western U.S. Mast is also an innovation center for the non-timber forestry supply chain, developing various biological and technical products for achieving land management goals more efficiently. To learn more, visit www.mastreforest.com and watch this video of our recent Montana project (hyperlink: https://www.mastreforest.com/reforestation)

As a specialist in Forest Nursery Operations, you will be instrumental in supporting all growing, packing, and distribution of container and bare root seedlings for a high-volume commercial forest nursery. You will join a growing team and serve essential functions to support container and field-grown (bare root) seedling production. There will be ample opportunity for skills building and personal development toward more senior positions.

You will have a broad suite of roles that require you to:
• Produce quality forest seedling crops by applying effective nursery practices and principles. Follow instructions from crew lead on daily tasks and deliver the tasks on time
• Demonstrate effective teamwork skills including respectfulness, strong communication and listening skills, reliability, and conflict management. This position may work under the Senior Operations Manager, Nursery Manager, irrigation lead, and crew lead to maintain the greenhouse crop and facility. The specialist must coordinate activities with other permanent employees and does not report solely to the nursery manager. Solving greenhouse challenges is a team effort.
• Assist, coordinate, and train forest nursery workers in required nursery work activities
• Mix fertilizers and check electrical conductivity (EC) readings before and after irrigations. Follow instruction from other irrigation leads on how to properly mix and apply fertilizers. Record block weights in accessible files, in a timely manner to allow for quick fertigation decisions
• Take daily block weights while scouting for pests and diseases
• Monitor and measure crop growth rates and conduct audits on lifted crops.
• Keep neat and accurate records including computerized record-keeping systems. Inventory crops, maximizing speed and efficiency to be mindful of reporting and delivery schedules. Follow instruction from crew lead on which crops need monitoring
• Implement and operate analog, computerized and other control systems
• Assist with greenhouse sanitization practices. As directed by your manager or crew lead assigned to you, manage weeds through manual removal in facilities. Also as directed, manage weeds in the crop through careful manual removal, being mindful of seedling quality
• Maintain, repair, and upgrade nursery facilities as needed. During periods of low activity in greenhouses, work with facilities to maintain grounds
• Follow a company-directed IPM program, applying pesticides as needed
• Receive a Washington State pesticide applicators' license within 90 days of hire

Preferred Qualifications and Durable Qualities:
• 3+ years relevant work experience (or AS/BS) degree, in forestry/agriculture/horticulture
• Strong teamwork skills including respectfulness, strong communication and listening skills, reliability, and conflict management. This position works under the Senior Operations Manager, Nursery Manager, irrigation lead, and crew lead to maintain the greenhouse crop and facility. The Specialist must coordinate activities with other permanent employees and does not report solely to the nursery manager. Solving greenhouse challenges is a team effort.
• Resourceful and adaptable to new and changing technologies, processes, and environments
• Must be willing to learn and follow regulatory guidance and procedures
• Experience and comfort in the greenhouse and outdoor climates (heat/cold)
• Excellent judgment with a clear “safety-first” mentality
• Successful applicants must complete internal training for pesticide applicator certificates within 30 days, ideally
• Must be reliable and have transportation - no public transit is available

Salary posting and Benefits of working at Mast Reforestation and its subsidiaries: The compensation package includes a base salary plus numerous benefits (see below). As of December 2024, the geo-located base salary for this role falls within this band: $24-30 per hour, and the role is qualified for overtime. We’ll determine the final base salary based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills level and residing location during the hiring process. Benefits: - Competitive salary - Location-based compensation - 80% health insurance coverage for Regular, Non-seasonal employees, including Medical, Dental & Vision insurance plans. - Voluntary insurance plans with competitive premium rates: Pet insurance, Life insurance, Accidents. - Company paid Short Term Disability insurance and Group Term Life insurance - Company’s incentive stock options (ISO) for eligible employee group - Sustainable Retirement saving plan: 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with climate-focused investment options. - Commuter Benefits in eligible cities - 6 paid holidays. Two weeks of company-wide closing per year - Flexible PTO for Salaried employees. - Generous PTO accrual rate for Hourly employees. - Allowances for out-of-state employees - Relocation support for out-of-state employees