Company OverviewBased in Southern Lancaster County, PA, Octoraro Native Plant Nursery is a wholesale grower of native trees and shrubs serving the Mid-Atlantic region. Our mission is to improve the natural and built environment of the Mid-Atlantic region by providing high quality, sustainably grown native plants. Our plants are mainly used for restoration purposes, but we also grow unique and hard-to-find species for retail nurseries and plant sales. To operate a commercial nursery of this size and scope, we rely on a tight knit team that has deep horticultural knowledge and a diverse skillset. It is to this team we are looking to add a passionate individual to help us to continue achieving our goals of growing premium native woody plants, while remaining a successful business within the green industry.
Position SummaryWe are seeking a reliable and hardworking Nursery Operations Specialist to keep our woody plant nursery running smoothly. This hands-on role splits time between the plants, maintenance, and nursery operations. You will be responsible for operating equipment (tractors & skid steers), driving 16' and 26' box trucks for local deliveries, assisting in facility maintenance, and participating in the hands-on growing of plants. Horticultural work may include but is not limited to seed collection, propagation, shearing, pruning, and staking of plants. The ideal candidate enjoys working outdoors and possesses the physical strength to regularly lift 30-35 pounds. The work is seasonal in nature, requiring longer hours in the Spring/Fall and shorter hours in the Summer/Winter. Assistance with weekend duties during the growing season is required, this is a shared responsibility and generally occurs every 3rd weekend.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesEquipment Operation & Plant Handling
- Equipment Operation: Safely operate and perform basic maintenance on tractors, skid steers, golf carts, and small-engine equipment.
- Material Handling: Load, unload, and stage plant material and nursery supplies using equipment or manual labor as required.
Box Truck Operation
- Truck Driving: Regular travel between Octoraro’s nursery locations and occasional local customer deliveries are required.
- Cargo Management: Carefully load, secure, and unload woody plants to ensure they arrive at their destination without damage.
- Customer Service: Act as a professional representative of the nursery when interacting with clients during local deliveries.
General Nursery Maintenance
- Irrigation Systems: Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair nursery irrigation lines and components to ensure optimal plant health.
- Facilities Upkeep: Perform basic electrical troubleshooting and minor carpentry work.
- Groundskeeping: Assist with general site maintenance to keep the nursery organized, safe, and accessible. Activities may include: spraying herbicide outside of growing areas, grading with stone, mowing/weed whacking, etc.
Plant Care
- Propagation: Assist the propagation team by collecting and cleaning seed, sowing seeds, and various seedling stage tasks.
- General Plant Care: Assist with irrigation, pruning, shearing, and staking of plants.
Qualifications and SkillsEducation and Experience:
- Education from a technical school is preferred but not required. On the job training will be provided to all skill levels.
- A relevant combination of education and experience will be considered.
Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:
- Driving Credentials: Must possess a valid driver’s license, maintain an acceptable driving record, and meet the company’s vehicle-insurance requirements. Must also be willing and able to obtain any medical certification or licensing required to operate company vehicles.
- Equipment Experience: Prior experience safely operating tractors, skid steers, or comparable equipment is preferred. Nursery-specific training will be provided.
- Maintenance Skills: Strong mechanical aptitude and practical maintenance skills.
- Pesticide License: Must be willing to obtain a Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification within the first 12 months of employment and maintain the certification with continuing education credits (paid for by ONPN).
- Physical Capabilities: High level of physical fitness and stamina. Must be capable of repeatedly lifting 30-35 pounds, bending, kneeling, and working on your feet for extended periods.
- Industry Knowledge: Previous experience in a wholesale or retail plant nursery, landscaping, or horticulture is highly preferred, but not strictly required for someone with strong equipment and maintenance skills.
Required Skills and Abilities:
- Strong interpersonal skills to communicate and work collaboratively with the management team and all employees.
- Ability to work independently, safely with minimal supervision, and demonstrate self-motivation.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills, with the ability to maintain flexibility, adaptability, and openness to change.
Physical Demands and Work Environment- Ability to work outside in seasonal weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, and rain.
- Ability to perform moderate lifting, loading, and moving of plants and products.
- Must be able to lift 30-35 pounds frequently and up to 50-70 pounds occasionally (assistance should be sought for items over 35 pounds).
- The employee will be required to stand, walk, bend, twist, stoop, and use hands or equipment to perform responsibilities of the job.
Position Details- Reports To: Owner-Growers Kevin & Claire Zuidervliet (Daily activities may also be at the direction of the General Manager).
- Status: This is a full-time salaried position.
- Hours: 7:15 AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Hours are seasonal in nature and require the individual to be flexible as workflow increases/decreases.
- Weekend duties are shared on a rotating basis, generally occurring approximately once every 3 weeks during the growing season.
- Compensation: Wages and benefits are negotiable and commensurate with experience. Starting salary range $45,000 - $55,000
- Health, vision, and dental coverage as well as short term disability.
- 10 days paid time off. In addition, the Nursery is closed between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
- Up to 3% IRA company match.
- Year-end bonus dependent on employee and business performance.
- Start date: Flexible, but no later than January 31, 2027
To ApplyPlease forward a resume and three (3) work-related references to Diane Boyd at di@octoraro.com.
Octoraro Native Plant Nursery is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
