Crew Lead — Invasive Plant Management Native Restoration Force | Nashville, TN | Full Time | July 2026 Start

About Native Restoration Force 

Native Restoration Force (NRF) is a Nashville-based ecological restoration company dedicated to restoring Middle Tennessee's urban forests. We remove invasive plant species — Japanese honeysuckle, Chinese privet, kudzu, tree of heaven, and others — using selective, responsible methods that make space for native ecosystems to recover. We are a veteran-owned small business formed in 2026 and are looking for our first crew lead to grow with us from the ground up.

The Role

You will be the ecological practitioner on the ground. You'll lead job sites, guide flex crew members, operate professional-grade equipment, and apply targeted herbicide treatments. This is physically demanding, outdoor work in Nashville's neighborhoods, greenways, and green spaces.

What a Typical Day Looks Like

You will start your day loading up an NRF vehicle with tools and equipment before heading to a job site to assess conditions, brief any flex crew members working alongside you and execute removal or restoration work throughout the day. Some days that's manual extraction of honeysuckle root crowns with hand tools. Others it’s cut-stump herbicide treatment on a dense privet thicket. You'll document progress with photography and wrap the day with a site debrief. Expect early starts, outdoor conditions year-round, and variety in the work. You will be working alongside NRF’s founder Wes for the first several months before transitioning to leading a fully independent crew.

What You'll Do

• Lead invasive plant removal projects from start to finish across Middle Tennessee
• Operate commercial brush cutters, chainsaws, and hand tools
• Perform cut-stump, basal bark, and other targeted herbicide treatments
• Develop multi-year restoration plans for customers
• Guide and supervise flex crew members on job sites
• Communicate clearly with the founder and clients in a professional manner

What We're Looking For

• Degree in ecology, forestry, natural resources, environmental science, or related field strongly preferred
• You will be expected to pass the Tennessee pesticide applicator license exams in both C03 and C06 categories prior to your start date 
• Candidates who do not hold a 4-year degree will still be considered if they have 2+ years of directly relevant experience and currently hold Tennessee pesticide applicator licenses in both C03 and C06 categories
• Knowledge of Middle Tennessee's native plant communities and invasive species
• Ability to assess a site ecologically and communicate a sustainable long-term restoration vision to clients
• Physical ability to perform demanding outdoor work in all weather conditions including heat, cold, and rain
• Comfortable operating power tools and learning new equipment

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary of $40,000–$43,000 depending on experience and credentials
• Performance bonus of 10% of net profit on all jobs personally worked, paid monthly beginning in month four
• Generous paid time off including a company holiday closure from December 24 through January 1, a summer closure week, and 5 personal days
• Full sponsorship of pesticide applicator licensing (C03/C06) if not already held
• Company support toward relevant industry certifications and training
• Opportunity to shape operations and grow with a mission-driven company

A Note on Culture

NRF is a small, mission-driven operation. We care deeply about doing this work correctly, for the ecosystem, for our clients, and for each other. We're looking for someone who shares that value and wants to help shape how this company operates. If you've spent time volunteering with a native plant society, a land trust, or a conservation organization and you're looking for a way to do this work professionally, we'd love to hear from you.