Position Summary:

The Nursery Assistant will be responsible for watering and other associated tasks necessary for the production and maintenance of container grown material primarily for ecological restoration/revegetation and, to a lesser degree, retail sales at the Gila Native Plant Nursery in Safford, AZ.  There may be interactions with volunteers, teachers, interns and students as well as the general public.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Inspect nursery stock daily for necessary maintenance (watering, pest control, etc.)
• Assist with daily watering, pest control, etc.
• Make seasonal adjustments in the nursery, such as putting up or taking down shade-cloth, shifting nursery stock to seasonal locations, covering stock with frost-cloth, etc.
• Maintain a clutter-free tool shed and work area as well as keep the container shed organized.
• Propagate nursery stock as needed, as well as transferring propagations into larger containers.
• Collect seed seasonally in authorized locales and record/document seed accessions.
• Participate in occasional volunteer activities that GWP Staff partake in as well as seasonal sales events at the nursery.
• Other tasks as necessary.

Qualifications:

• Prefer experience in either plant nursery, agriculture, landscaping industry, or biology/botany/horticulture classes.
• Ability to learn and identify plant species native to Southeastern Arizona.
• General computer skills.
• Ability to cheerfully interact with a wide variety of people.

Work Environment:

• Moderate to high physical effort is required.
• Must be able to lift 50lbs.
• Ability to work outdoors during seasonal weather extremes while exercising personal safety awareness.
• Occasional weekends may be requested (seasonal events, summer watering).
• Safe use of hand and power tools required.
• Necessary safety equipment and risk assessment training will be provided.
• Valid ID will be required.