State Forest Nursery Technician

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking two State Forest Nursery Technicians to join the team at the State Forest Nursery. This is a unique opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors, operating equipment, leading crews, and seeing the tangible results of their work. Each year, the State Forest Nursery grows more than one million tree and shrub seedlings that are distributed to Iowans for conservation projects across the state.

These seedlings help establish wildlife habitat, protect water quality, reduce soil erosion, create windbreaks, restore native landscapes, and grow Iowa’s future forests. As a Nursery Technician, you’ll be involved in nearly every stage of producing those seedlings—from collecting seed and caring for young trees to harvesting, grading, packaging, and preparing seedlings for customers.

• Grow and care for tree and shrub seedlings by collecting and preparing seed, irrigating, fertilizing, mulching, controlling weeds, identifying potential pest issues, and applying pesticides and herbicides as directed.
• Operate specialized nursery and forestry equipment, including tractors, irrigation and spray equipment, forklifts, mowers, chainsaws, hand tools, trucks, and seedling lifting equipment.
• Help harvest more than one million seedlings annually, including undercutting and lifting seedlings from nursery beds and transporting them to grading and storage areas.
• Lead seasonal employees and inmate work crews in planting, nursery maintenance, grading, sorting, packaging, and shipping operations.
• Prepare seedlings for customers across Iowa by organizing cooler storage, coordinating grading and packaging, and assisting with shipping and transportation.
• Maintain nursery equipment, buildings, and grounds, including routine equipment maintenance, mowing, snow removal, and general facility upkeep.
• Support nursery operations and planning by maintaining records, databases, and spreadsheets; preparing reports and purchase orders; and purchasing necessary supplies and services.

The trees grown at the State Forest Nursery leave a lasting mark on Iowa. A seedling you help grow today could become part of a forest, wildlife habitat, stream buffer, windbreak, or conservation project that benefits Iowans for generations.

If you enjoy working outdoors, operating equipment, solving problems, leading others, and contributing directly to conservation, this position offers the opportunity to build a career while helping grow Iowa’s natural resources—literally.

• Must obtain a Class A Commercial Driver’s License within the first 6 months of employment
• Must obtain a Commercial Pesticide Applicators License within the first 3 months of employment.

• Collect, purchase, and prepare seed for storage and planting.
• Direct the work of seasonal and inmates labor in various cultural practices.
• Apply pesticides and herbicides to seedlings as directed by the Nursery Manager.
• Operate and maintain the irrigation system to ensure seedlings are watered properly.
• Direct the work of inmates and part-time staff in lifting, grading, and shipping seedlings.
• Operate equipment and vehicles in a safe manner equipment including hand tools, chainsaws, mowers, forklifts, and tractors.
• Maintain and organize equipment in proper working condition.
• Maintain records, databases, and spreadsheets for growing, grading, and shipping operations. Prepare purchase orders and reports for the Nursery Manager.
• Analyzes budgets and assists with fiscal management and budget planning.
• Purchase goods and services as needed to maintain operations.

Accountability, Integrity, High Productivity, Customer Focus, Interpersonal Skills, Team…