Employer Washington State Department of Natural Resources Job Description, Responsibilities and Required Qualifications or Skills Bareroot Crop Manager, Natural Resource Specialist 3 (NRS3)Recruitment #2026-7-A185Full-time, Permanent, Represented position (WFSE)Location: Olympia, WASalary: $5,111.00 - $6,870.00 MonthlyReview of applications is ongoing. We reserve the right to make a hiring decision or close this recruitment at any time after 7/23/26. It is in your best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our Forest Resources Division as a Bareroot Crop Manager.The Bareroot Crop Manager is a senior member of the Webster Nursery grow team. This position performs a variety of crop care duties during all stages of seedling production for 10 to 15 million trees annually. This position reports to the Assistant Nursery Manager. The ideal candidate has previous professional work experience in large-scale commercial production of agricultural and/or horticultural products. Attention to detail is essential in our fast-paced production setting. Safety is critical to protect people, the seedling crop, equipment, and facilities. This position is for individuals who appreciate the challenges and rewards of large-scale plant production, enjoy being outdoors in all types of weather, and are active throughout their workday. Responsibilities:The incumbent works in collaboration with the Assistant Nursery Manager to provide efficient and timely production of targeted quantities of seedlings to meet DNR’s reforestation program.Monitors all steps in the production process for seed & seedling health. Tracks seedling development toward established targetsMaintains genetic identity of seedlings during all stages of the production process through accurate inventory, labelling integrity, and seedling quality.Engages in crop walks. Records and shares observations about field and plant conditions with senior-level nursery staff. Judges when to change work priorities, such as crops, labor availability, cultural conditions, and weather change. Organizes, directs, and executes seed care and cleaning activities and stratification in preparation for annual seed sowing. Uses specialized knowledge of conifer seed biology to achieve directed results. Oversees quality control program. Identifies shortfalls and weighs the business need for trees against the quality of the product. Make recommendations to change crop specifications to meet these needs.Researches, analyzes, and provides recommendations about new products to test to improve seedling culture and performance. Makes test applications. Records and follows up based on observations. Oversees, monitors, and assesses work performed by contract labor staff. Determines corrective action to assure work meets quality and performance expectations. Directs the work of assigned staff. Reviews work for quality and performance expectations. Required Qualifications: You must meet all the Required Qualifications and Competencies to be considered for this position. There are multiple pathways to meet qualifications, such as education, volunteer work, life skills, and experience. It is important that you clearly communicate in your application material that your skills align with the position and qualifications. Bachelor’s degree involving major study in forestry, horticulture, agriculture, crop sciences, or a closely related field AND 2 years of work experience in a related field;OR an equivalent combination of education and experience in a related field.Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Excel, and Teams.Supervisory experience.Desired Qualifications:These qualifications are not required. However, it can help you stand out as a candidate and should be highlighted in your application material.Ability to speak Spanish.Professional experience in large-scale production agriculture, horticulture, or a plant nursery.Conifer growing experience.Experience handling/growing crops from seed.Experience operating large farm equipment – i.e., tractor skills.Experience operating a forklift in a production and/or warehouse setting.Knowledge and experience working with computer database programs such as Access and Oracle.Pesticide License.Live within a 30-minute drive of the nursery to respond to occasional irrigation needs and on-site emergencies during extreme weather events. Job Field: Forestry Job Type: Full Time Location Detail: Webster Forest Nursery, Olympia, WA Salary: $61,332.00 - $82,440.00 Annually Job Benefits: DNR provides excellent benefits, a few of which include:Commitment to organizational health and wellnessWork/life balanceDNR Employee Resource Groups (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, Women’s Employee Resource Group, Veterans Employee Resource Group, etc.)Statewide Employee Business Resource Groups, visit here to learn moreLeadership that empowers and supports employeesProfessional development opportunitiesEducational and career development aidPublic Service Loan Forgiveness EligibilityOpportunities to participate in wildland fire suppression assignmentsA comprehensive benefits package includes employer contributions toward health insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, sick leave, and vacation days. Visit http://careers.wa.gov/benefits.html for more information. Application Deadline: Thu, 07/30/2026 - 12:00pm Link to Full Job Posting: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/5411887/bareroot-crop-ma…
