Nursery and Orchard Operations Manager

Help bring the American chestnut back to our forests.

SilvaBio is restoring the American chestnut and developing technologies to improve forest health and productivity. We’re seeking a dependable, hands-on manager to lead nursery, orchard, and fulfillment operations. You’ll take ownership, exercise sound judgment, and work alongside your crew.

This full-time, on-site role reports to our Chief Operating Officer.

What you’ll do

• Lead four to six seasonal employees: plan weekly work, train staff, maintain safe practices, and anticipate staffing, equipment, and supply needs.
• Oversee a 20-acre nut tree orchard and growing areas, including irrigation, fencing, mowing, weed control, equipment, and tree care.
• Organize production: maintain inventories, tags, and maps; coordinate field data collection, pollination, seed collection and storage, and seedling production.
• Coordinate greenhouse and lab staff, routine plant care, and plant movement, with technical guidance from our scientific team.
• Manage seedling packing, shipping, and order fulfillment, and coordinate crews planting trees at customer properties.

What you’ll bring

• 3+ years of supervisory or management experience.
• Practical experience in nurseries, orchards, landscaping, forestry, agriculture, greenhouses, or a related field.
• Strong work ethic, accountability, and reliable follow-through.
• Sound independent judgment, clear communication, and the ability to organize people and solve problems during busy seasons.
• Willingness to work alongside your crew and perform sustained outdoor work, including repeatedly lifting up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Comfort using tablets, spreadsheets, and basic scheduling and inventory tools.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between operating locations and customer planting sites.

Experience with irrigation, fencing, farm equipment, propagation, or shipping live plants is helpful. A college degree or equivalent practical experience is welcome.

Working at SilvaBio

Work spans our McGraw and Greene New York locations, outdoors and in greenhouses and indoor growing facilities. Seasonal demands may require early starts, occasional weekend work, and customer-site travel.

Interested?

Apply with your résumé and a brief note about your relevant experience and why this work interests you.

Pay: $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible schedule
• Relocation assistance

Experience:

• Tree or plant planting : 2 years (Required)
• Supervising others: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: In person