Administrator III Supervisor

Forest Service • Caroline, MD

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service is hiring a Nursery Manager for the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery in Preston, Maryland. The nursery produces approximately 3 million seedlings across more than 50 species annually for reforestation, restoration, and tree-planting programs throughout Maryland. The position leads the nursery’s administration and operations, supporting the Forest Service mission by supplying high-quality, locally appropriate seedlings for conservation and forestry projects.

The manager supervises permanent, seasonal, and contractual staff; establishes annual production and staffing priorities; manages budgets, purchasing, and contracts; and oversees seed collection and processing, seedling production, inventory, customer orders, sales, and distribution. The position also establishes production and planting plans, manages nursery facilities and specialized equipment, and provides technical information to customers and partners. The manager coordinates with Forest Service programs and partners to forecast demand and align production with statewide needs, while balancing crop conditions, labor, equipment, customer demand, and available funding. Work includes regular outdoor activity around agricultural and nursery equipment, particularly during seasonal production periods.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
• Six years of administrative staff or professional work, subject to the listed education, college-credit, or military-service substitutions.
• Applicants not using a substitution to meet the minimum qualifications must have one year of experience with tree seedling production, seed collection or processing, propagation, or other nursery production activities.
• A valid motor vehicle operator’s license in Maryland is required if assigned duties require operating a motor vehicle.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing nursery, agricultural, horticultural, forestry, or comparable production operations.
• Experience supervising permanent, seasonal, and/or contractual staff.
• Experience managing budgets, purchasing, procurement, contracts, or equipment replacement needs.
• Experience managing customer orders, sales, inventory, or distribution in a production or service operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall administration and operation of the John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery.
• Supervise permanent, seasonal, and contractual staff.
• Establish annual production, planting, and staffing plans and priorities.
• Manage nursery budgets, purchasing, procurement, and contracts.
• Oversee seed collection and processing, seedling production, inventory, customer ordering, sales, and distribution.
• Manage nursery facilities, specialized equipment, and production systems, ensuring they are maintained and operated safely.
• Coordinate with Forest Service programs and partners to forecast demand and align production with statewide needs.
• Provide technical information to customers and partners.
• Balance crop conditions, labor, equipment, customer demand, and available funding.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED