Seasonal Nursery & Seed Orchard Labourer
About The Position
Western Forest Products is currently hiring for Seasonal Labourers at our Saanich Forestry Centre in Saanichton. Multiple positions available! The Saanich Forestry Centre operation, established in 1964, is the start of everything Western does. The facility on East Saanich Road features seed orchards and a forest-seedling nursery; it produces on average 15 million seeds and 4 million seedlings annually. The seeds are used to grow Douglas fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, yellow cypress and Sitka spruce. The seedlings are used in Western’s operations around the coast. You’ll be a key team member at our Saanich Forest Centre where we grow millions of tree seedlings every year to be planted at our operations on the Coast. You would work as part of a team to maintain our seed orchards and nursery green houses, doing tasks such as planting, mulching, and caring for trees. You will handle, quality grade and package seedlings and perform a variety of other tasks relevant to greenhouse maintenance.
Requirements
- Excellent safety record and demonstrated commitment to safety
- Demonstrated ability to work both as part of a team and with minimal supervision
- Accountable and dependable
- Adaptable to work in all weather conditions
- Capable to sustain repetitive and physical tasks for 8 hours
- Capable to lift up to 23 kg (50 lb) unaided
- Able to physically climb up and down ladders
- Positive attitude
- Open to learning new skills
- Clean and organized
Nice To Haves
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s License
- Mobile equipment certification/experience such as forklift and manlift
- First aid training/WHMIS preferred
- Previous greenhouse/orchard experience an asset
Responsibilities
- Cone harvesting using a ladder
- Harvesting vegetative material with hand clippers
- Collecting and applying pollen
- Working in a team environment to extract seedlings from greenhouses
- Handling, quality grading and packaging of seedlings
- Lifting and carrying of full seedlings boxes for transport
- Greenhouse end-of-season clean-up
- Prepping and sowing (planting) of seeds
- Bending and lifting of blocks of growing seedlings
- Thinning extra seedlings out of growing blocks
- Greenhouse maintenance
- Planting, mulching and otherwise caring for trees
- Hand weeding
- Maintaining infrastructure such as fences, ditches and irrigation systems
Benefits
- Starting hourly wage rate $20.25, + performance-based incentives
- Health and dental benefits (offered on longer term contracts)
- On the job training - no experience is needed for this role; we are willing to train candidates who have a positive attitude and are eager to learn!
- Fun and supportive team environment with a safety-first work culture
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
