The Nursery Manager will contribute to the establishment and development of the nursery and manage its operations. The Nursery Manager will also participate in broader WCF planning, training, reconciliation and partnership activities including working with the Refugee Employment Pathways Coordinator and WCF Conservation, Urban Farming and Cultural Leads.

WCC’s establishment of a social enterprise native nursery - Nugal Biik Plants and Seeds is a key activity for the broader Wollert Community Farm development. The nursery will be a grown to order production nursery producing tube stock to supply regional revegetation and landscaping projects, with an emphasis on local indigenous species. Species will range from hardy natives for landscaping, to species needed for EVC specific revegetation works and threatened species reintroductions. Nursery infrastructure is being built over the first half of 2023, with capacity for annual production of 450,000 tube stock and plans for future expansion. The first production season will occur over summer 23/24, with plants available for delivery from late autumn 2024.

Overview of Duties

Preparation and planning

The focus of the first 6-9 months will be:

• Finalising nursery infrastructure, incl. irrigation systems
• Procurement of nursery equipment and inputs
• Developing a climate positive framework for nursery operations
• Operational Planning
• Developing a Marketing Plan with the WCF Team Leader and Social Enterprise Advisor
• Commissioning greenhouses and testing systems
• Sourcing and implementing business management systems
• Setting up nursery for operations

Operations

• Establish operational strategies and procedures
• Oversee day to day operations of the production nursery
• Ensure high quality products and customer service

Staffing

• Recruit nursery hands as required
• Provide regular supervision and day to day management and support of nursery hands

Collaboration

• Facilitate linkages with other WCC initiatives and groups
• Attend regular Wollert Community Farm team meetings, and bi-monthly partnership Project Forum
• Work with the WCF Team Leader, Refugee Employment Pathways Coordinator and WCF Conservation, Urban Farming and Cultural Leads to advance the project as a whole
• Contribute to the program logic and development of an evaluation framework, key indicators and measures relating to Farm activities and participation
• Work with Conservation Lead to develop a Seed Production Area
• Work with the Refugee Employment Pathways Coordinator to develop nursery work experiences for training participants
• Create opportunities for volunteers and community groups to benefit from Nursery infrastructure, resources, and projects where possible and with the support of other Farm team members
• Identify potential partnerships and funding sources to support the expansion of the Nursery

If you have these key attributes then please apply or get in touch to discuss the role

• Tertiary qualifications and/or demonstrated experience in the management of a nursery, particularly one focused on indigenous plants
• Combination of technical skills (plant health and production) and business and people management skills an advantage
• Experience in establishing and growing a new nursery or related business/enterprise

• Demonstrated stakeholder management
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including effective communication, negotiation, facilitation, verbal and written presentation skills and team work.

• Demonstrated capacity for resourcefulness and self-motivation

To discuss the role please contact Viktor Faulknor (Tuesday to Friday) on [email protected] (using the subject line: Indigenous Plant Nursery Manager - Nugal Biik Plants and Seeds enquiry via EthicalJobs) or 0483 294 547 anytime after he returns from leave on 24th January 2023.

A position description is attached.