PRT, North America’s largest grower of forest seedlings, is hiring a Seed Orchard Specialist in West Verbena, Alabama, to join its cutting-edge seed processing facility. This hands-on role sits at the forefront of sustainable forestry, producing top-quality, genetically improved Southern Pine seed while operating and maintaining advanced seed processing equipment.
About PRT — Forestry & Reforestation Leader
Legacy: Grown from six nurseries in 1988 into a company that has produced over 6 billion trees
Scale: 27 nurseries and 14 seed orchards across the US and Canada
Production: Over 630 million high-quality seedlings cultivated annually
Mission: Driven by environmental stewardship and sustainable forestry practices
Career Growth & Opportunity Highlights
Strategic Location: West Verbena, Alabama — home to PRT’s new seed processing facility
Hands-On Skill Building: Direct experience with seed processing systems, tractors, forklifts, and boom lifts
Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive salary, matching 401K, health, vision, and dental coverage
Purpose-Driven Work: Contribute directly to reforestation and a greener future
Position Overview
This Seed Orchard Specialist role combines technical production work with hands-on machinery operation. You will assist the Seed Sourcing & Processing Manager in planning and overseeing all seed orchard activities, safely operate advanced seed processing systems, lead routine maintenance and equipment repairs, and help supervise Seed Orchard operations across Alabama — all while maintaining meticulous records that support future cone crops and pollen production.
Why This Role Matters: As Seed Orchard Specialist, you play a direct role in producing genetically improved Southern Pine seed that supports reforestation, combine mechanical troubleshooting skills with agricultural and forestry expertise, gain leadership experience supervising orchard teams, work with a stable, year-round employer investing in career development, and contribute to environmental sustainability at one of North America’s leading forestry companies.
Key Responsibilities
Seed Orchard Operations
- Assist in planning and overseeing orchard establishment, maintenance, and grafting operations
- Support fertilization, herbicide/insecticide applications, and Controlled Mass Pollination (CMP)
- Maintain meticulous records of cone harvest, CMP bagging, pollen inventory, and grafting maps
- Identify improvement opportunities to enhance safety, efficiency, and accuracy
Equipment Handling & Maintenance
- Safely operate tractors, forklifts, boom lifts, UTVs, and power tools
- Lead routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of seed processing equipment
- Maintain accurate service records for all equipment
- Regularly inspect orchard facilities to address housekeeping and safety concerns
Team Leadership & Development
- Foster a culture of safety and ensure adherence to PRT safety policies
- Supervise and coordinate activities of the Seed Orchards in Alabama
- Manage and report on contract labor crews
- Communicate key findings and improvement ideas to management
Collaboration & Reporting
- Collaborate with the Seed Sourcing & Processing Manager on capital plans and budgets
- Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Track progress against key production and timeline targets
- Work with internal and external resources to achieve production and research objectives
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or diploma in horticulture, agriculture, or forestry, or equivalent combination of education and experience
Essential Skills
- Excellent mechanical skills, including diagnosing and repairing minor breakdowns
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Proficiency with Excel, Word, Outlook, and Epicor
- Strong time management skills with ability to prioritize and multitask
- Practical skills operating seed processing equipment, forklifts, tractors, and UTVs
- Reliability and flexibility to work full-time, including weekends during peak seasons
About the Employer
PRT began in 1988 with six nurseries and has grown into North America’s largest grower of forest seedlings, cultivating over 630 million seedlings annually across 27 nurseries and 14 seed orchards in the US and Canada. Guided by a people-first mindset and a passion for environmental stewardship, PRT offers competitive compensation, a matching 401K program, comprehensive health coverage, and a stable, collaborative, year-round work environment.
Career Excellence: Combine mechanical skill with a passion for forestry at a company shaping a greener future.
Who Should Apply?
- Forestry & Agriculture Graduates: With mechanical aptitude seeking hands-on field experience
- Mechanically Skilled Professionals: Comfortable diagnosing and repairing equipment breakdowns
- Field Operations Leaders: Ready to supervise orchard teams and contract labor crews
- Environmental Stewardship Enthusiasts: Passionate about reforestation and sustainable forestry
- Equipment Operators: Experienced with tractors, forklifts, boom lifts, and UTVs
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