Nursery/ Tree Farm Equipment Operator

**Ferguson Tree Nursery** is looking for an equipment operator who, under the direction of the Section Grower Bareroot, will primarily work in the bareroot nursery operations but will also support the greenhouse operations as needed.

**Your Role**:
As part of a team, you will work with others to plan and execute the work required to grow healthy, high quality trees and shrubs. Once the plan is set, you will often be taking your equipment to the fields and working independently to execute the plan. At other times, you will work with a team and sometimes even lead a team to get tasks completed. There is a lot of variety during the growing season, but some key duties will include:

- Seeding of all bareroot products in the field
- Transplanting of bareroot seedlings, greenhouses seedlings and cuttings
- Assist with irrigation of field crops
- Cutting production including pruning, harvesting and packaging
- Mechanical weed control
- Operates mid-size tractors, with 3 point hitch and PTO-driven implements and other assorted nursery

equipment
- Perform regular maintenance on tractors and assorted implements
- Assists on inventory of all field crops
- Other duties as assigned

**Are you up for the challenge?**

In order to succeed in this position, you will possess training, knowledge and experience in the relevanttasks mentioned above:

- You are an experienced farm equipment operator particularly using clutch-driven mid-size tractors

with 3 point hitch and PTO driven implements
- You are physically capable of doing the duties identified and repeatedly lifting products weighing up to25kg
- You have the ability to work alone or in a team environment, are self-motivated and can take direction and follow through on executing tasks. When taking the lead on task, you are able to provide clear direction to others and managing tasks efficiently and on schedule
- Ability to work full time hours with some variations to schedule due to weather and work load (early starts due to heat, longer hours during harvesting and shipping, time off due to inclement weather)
- Ability to work weekends during spring harvest as well as a flexible work schedule as a result of either production needs or climatic conditions.
- Ability to work in various climatic conditions including rain, heat and cold
- Willing to follow all appropriate laws and nursery policies
- G class license with clean driving record

**What we Offer**:
Ferguson Tree Nursery provides a collaborative, team-oriented work environment with an interesting
variety of tasks plus the opportunity to work in a field that is promoting sustainable forestry and
contributes to increasing tree planting in Ontario and beyond.

Ferguson Tree Nursery provides a competitive wage between $21-$25/hour depending on experience. In addition, we offer a boot/clothing allowance.

This position is an 8-9-month seasonal contract typically from mid-March to mid-November or mid-December and off in the winter months. Normal work hours are 8am till 4:30pm, 5-days a week.
Summer hours are 7am till 3:30pm to reduce staff’s exposure to the heat. Alternative work schedules may be followed depending on production needs, climate or staffing needs. For example, during the busiest season, typically April to early May for the spring tree lift and May-June for seeding and transplanting, some extended hours may be required. Shifts may extend up to 10-hour days, 6 days a week.

**To Apply