Nursery Manager – Cloud Mountain Farm Center --Everson

We are looking for a dynamic and plant inspired individual interested in managing our nursery. This is a full-charge management position requiring planning, forecasting, budgeting and nursery day-to-day management. The ideal candidate is self-motivated and has good management and communication skills.

Located in Everson, Washington, Cloud Mountain Farm Center is a non-profit production farm and agricultural education center whose mission is to build experience, knowledge and community to expand dynamic local food systems. We are dedicated to providing hands-on learning opportunities to new and experienced farmers as well as home gardeners.

On our 45-acre farm we grow nearly 200 varieties of fruits and vegetables, which we sell at our farm stand, at local farmer’s markets, and to local restaurants, caterers, grocers and Bellingham Food Bank. Cloud Mountain has a yearly new farmer intern program providing a comprehensive 8-month training course providing both academic and hands-on learning on the production farm.

Our nursery is considered small in scale with approximately 2.5 acres of growing area where we grow and sell hundreds of varieties of fruit and ornamental plants. The nursery offers community learning workshops, provides educational program opportunities for farm interns, and the earned income from the nursery serves as a primary source of funding for the Cloud Mountain Farm Center organization as a whole. The nursery is a key component of an integrated farm center.

 Nursery Manager

Primary Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the nursery, including staff management, plant care, managing retail spaces including farm stand, working with the public and managing customer service.
• Take a leadership role in long term planning and vision for the nursery business.
• Develop and manage maintenance of display and demonstration gardens.
• Work primarily outdoors and engage in physical work on a daily basis including moving potted trees, some mowing and tractor use.
• Participate in the daily maintenance and health of all nursery plant material in greenhouses, can yards, and retail sales space. Includes all aspects of water, fertility and pest management.
• Collaborate with Propagation Manager and other relevant staff in the ongoing development of retail plant selections and inventory.
• Know, understand and takes an interest in trends in sustainable farming practices and regional gardening.
• Show leadership and professional commitment to the Center’s goals of community, education and sustainability.
• Participate in Center events as needed.
• Manage, educate and inspire nursery support staff and interns in accomplishing all the above responsibilities.

Responsibilities as Part of an Education Center:

• Based on experience and interest, participate in teaching several programs to the public through our Community Learning Workshop series.
• Interest and ability in providing educational opportunities and programs to intern students and staff.
• Engage in the Center’s culture of education where we teach the community and each other.

 Skills and Experience:

For this position you must have the following abilities:

• Solid people management, leadership and training skills.
• Knowledgeable about woody ornamental and fruit plants.
• Experience growing plants in some professional form.
• Strong communication skills.
• Project planning and budgeting
• Organization skills.
• Able to do physical work—lifting and moving potted plants and trees.
• A positive “can-do” and team player attitude.

This is a long-term position with opportunity for responsibilities to expand

 Hours:

5 days/week including one weekend day.

Pay: D. O. E.

Please send resume to: Cloud Mountain Farm Center, 6906 Goodwin Rd., Everson, WA 98247 or email to