Field Workers and Nursery Assistant

We are recruiting for two roles:

• Multiple Field Workers for our revegetation and habitat restoration crew
• One Nursery Assistant (role may be in combination with field work).

Location: Depot based in Strathalbyn, nurseries located in Mount Barker, Clayton Bay and Goolwa. Field work sites are primarily Fleurieu Peninsula, South Coast, Eastern Hills and Murraylands.

Employment type: Casual, 5 days per week preferred. Seasonal but may have further opportunities for the right people.

Rate: Follows Gardening and Landscaping award. Typically in line with level 3 but may vary with experience

Start date: Immediate

About us

Second Nature Conservancy Inc. is a successful non-profit, non-governmental organisation, established in 1998 as Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Association. We are dedicated to restoring biodiversity and sustainably managing natural resources.

Our field crew carry out a number of environmental management tasks including revegetation, weed control and site maintenance. We also manage nurseries at Mount Barker, Clayton Bay and Goolwa that produce local native tubestock for our own restoration projects, external orders and retail sales.

About the roles

These roles are practical, hands-on outdoor and nursery work and involve manual handling, working in all weather and using tools and machinery. We are looking for fit and enthusiastic individuals with a passion for nature to join our team, with the potential for further work.

Field Workers (multiple positions)

Typical tasks include:

• tree planting, including operating petrol-powered augers
• weed control, such as knapsack spraying and drill and fill
• watering and brush cutting
• assist with a variety of other tasks from time to time including reed planting, hand seeding, mulching and fencing
• assisting as needed in our plant nurseries

Availability of five days per week is preferred.

Nursery Assistant (one position)

Primarily working alongside our experienced nursery managers across all three nurseries learning the trade of wholesale and retail native plant nursery production and management on the job. Duties include:

• plant propagation including pricking out and cuttings
• watering, weeding
• general nursery maintenance including irrigation
• preparing plant orders for projects and sales
• seed collection, handling, storage and management

Availability of three or more days per week is preferred. This casual position could also be combined with general field work duties (as described above) depending on availability and nursery requirements.

What we are looking for

Strong candidates will be motivated to help restore and reconstruct habitat for native flora and fauna conservation through hands-on field and nursery work. You will have a strong work ethic, interest in nature and experience working as a member of a team to achieve targets. Ideally, you will have knowledge of local native plant species and common weed species and familiarity with the Mount Lofty Ranges and surrounding landscapes of South Australia. Some training and instruction are provided.

Field Worker applicants with experience working in farming, horticulture, landscaping or land management will be well suited to this role. Qualifications such as Cert II or III in Conservation and Land Management (CLM) or similar, nursery experience, ChemCert and Pest Management Technician Licence would be highly regarded.

Ideal candidates for the Nursery Assistant role will have Horticultural or Conservation education, a keen eye for South Australian indigenous flora species and a genuine interest in working in the Environmental field services delivery sector as a career. They may already be working at a nursery, undertaking studies or growing their own plants.

Essential (both roles)

• Ability to achieve output and quality targets
• Ability to work outdoors in varied terrain
• Ability to work constructively as part of a team and take direction
• Physically fit
• Self-motivated and enthusiastic
• Current driver’s licence
• Willingness to work outdoors across all seasons within challenging conditions, variable terrains and dynamic weather to meet outputs and goals
• Comfortable undertaking repetitive movements and actions pertaining to nursery and field-based activities on a day-to-day basis
• Punctual, honest and reliable
• Possess good initiative and attention to detail

Desirable (both roles)

• Knowledge of Native flora including field identification skills
• Knowledge of South Australian vegetation communities
• Experience or Qualifications in Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management, Environmental Science or a similar field
• Experienced with herbicide application / ChemCert / Pest Technician Licence
• Brushcutter or chainsaw experience
• Skills/experience operating 4x4 vehicles and trailers
• Working knowledge of revegetation techniques

Additional desirable for Nursery Assistant

• Wholesale Nursery production experience
• Able to work under limited supervision to achieve set targets
• Demonstrated experience serving and dealing with customers in a retail setting including money handling responsibilities
• An interest in learning or building your horticultural and nursery production skills

• Please forward a one-page letter outlining your relevant abilities, skills and knowledge to successfully undertake the role as described above (indicating which role/s you are applying for), along with your current resume, outlining your relevant work experience and referees to: jobs@secondnature.org.au
• Applications are sought as soon as possible and will be assessed as they are received. Interviews may commence prior to the closing date.

Please submit no later than 5PM Friday 20th November.

For queries relating to the role, please email jobs@secondnature.org.au