06/01/1989 54416

FOREST NURSERY OPERATIONS MANAGER

NATURE OF WORK: This is professional forestry and managerial work directing the activities of the forest tree nurseries, Wood Shop, and Sign Shop in the Department of Environmental Resources. The Forest Nursery Operations Manager plans, schedules, develops, directs, coordinates, and evaluates program activities designed to grow forest tree seedlings, manufacture picnic tables, manufacture aluminum-backed and wood-routed signs, and other specialty items.

DEFINITION: The employee in this class directs, through subordinate managers, the planning, scheduling, development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of program activities involving the planting, cultivation, harvesting, and shipping of forest tree seedlings at the forest tree nurseries; and the production of picnic tables at the Penn Nursery Wood Shop; and aluminum-backed and wood-routed signs at the Sign Shop at Penn Nursery. Work involves determining and setting production goals, objectives, and priorities; coordinating the scheduling of activities and the assignment of resources to ensure that production goals, objectives, and priorities will be met. Work involves preparing and submitting budgetary requests for all the organization units; allocating fiscal, human, and other resources; directing the purchase, storage, and proper utilization of needed goods and services; conducting periodic evaluations on the effectiveness of the services and products produced by each organizational unit; and determining and implementing changes designed to improve the unit's operations and cost effectiveness. Work includes meeting with nursery research personnel within the Department and educational institutions to discuss problems, their solutions, or the unit's participation in research studies; and directing the conduct of tours of the facilities. Work is assigned through desired production goals, objectives, and priorities and the employee exercises considerable freedom and independent judgment in determining specific production goals, objectives, and priorities. Work is performed with independence and is reviewed upon completion by a professional superior for attainment of production goals, objectives, and priorities; technical accuracy; and quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Directs, through subordinate managers, the planning, scheduling, development, implementation, coordination and evaluation of program activities involving the planting, cultivation, harvesting and shipping of forest tree seedlings at the forest tree nurseries; the design, manufacture, and shipping of aluminum-backed and wood-routed signs at the Penn Nursery Sign Shop; and the design, manufacture, and shipping of picnic tables and other wood products at the Penn Nursery Wood Shop.

Determines and sets production goals, objectives, and priorities; and meets with subordinate managers to discuss production needs and to ensure they understand the production goals, objectives, and priorities.

Meets with subordinate managers to discuss problems and issues and to seek their resolution; meets with subordinate managers to discuss changes to goals, objectives, and priorities and to ensure they will be met.

Conducts periodic evaluations of the work units to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the goods, services, or products produced by the organization; and determines and implements changes designed to improve the organizational unit's effectiveness and cost-efficiency.

Meets with nursery research personnel within the Department and the educational institutions to discuss nursery problems or the unit's participation in research studies.

Directs the planning, scheduling, and the conducting of tours of the facilities to ensure that the operations will not be severely impaired.

Plans, schedules, organizes, and assigns work; determines work flow; and reviews work.

Reviews and evaluates reports, correspondence, and memoranda to determine program trends and work being performed; and to ensure that goals, objectives, and priorities are met.

Prepares letters, memoranda, correspondence, reports, and other written material as required.

Serves as a Forest Officer and enforces forest rules and regulations on Commonwealth owned forest lands.

Operates a motor vehicle to travel to various work sites.

Performs similar work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing nursery operations.

Knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, and practices of forestry operations.

Knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, and practices relating to forest tree nursery development, operation, maintenance, and management.

Knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, and practices relating to forest tree seedling development, planting, cultivating, harvesting, storage, and shipping.

Knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, and practices relating to the design, manufacture, and shipping of wood-routed and aluminum-backed signs.

Knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, and priorities relating to the design, manufacture, storage, and shipping of wood products.

Knowledge of the basic principles, methods, techniques, and practices of carpentry, electrical, plumbing, other construction trades and the automotive mechanic trade relating to the repair and maintenance of nursery structure, buildings, facilities, and equipment.

Knowledge of the various kinds, dimensions, and grades of lumbers.

Knowledge of the materials used in the manufacture of aluminum- backed signs.

Knowledge of the collective bargaining unit agreements applicable to the work performed by the units.

Knowledge of the safety precautions required for the work performed by the units.

Skill in the supervision employees.

Ability to plan, schedule, develop, implement, coordinate, and evaluate program activities.

Ability to develop program production goals, objectives, and priorities and to coordinate program activities to ensure their attainment.

Ability to coordinate the planning, scheduling, and conduct of program activities including the assignment of fiscal, personnel, and equipment resources to ensure program production goals, objectives, and priorities are met.

Ability to coordinate the activities of the units, to resolve problems between and within the units, and to coordinate the activities of the units with other organizational units.

Ability to plan, organize, and assign work to subordinates.

Ability to establish performance standards, evaluate employee performance, prepare performance evaluation reports, and discuss reports with subordinates.

Ability to read, understand, and interpret collective bargaining unit agreements and to ensure employees receive all their entitlements.

Ability to read and interpret administrative and technical program rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards for subordinates.

Ability to perform mathematical calculations utilized in the electrical, carpentry, plumbing, and other construction trades and the automotive mechanic trade as well as nursery operations.

Ability to express ideas both orally and in writing, including the ability to prepare letters, correspondence, memoranda, reports and other written material.

Ability to read, interpret, and understand blueprints, drawings, schematics, and technical material relating to the carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and other construction trades, and the automotive mechanic trade.

Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with subordinates, superiors, Commonwealth officials, and the public.

Ability to operate motor vehicles to travel to various work sites.

Sufficient physical strength and stamina to permit walking long distances in rough terrain and directing forest fire fighting activities.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years of experience as a Forest Nursery Manager;

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Any equivalent combination of experience and training which affords the applicant the required knowledges, skills, and abilities.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license, of the proper class for the vehicles operated, as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.