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DAINTREE NATIVE NURSERY MANAGER
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The purpose of the position is to help protect and conserve the unprotected lowland Daintree Rainforest
through reforestation and to provide excellent native trees as products for restoration services and partners in the region. The role is based at the Rainforest Rescue Daintree native nursery. The focus of the position is to manage the nursery and nursery staff and support Rainforest Rescue's conservation and community
engagement efforts in the wider Daintree area.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage all aspects of the nursery, including staff management; seed collection and propagation; plant
maintenance; invasive species and pest management; and maintenance of nursery facilities. The role
involves engaging and supervising volunteers and the local community in the work of the nursery and wider
conservation of the Daintree Rainforest. Nursery expansion planning and implementation is also a key
responsibility.
KEY RESULT AREAS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
1. People Leadership and Volunteer Management
• Staff management, including seed collectors and general nursery workers.
• Staff training and mentorship.
• Volunteer management.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful and psychologically safe nursery environment in which staff feel able to
raise ideas, questions and concerns, and model Rainforest Rescue's values in day-to-day conduct.
• Actively develop staff and share learning and development opportunities across the team, enabling staff to take on responsibility and grow.
• Receive and act on feedback constructively, including feedback from staff, colleagues and external
experts, and support a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• The manager actively contributes to and strengthens Rainforest Rescue's culture: staff report feeling
supported, heard and able to raise ideas and concerns; feedback flows in both directions, including with
colleagues and external experts; and the nursery operates as an integrated part of the wider organisation
rather than in isolation.
2. Nursery Operations, Production and Inventory
• Seed collection and propagation, ensuring only appropriate provenance.
• Nursery maintenance, including security of resources on site; management of watering; pest and weed
management; and handling and use of fertilisers and potting mix.
• Preparation and management of dispatch of plants.
• Manage ramping up the nursery to the design capacity of 150,000 seedlings per year.
• Manage all plant orders through each phase from seed collection to dispatch and delivery.
• Keep the nursery in top shape for the best public face.
• Manage nursery inventory throughout all cycles, including seed collection, propagation, potting, shade
house, hardening area and dispatch.
3. Continuous Improvement, Sustainability, Facilities and Assets
• Optimisation of nursery practices and processes to reduce cost and increase efficiencies whilst
maintaining high restoration seedling quality.
• When possible, use non-chemical alternatives to chemical/synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers.
• Ensure commitment to sustainable nursery practices.
• Track, manage and maintain all equipment at the nursery including but not limited to nursery ute,
generator and solar system.
4. Work Health and Safety, Risk and Biosecurity
• Maintain and update a risk assessment and ensure WHS within the workplace.
• Manage biosecurity risks for the nursery.
• Maintain and manage a risk register.
5. Collaboration, Community and Stakeholder Engagement
• Collaborate with RR staff, including the Land Manager and Biodiversity and Nature Impact Lead, and
external experts to optimise nursery operations.
• Community engagement, including involving locals and local entities in nursery activities.
• Provide avenues for engaging media, supporters and the public at and through the nursery.
• Organise the annual community tree planting day in collaboration with the Land Manager.
• Support the Partnership Director with grant applications and acquittals when required.
• Provide content and support social media post reviews when possible.
6. Collaboration, Community and Stakeholder Engagement (continued)
• Run nursery tours for supporters and interested parties.
• Represent Rainforest Rescue (RR) within the community as part of our team.
rainforestrescue.org.au Page 3
• Liaise with other Rainforest Rescue staff and with nursery suppliers, customers, business partners and
donors.
• Maintain a positive working relationship with RR partners.
7. Reporting and Recordkeeping
• Keep records of seed collection, propagation and dispatch.
• Attend a fortnightly meeting with the General Manager, Finance and Operations.
• Provide a monthly report detailing outcomes, any new initiatives and general information on the running of the nursery.
• Provide quarterly contributions to the Board report on nursery operations.
• Maintain records of seeds harvested, including dates and locations.
• Maintain records of trees sent out for planting.
SELECTION CRITERIA - ESSENTIAL
• Demonstrated experience in a native plant nursery, horticulture, plant propagation, ecological restoration or
a related field, with practical knowledge of seed collection, propagation, plant health and appropriate
provenance.
• A relevant qualification in horticulture and/or nursery production.
• Experience supervising and developing staff and/or volunteers, including training, mentoring and day-to-day
work planning.
• Demonstrated ability to manage nursery production workflows, including plant orders, inventory, dispatch, facilities, equipment and competing operational priorities.
• Working knowledge of work health and safety, risk management and biosecurity requirements in an
operational workplace.
• Strong organisational, recordkeeping and reporting skills, including the ability to maintain accurate
operational and production records.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and represent
Rainforest Rescue warmly with community members, suppliers, customers, partners, donors, supporters,
external experts and media representatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to sustainable nursery practices and Rainforest Rescue's values.
• Genuine commitment to Rainforest Rescue's conservation mission, and a collaborative, low-ego approach: able to defer to colleagues' expertise, share credit and opportunity, take feedback without defensiveness, and put the team and the mission ahead of individual control.
SELECTION CRITERIA - DESIRABLE
• Knowledge of Wet Tropics and/or Daintree lowland rainforest species, native seed collection and local
provenance.
• Experience scaling nursery production or implementing nursery expansion and capacity growth.
• Experience supporting ecological restoration or surveys, community tree-planting and engagement
activities, grant applications/acquittals and/or communications activities.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
• Some travel and out-of-hours work may be required.
• First Aid Certificate
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your CV and a cover letter to [email protected] outlining your relevant experience, skills and interest in the Daintree Native Nursery Manager role.
In your cover letter, please address how your experience aligns with the key requirements of the position, particularly your experience in native plant nursery operations, horticulture or ecological restoration, and in supervising and developing staff and/or volunteers.
Please note: As a small charity with limited capacity, we are unable to respond to telephone enquiries about this position. Please do not call regarding your application. Thank you for your understanding.
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Rainforest Rescue
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Rainforest Rescue
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Cow Bay
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[email protected]
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18.08.2026 15:31
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