Manager, Seed Sourcing & Processing SE

Company Description

Who Are We:

From a humble beginning in 1988 with six nurseries, PRT has grown into North America's largest grower of forest seedlings, having grown over 6 billion trees. With 27 Nurseries & 14 Seed Orchards across the US and Canada, we annually cultivate over 600 million high-quality seedlings, playing a vital role in reforestation and sustainable forestry. We're driven by a passion for environmental stewardship and a commitment to nurturing relationships, driving excellence, and fostering a people-first mindset, all to make a difference for a greener future.

Here's what you can expect when you join PRT

• Competitive Piece Rate Pay: Earn an hourly rate, or competitive piece rates, based on your performance as you become more efficient.
• Career Development & Learning: Grow your skills and advance your career with personalized guidance and a learning-focused culture that prioritizes continuous development.
• Stable, Inclusive & Collaborative Environment: Join a year-round stable company where your voice matters in a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Make a Difference for the Planet: Contribute to environmental sustainability and a passion for nature solutions

Check out our career video here!
 

Job Description

• Manager of Seed Sourcing & Processing
• Location: West Verbena, Alabama (with up to 40% travel across the Southeast and other regions)
• Reports To: VP of Southeast Operations

PRT is seeking a Manager, Seed Sourcing & Processing, SE to lead our critical seed processing and acquisition initiatives from our base in West Verbena, Alabama. This is a unique opportunity to build on a legacy, integrate a newly acquired seed company's assets, and design the operations for a super-modern facility—the largest of its kind in North America. This role is responsible for the integrity of our entire seed supply, from wild collection to final storage and testing, which is the foundation for all of our successful nursery programs.

What You'll Be Doing

As the Manager, you will be a strategic operational leader, securing the future of our forests by managing our most critical resource: seed.

Leadership And Operations:

• Lead and direct all seed processing, testing, quality control, and seed storage within the Southeast US region, driving continuous improvement across the operations.
• Provide direction, oversight, and training for the White City site and staff (4 direct reports), fostering a culture of efficiency and safety.
• Play a key role in the integration of the acquired seed company, including transferring equipment and processes to our new facility, ensuring a seamless transition.
• Ensure safety compliance and oversight during all seed processing and field activities for both employees and contractors.

Seed Acquisition And Sourcing:

• Direct and supervise wild seed collections across the Southeast and other regions to support nursery sales programs, managing the process from scouting and crop location to collection and delivery.
• Build and maintain a robust network of seed acquisition operations, including developing relationships with landowners and managing government bidding to secure critical seed crops.
• Oversee the entire seed processing cycle, including cone/seed drying, cleaning, and preparation for long-term frozen storage, to maximize germination viability.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders, including personnel in nurseries, orchards, and sales, and assign team resources to assist in nursery and orchard operations as needed.

Financial Management & Analysis:

• Manage financial performance, including developing and overseeing a significant purchasing budget.
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis for the seed operations, ensuring accurate Southeast seed inventory records.

More Than Just a Job

This is your chance to make a tangible impact on our planet. At PRT, you'll be part of a legacy that has planted over 6 billion trees! We're not just growing seedlings; we're cultivating a greener future, one tree at a time. This role offers the opportunity to bring existing expertise while training with the current owners of the acquired business, ensuring you gain critical real-world knowledge on every process before the full integration next year.

Salary: Competitive base + performance bonus, based on experience.

Qualifications

What You Bring to the Table

You come with seed experience and are an experienced operational leader with a passion for sustainable forestry, ready to take on high-level challenges in analysis, budgeting, and team leadership.

Top 5 Must-Haves:

1. 10+ years of related operations and leadership experience, with a strong focus on team management, coaching, and problem-solving/root cause analysis.
2. Proven expertise in budgeting and financial analysis, with the ability to manage and analyze large financial datasets.
3. Demonstrated success as a Relationship Builder, specifically in developing new networks with external partners like landowners or government agencies.
4. Strong planning, organization, and time management skills.
5. Proficiency in MS-Excel, MS-Word, and MS-Outlook.

Ideal Experience And Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree or diploma in Horticulture, Agriculture, or Forestry, or the equivalent.
• Experience in seed sourcing, processing, and testing is a strong asset. Experience with conifer seed (e.g., Southern Pine, Douglas Fir, Red Pine) or transferrable skills in the viability, storage, and cleaning of other seed products are highly valued.

Additional Information

Working Conditions: This position is based in West Verbena, Alabama, but requires frequent travel (up to 40% annually) across the Southeast and other regions for acquisition and collection phases. Work time is split between indoor office/processing plant environments and outdoors in forest settings under varying weather conditions. Physical demands include the ability to lift light to medium weight objects and periods of walking at operational sites. Workers may be exposed to machinery, equipment, and pesticides.

Next Steps:

Ready to grow your career with PRT?

To apply please send your resume directly to us through our career portal at; Grow Your Career | PRT Growing Services Ltd.

We embrace openness and different perspectives to challenge conventional approaches and continuously improve our company’s performance and progress. We believe that diversity of thought helps us drive innovation, make better decisions, achieve effective stewardship of our business and enable our people to thrive.

We encourage you to connect with us at human.resources@prt.com for more information about our accessible workplace, including disability accommodation for the recruitment process and beyond.

• Still Want to learn more?
• Follow us on Instagram: @TrustedToGrow, @IFCOSeedlings or

Facebook: @PRTGrowingServices

LinkedIn: @PRTGrowingServices, @IFCOSeedlings

•  Thank you for applying; however only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

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