Breeder Technician chez United Genetics Seeds Co.

Description

JOB PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

Assisting Head Technician and Plant Breeders with all greenhouse and field work

Duties and responsibilities

• Sow research trials, crossing blocks, seed increases. 
• Help grow seedlings: monitoring germination, thinning flats, watering and fertilizing flats, hardening off flats. Assist with transplanting seedlings to the greenhouse and field. 
• Care for plants in the greenhouse: watering, fertilizing, advising breeders of pest problems. Pollinate peppers and tomatoes for all greenhouse crossing blocks. 
• Prune and tie all plants in the greenhouse and indeterminate tomatoes in the field. 
• Cover peppers in the open field to protect them from cross pollination. 
• Harvest self-pollinated and cross-pollinated fruit in the greenhouse. 
• Harvest selections, foundation seed, and some stock seed increases in the field.
• Extract, wash, disinfect, dry, and package seed from all harvested fruit of all species, Including fruit of crossing blocks, foundation and stock seed increases. 
• Help monitor supplies of soil mix, fertilizer, seed disinfectants, bags, stakes, and other greenhouse and seed washing and treatment supplies. 
• Help in the germination and tomato quality lab as needed. 
• Weeding. 
• Install and run drip irrigation in the field. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

POSITION DIMENSIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Internal Contacts:   

Direct contact with Hollister Plant Breeders, Head Plant Breeding Technician, QA Manager

Education Level and Focus: 

Associate degree with related experience; bachelor’s degree preferred.

Years and Type of Related Experience Required: One to three years of research farm experience preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

Interpersonal and Communication: Provide information to department managers, supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates in person or by telephone. Develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them at all times. Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work, and identify the best people for the job. Identify problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. Manage own time and the time of others. Give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate.  

Technical and Analytical:   

Requires great attention to detail. Be able to develop detailed project schedules and foresee potential problems and solutions.

Administrative and Operations:   

Ability to work in stressful environment and meet deadlines.

Physical Demands: Deal calmly and effectively in a seasonally demanding work environment. Working flexible hours or over-time on short notice may be required. Must be able to work in the office and fields/greenhouses under various ambient conditions, particularly reduced air-quality and in periods of high temperatures possible exceeding 100 degrees F. Must be physically fit to walk, bend, kneel, squat, bend your neck, and lift up to 50 lbs.

Work Environment:   

Outdoor and greenhouse work with temperatures as low as 35 and as high as 100 degrees Farenheit, walk on uneven surface and often be exposed to chemicals.