Field and Maintenance Crew Leader

The Field and Maintenance Crew Leader manages the day-to-day work associated with general field and greenhouse operations of the research campus, makes assignments to Field and Maintenance Workers, and also serves as a Field and Maintenance Worker, maintaining fruit trees, vines, and related plantings requiring the use of knowledge of fruit growing, operating manual, electrically-powered, diesel- or gasoline-powered farm machinery, tools, and equipment, applying chemicals used in fruit growing, performing routine and preventative maintenance and cleaning of farm machinery, equipment, and tools, making minor repairs within demonstrated capability, and performing other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

This position is only available to current, regular, full-time employees of Missouri State University.

Manual labor coupled with facilitating the managerial duties as you work alongside the field crew. Clearly communicating with the On-site Coordinator al field assignments as issued by faculty as well as the needs of the field crew.

Education: A high school diploma or the equivalent is required; two years of vocational agricultural training is preferred.

Experience: At least three years of work experience in farming, fruit growing, or a related agricultural area is required and least six months of work experience as a Field and Maintenance Worker on the Mountain Grove campus is required.

Skills: The ability to read English language sufficiently to understand written instructions from researchers as well as directions for the proper mixture, use, and disposal/storage of chemicals, fertilizers, and similar products used in fruit growing or agricultural work is required. Skill in the proper operation and maintenance of farm machinery, tractors, tools, and agricultural equipment is required. Knowledge and ability to drive farm tractors is required. Skill in the use of an arc welder and cutting torch is preferred.

License: Possession of a Missouri driver’s license is required. Possession of a public pesticide operator’s license is preferred.

Effort: The ability to work out-of-doors, year round, in all types of weather is required. The ability to lift and transport fruit growing or agricultural supplies and equipment weighing up to 70 pounds on a frequent basis and up to 100 pounds on an occasional basis is required. Prolonged walking and standing and frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, and reaching is required on a daily basis. A full range of physical motion Is required in order to operate manual, electrically-powered and diesel- or gasoline-powered farm machinery, tools, and equipment. The ability to access areas that may only be accessible by climbing ladders is required. The ability to move throughout the assigned area is required.

Other: The scope of the position requires exposure to and use of chemical compounds for application on trees, vines, fruit plants, and other agricultural products which may be hazardous and cause injury if specific instructions regarding their mixture, application, use, and disposal/storage are not followed properly.