Greenhouse Assistant

Responsibilities:

• Aid Farm and Greenhouse leads in conducting day to day activities including but not limited to raising and transplanting seedlings in greenhouse and open field, maintaining them for a healthy uniform growth with proper and timely weeding, fertilization, irrigation, fungicide and pesticide applications etc., according to instructions.

• Sow research trials, crossing blocks, seed increases.

• Assist in harvesting, deseeding and other post-harvest activities for research and production activities, including cleaning the seed extraction machines between seed lots.

• Perform pesticide chemical sprays in greenhouse and open field environments.

• Monitor inventory of soil mix, fertilizer, seed disinfectants, bags, stakes, and other greenhouse and seed washing and treatment supplies. Communicate all order requests to Farm Coordinator.

• Assist in growing seedlings: monitoring germination, thinning flats, watering and fertilizing flats, hardening off flats, advising on pest problems.

• 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.

• Monitors plant conditions, growth stages, and diseases in field trials, reports the status to breeders and/or Station Manager, and takes necessary actions as needed or required.

• Perform preventive maintenance activities on a weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis to reduce wear and tear or breakdown of systems as it relates to the assigned activities. Follow control measures for exposure to hazardous materials or conditions.

• Communicate appropriate changes to facilities and systems to direct supervisor to help promote the growth of the strongest plants possible.

• Maintain drip irrigation system in the field and greenhouses, with support of and under the direction of the Farm Coordinator.

• Help in any other growing and farming activities.

• Support in the germination and tomato quality lab as needed.

• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards, programs and industry codes in accordance with federal, county and state agencies (CCR Title 8, EPA, RCRA, CERCLA, NFPA, and FDA) and regulations. Follow control measures for exposure to hazardous materials or conditions.

• Compliances to laws and regulations that apply to operations in chemical application and energy management.

• Responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for all employees. Ensure proper safety signage and measures are in place for greenhouses and fields.

• Act as a backup to facilities, in their absence, to include but not limited to scheduling and supervision of maintenance repair work and/or assisting in the functional operations of the facilities.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma.

• Two or more years of experience working with plants in the open field and/or greenhouse, transplanting field trials, repairing irrigation lines and harvesting stock seed plots. Comparable education will be considered.

• Must possess a valid California Driver’s license and maintain pesticide handling certification.

• Bilingual in Spanish, highly preferred.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $26.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Plant care: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $26