Greenhouse and Facilities Assistant

JOB PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

Assist Farm Manager in the production of high-quality field and greenhouse grown vegetables to the standards and expectations established by the Research, Foundation and Stock Seed, and Production teams, both internally and externally, with contracted growers. In this position, the individual will conduct activities which promote uniform and consistent plant growth in field and greenhouse growing environments and promote uniformity and genetic integrity of parent and hybrid seed. This position will also assist the Head Breeding Technician, Farm Manager and Plant Breeders with all greenhouse and field work.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Aid Farm & 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 & 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 health, growth stages, and diseases presence in field trials, reports findings 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.
• Assist with additional growing and farming tasks as assigned by management.
• 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION DIMENSIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Internal Contacts: Farm Coordinator, R&D staff, Supply Chain Director and Manager, Farm Crew and QA & Plant Health Manager.

External Contacts: Contract laborers and other contractors.

Education Level and Focus: High School Diploma. Must possess a valid California Driver’s license and maintain pesticide handling certification. Bilingual in Spanish, highly preferred. Two or more years 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.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Interpersonal and Communication: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintaining them at all times. Identify problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. 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. Analytical mind to recognize and apply the fundamental skills and working knowledge of concepts, practices and procedures necessary for fulfilling responsibilities.

Administrative and Operations: Be able to manage your own time and the time of others to accomplish daily/short term goals.

Physical Demands: Participate in constructive feedback. 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 seed extraction area, equipment shed, and fields/greenhouses under extreme weather conditions. Must be physically fit to walk, bend, kneel, squat, bend your neck, and lift up to 50 lbs. Agro-industrial and lab chemicals are sustainably used on site in compliance and in accordance to regulations.

Work Environment: Outdoor and greenhouse work with temperatures close to 100 degrees, walk on uneven surface and often be exposed to chemical.

Special Equipment Used: Forklifts, sprayers, fruit grinders/seed extractors, Seed dryer, seed humidity tester, growth chamber, pH meter, brix meter, colorimeter, durometer.