Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Plant Growth Facilities Professional to join our team. The incumbent oversees all daily operations for any assigned Plant Growth Facilities (PGF) subset located within the University of Georgia Athens Campus and executes regular maintenance and upkeep tasks to ensure research integrity, user safety, and support teaching efforts. The employee will be part of a team of individuals with similar assignments and is encouraged to contribute in a collaborative manner with fellow PGF personnel.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA UGAJOBS: https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/381352

Minimum Qualifications:

Requires technical knowledge in the field acquired through an apprenticeship, a 2-year degree, or professional certificate.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies:

Knowledge of plant growth and pest management practices in controlled environment agriculture.
Sufficient technical skills to successfully maintain and operate greenhouse equipment, environmental controls, and growth chambers.
Cooperative and helpful to ongoing research and greenhouse users, as well as able to supervise and motivate employees.
Available on-site during normal working hours and may perform occasional weekend work and assist in emergencies to ensure optimum plant growth.
Supervise, direct, and train part-time labor and hourly student workers. The incumbent reports to the Plant Growth Facilities Superintendent.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Active, physical position.
Some lifting of fertilizer bags, soil mix containers, and other greenhouse supplies.
Shoveling quantities of soil into mixers and moving the soil after mixing and sterilization, operating equipment, and moving pots and plants, all in a warm, humid greenhouse environment.
Pesticide application necessitates wearing the appropriate protective gear and carrying spray equipment through the greenhouses.
Driving as needed to perform job duties.

Facilities and Equipment Maintenance:

Monitor and maintain the structure, components, function, and cleanliness of all assigned headhouses, greenhouses, and growth chambers to promote the safety of faculty, students, staff, and visitors, and to preserve and protect all research projects and the integrity of the data.
Maintain outdoor spaces within the PGF facility in a clean and orderly fashion by addressing pest and pathogen threats and keeping areas free and clear of waste or unused and obsolete equipment and consumables.
Maintain greenhouses, growth chambers, vehicles, and other equipment in a safe and working condition.
Tasks may involve occasional weekend work, assisting with holiday watering rotations, and responding to emergencies. Seasonal hourly laborers and student workers may require assistance and training for weekend and holiday watering under the incumbent’s direction.

Ongoing Research Support:

Conduct daily monitoring and scouting for pests and diseases and apply pesticides as needed, including restricted-use pesticides.
Assist in biological pest control program and work towards the vision of sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
Maintain pesticide application log, biological control log, MSD sheets, and other relevant information on the PGF shared drive.
Monitor greenhouse and growth chambers to ensure that environmental controls are working and that proper growing conditions are achievable; report aberrant findings to the PGF Superintendent.
Assist in project-specific cleaning, fertilization, pest management, harvest, disposal, and other tasks in coordination with the PGF Superintendent.

Research Coordination and Consulting:

Implement additional tasks, ideas, and priorities aimed at enhancing the user experience for faculty and students.
Interact with faculty, students and staff in a friendly and helpful manner, answering questions regarding PGF policies and the utilization of available resources.
Provide training to PGF users on safety guidelines and offer limited technical support for research project design and implementation assistance.
Promptly inform the PGF superintendent of the any additional space requests from labs.

Shared Resource Coordination:

Inventory and monitor the use of shared resources including soil, fertilizer, pesticides, PPE, pots, tools and related materials.
Maintain regular communication and coordination with other CAES-PGF Professionals and inform the PGF Superintendent regarding material and inventory acquisition, storage inquiries, and disposal of inventory items.
Regularly communicate with the Plant Growth Facilities Superintendent and other Growth Facilities Professionals regarding shared use of equipment, updates on assets condition, repair and maintenance needs, supply requests, policy and procedure updates, recommendations, and concerns.

Additional Duties Consistent with Research Support Obligations:

Develop good public relations by leading facility tours and assisting with teaching, workshops, labs, and other university and community engagement activities.
Update the shared maintenance log with maintenance and repair activities conducted on greenhouses and growth chambers.
Acquire and maintain necessary licenses and certifications.
Assists other PGF professionals by covering weekend or holidays watering on a rotational basis if needed.
Maintain additional records for duties performed beyond the scope of this description.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable.

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