Agricultural Research Technician III

University-of-Hawaii-System; Waimea/Kamuela (HI); On-site; USD 37,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Hawai'i System is seeking an Agricultural Research Technician III to aid researchers at the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Stations on the northeastern side (Mealani, Lalamil a & Kona). The role requires basic farming experience, a valid Hawaii driver’s license, and the ability to perform arithmetic and data recording.

Salary is $3,606 monthly with continuous posting for qualified applicants. The position may involve supervising a few lower-level aides and performing standard

Qualifications

• One year of farm or agricultural lab work showing basic farming methods.
• One year of non-professional or technical agricultural work involving data recording and evaluation.
• Ability to perform arithmetic, record data, and recognize diseased plants; knowledge of experimental design and farming methods.
• Valid driver’s license to drive in Hawaii.
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds and assist lifting up to 100 pounds.
• Within six months, obtain Commercial Applicator license (Category 1A) and respirator fit-testing.
• Substitutions: college credits/certificates may substitute for up to 1 year of General Experience and up to 3 years of Specialized Experience.

Responsibilities

• This class represents the first independent level of work in support of agricultural research projects and specialized operations.
• Assistance is provided to researchers to conduct all phases of projects following experimental design and standardized procedures.
• Supervision is provided by a researcher; may supervise a few lower-level aides as needed.
• Higher-level work may be assigned for development of the incumbent; other related duties as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's degree in agriculture or related field

Associate degree in Science or Certificate of Achievement in agriculture

Certificate of Completion in agriculture

Job description

Description

EXTERNAL VACANCY - OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC

Title: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH TECHNICIAN III

Position Number: 0000397

Organization: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII / COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE

Location: HAWAII AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS ON THE NORTH EASTERN SIDE (MEALANI, LALAMILA & KONA)

Last Day To File: *CONTINUOUS

Fund: GENERAL

Salary: $3,606 MONTHLY

Duties Summary

This class represents the first independent level of work performance in support of agricultural research projects and/or the conduct of specialized agricultural operations. Assistance is provided researchers in the conduct and completion of all phases of projects in accordance with experimental design involving standardized practices and procedures. Work is performed under general supervision. It is periodically checked while in progress and on completion for results by a researcher or a higher-level technician. A position in this class may include the supervision of a few lower-level aids as needed. Higher-level work may be assigned for purposes of developing an incumbent ; and performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements – To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements:

General Experience: One (1) year of work experience in the operation of a farm or related agricultural laboratory or industry which provided exposure to basic agricultural/farm activities. This experience must demonstrate that the applicant possesses knowledge of basic farming methods, routine agricultural work operations and processes; and the ability to use standard agricultural tools and equipment, perform manual and repetitive work, read, understand and follow oral and written instructions, and perform arithmetic computations.

Examples of qualifying general experience are planting and harvesting pineapples, controlling weeds among growing crops, caring for plants in a nursery (watering, weeding, fertilizing, transplanting); or laboratory studies of plant diseases.

Specialized Experience: One (1) year of non-professional or technical work experience performing agricultural activities in situations involving recordation, comparison, evaluation, experimentation and drawing of conclusions from data; and which provides the applicant with an appreciation of precision research work methods.

This experience must demonstrate that the applicant possesses the ability to perform arithmetic calculations, record data and recognize diseased plants; and knowledge of experimental design requirements and farming methods in the form of two (2) or more of the following crop propagation; care of farm animals and poultry; safety precautions and use of fertilizers, insecticides or herbicides; care and use of pastures; care of farm tools and equipment.

Driver's License: Applicants must possess a valid license to drive in the State of Hawai'i.

Lifting and Carrying: Applicants must have the ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds and the ability to assist lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 100 pounds.

Pesticide Certification: Applicants must, within six (6) months of hire, obtain a certificate as a Commercial Applicator of Restricted Pesticides, Category 1A – Agricultural Plant – pest control, and obtain medical clearance, training and fit-testing to use a respirator.

Substitutions Allowed

1. Successful completion of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the field of agriculture may be substituted for experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester credit hours for six (6) months of experience, provided that the coursework included at least six (6) semester credit hours in agricultural or related courses, of which three (3) credits must have been in plant/crop propagation or livestock production. The coursework may be substituted for up to a maximum of one (1) year of General Experience and three (3) years of Specialized Experience.

2. Successful completion of an agricultural curriculum leading to an Associate in Science degree or a Certificate of Achievement from an accredited community college may be substituted on the basis of fifteen (15) semester credit hours for six (6) months of experience, provided that the coursework included at least six (6) semester credit hours in agricultural or related courses, of which three (3) credits must have been in plant/crop propagation or livestock production. The coursework may be substituted for up to a maximum of one (1) year of General Experience and one (1) year of Specialized Experience.

3. A Certificate of Completion (at least twelve (12) semester credit hours) in agriculture, or a closely related field, from an accredited community college may be substituted for six (6) months of General Experience.

4. Successful completion of a farm practicum which provided one (1) semester of on-the-job vocational/technical competencies in agricultural activities supplemented by six (6) semester credit hours of coursework in crop propagation, soil technology, livestock/animal sciences, or related agricultural subjects may be substituted for six (6) months of either General or Specialized Experience.

5. Excess Specialized Experience of the type and quality described may be substituted for the required General Experience on a year-for-year basis.

Physical and Medical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position, effectively and safely, with or without reasonable accommodation.

EEO, Clery Act, ADA

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/

Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/ , or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/