Agricultural Technician-Suffolk, VA

Virginia Tech; Suffolk (VA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Virginia Tech Tidewater AREC in Suffolk, VA seeks a field technician to assist soybean research. You will plant and harvest plots, operate GPS-controlled planters and related computer systems, package seed, prepare treatments, and collect field data for entry into a database.

Experience outdoors and with plant research is preferred. The role is off-campus at the Tidewater AREC, offering hands-on agronomic work and potential for CDL‑related duties.

Qualifications

• General knowledge of crop production.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work outdoors in hot, humid conditions.
• Licensed to operate a motor vehicle and may operate heavy equipment.

Responsibilities

• Plant and harvest research plots under supervision.
• Operate GPS-controlled planter and related computer systems.
• Assist with packaging seed for variety tests and prepare plot treatments.
• Collect field data and enter into a computer database; process data.
• Grade soybean seed samples for quality and disease after harvest.

Skills

Outdoor work

Crop production

Vehicle operation

Data collection

Tools

GPS planter

Computer hardware

Seed packaging equipment

Data entry software

Heavy equipment operation

CDL license

Job description

Job Description

This position provides assistance to a soybean program at the Virginia Tech Tidewater Agricultural Research & Extension Center. Duties include, but are not limited to: Plant and harvest research plots under the direction of the Ag Supervisor; Have the ability to operate a GPS-controlled precision planter and associated computer hardware systems; Assist with packaging seed for variety tests; Preparing plot treatments; Collect field data and assist with its entry and processing in a computer database; and Grade soybean seed samples for quality and disease after harvest. This is an off‑campus position located at the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC), Suffolk, Virginia.

Required Qualifications

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs (seed bag, boxed chemicals, etc.); general knowledge of crop production; ability and willingness to work outdoors under hot, humid, and/or dusty conditions; experience working independently as well as in a team environment; licensed to operate a motor vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with agronomic research, data collection, seed grading, and computer software; Class A - CDL license to operate a motor vehicle; Ability to load, transport, and operate heavy equipment.

Pay Band

1

Overtime Status

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$16.00 - $20.00; commensurate with experience

Hours per week

Average of 29 hours per week/1500 hours per year

Review Date

October 28, 2026

Additional Information

Virginia Tech is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this vacancy.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto,Ut Prosim(That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands‑on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem‑solvers. A comprehensive land‑grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicinecollege, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension officesandresearch institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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