Assistant Technician (Greenhouse & Lab)

Genesis Turfgrass LLC.; Annapolis (MD); Hybrid; USD 18,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

The Maryland Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection and Weed Management Program seeks a part-time, short-term contract employee to assist with the knotweed psyllid colony as part of the biological control program. The assignment runs about 3–4 months starting in fall (October/November) and finishing in early spring (March/April) at the agency's Annapolis, MD location.

Duties include maintaining a potting area, propagating plants, taking temperatures and keeping records; assisting the Lab

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Familiarity with rearing animals, insects or plants preferred.
• Comfortable handling insects and plants.
• Work in a plant production or lab environment.
• Self-starter and able to work well in a team.

Responsibilities

• Maintain potting area, propagate and water plants, and keep records.
• Maintain greenhouse and lab rooms; vacuum, mop, and clean surfaces.
• Assist Lab Tech with cleaning and other duties.
• Follow safety procedures and accurate records.
• Assist in field releases and insect collection when needed.
• Follow directions from greenhouse manager and lab tech.

Skills

Insect/plant familiarity

Handling insects & plants

Lab/greenhouse environment

Team player

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

MDA Plan Ind & Pest Mgmt-Plant Protect & Weed Mgmt

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is a department under Maryland’s Executive Branch. Formed in 1972 by the Maryland General Assembly to address the agriculture needs for the State of Maryland, the Department oversees and serves as a regulatory body for animal health, consumer services to include marketing and lab services, plant and pest management and resource conservation. As the number one industry in Maryland, the diversity of agriculture programs in the State continue to expand and grow.

The Plant Protection and Weed Management Program conducts regulatory, inspection, and educational programs that protect the health of plants and honey bees in Maryland. Personnel in this section serve as the State’s authorities on plant pests and agricultural quarantines, and provide liaison for the Department with other state and federal regulatory officials regarding these issues

This is a part-time, short-term grant based position lasting approximately 3–4 months, beginning in the fall (October/November) and ending in early spring (March/April).

GRADE

9998

LOCATION OF POSITION

Maryland Department of Agriculture Headquarters- Annapolis, MD

Main Purpose of Job

This contractual position serves primarily to assist the Greenhouse manager and Lab technician with the knotweed psyllid colony for the Maryland Dept of Agriculture’s biological control program of knotweed. This is a part-time, short-term grant based position lasting approximately 3–4 months, beginning in the fall (October/November) and ending in early spring (March/April).

POSITION DUTIES

Job Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Maintain a potting area, dig and pot plants, general propagation, pruning, water plants as needed, take temperatures and keep records of work.
• Maintain growing rooms in the greenhouse and lab with vacuuming, mopping and cleaning surfaces.
• Assist Lab Tech with cleaning and other duties as necessary.
• Maintain safe work procedures and accurate records.
• Assist in Field releases and field collecting of the insect when needed.
• Follow general and specific directions from the greenhouse manager and lab technician.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with rearing animals, insects or plants
• Comfortable regularly handling insects & plants
• Comfortable in a plant production or lab environment
• Self starter and able to work well as a team

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Employees will be required to perform repetitive physical labor such as watering, mopping, vacuuming, lifting bags of soil and cleaning equipment within the lab and greenhouse.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates may be placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year.

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must be provided prior to hire.

BENEFITS

• Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.
• Leave may be granted to a contractual employee at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.
• Please note that this position is projected to have a 20 hour work week and thus will not qualify for health benefits

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.