Field Researcher III (5246C), Oxford Tract Facility #89197

University of California; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 805,000 - 1,039,000; Full time

Job summary

The Field Researcher III position at University of California, Berkeley provides leadership for greenhouse operations and coordinates with the Field & Greenhouse Research Manager to support plant and social science research at the Oxford Tract Facility.

Responsibilities include weekly pest management, safety training, and collaboration with researchers to tailor instrumentation and environmental controls for diverse projects.

Qualifications

• 3-6 years greenhouse/horticultural experience with a range of plants.
• Ability to design, supervise and operate greenhouse controls and irrigation.
• Physically capable of lifting 40 pounds and performing manual labor.

Responsibilities

• Greenhouse Operations: manage lighting, irrigation, environmental controls and safety.
• Integrated Pest Management: scout, diagnose pests, apply safe treatments.
• Facilities Management: document maintenance, plan long-term needs, coordinate trades.
• Training: lead safety and pesticide trainings; supervise students and staff.
• Liaison: coordinate with RCNR and Gill Tract Farm; assist with purchasing.

Skills

Safety compliance

Team leadership

Equipment operation

Irrigation systems

Pest management

Technical training

Communication with researchers

Education

Bachelor's degree in horticulture or related field

Horticultural education with 3 years experience

Tools

CADPR Licenses/Qualifications

Job description

Field Researcher III (5246C), Oxford Tract Facility #89197

At the University of California, Berkeley , we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth . We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

The Oxford Tract Facility provides agricultural facilities and services to support the teaching, outreach, and research efforts of 50+ faculty from the UC Berkeley campus, Berkeley Lab, and outside users. The Field Researcher III position provides facility and horticultural expertise to support plant and social science research for UC Berkeley faculty, staff, students, and volunteers.

Position Summary

The Field Researcher III serves as the team lead for full-time career staff and student assistants under the supervision of the Field & Greenhouse Research Manager. This position coordinates with the greenhouse team to maintain, monitor, and prepare space in greenhouses, lath houses, and labs, and acts as a backup contact to the manager for repairs and capital renewal projects with campus trades. The Field Researcher III assists the manager in implementing and enforcing worksite safety protocols and regulations, including leading Worker Protection Standard training for all greenhouse users. In coordination with the manager, this position performs weekly pest control, including developing and implementing the integrated pest management plan, performing pesticide applications, and ensuring worker protection standard compliance in greenhouses, growth chambers, and fields. Additionally, the Field Researcher III serves as an alternate liaison between RCNR and the Gill Tract Community Farm.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is October 14, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Greenhouse Operations and Research Material Assessment and Monitoring - 25%

• Horticultural lighting, irrigation, fertilizer injection, environmental control systems, and equipment including forklift, autoclave. Evaluates and enacts process and safety improvements.


• Water and monitor plants: including weekends and holidays, using hand, drip, flood, sprinkler, and fertilizer injector systems. Weekly recharge and space assignment.


• Greenhouse Safety: develops and trains staff, students, and researchers on equipment, Chemical Inventory, safety inspections, and other UC required trainings. Complies with all UC training requirements.


• Consult with researchers to develop and implement project specific instrumentation, infrastructure, and greenhouse conditions to support research goals. This includes irrigation systems, horticultural lighting, benches, and shades.

Integrated Pest Management - 30%

• Analyzes scouting data and provides treatment actions to manager and staff, ensuring compliance with UC/state/federal laws while maintaining experimental conditions.


• Recognize, diagnose, and train staff and students on common greenhouse pests and diseases in weekly scouting.


• Implement corrective measures by chemical, mechanical, biological, and other methods, in consultation with facility manager, coworkers, and researchers.


• Perform weekly pesticide applications safely and in accordance with UC, local, state, and federal regulations.


• Implement and improve upon plant biosafety and containment measures such as rodent control, autoclaving, sanitation, and researcher education.


• Administer Worker Protection Standard training for facility users.


• Continuously maintain valid CADPR Qualified Applicator License categories B and D during employment, including completing annual Continuing Education requirements.


• Submit pesticide use reports to CADPR and UC.


• Repair and troubleshoot pesticide application equipment.

Facilities Management - 25%

• Documents activities and follows up in accordance with relevant policies and regulations.


• Identify and document maintenance issues, in coordination with Facility Manager, campus trades (Facilities Services), and other campus partners.


• Plan for long-term facility and project needs with manager and research leaders.


• Alternate Building Emergency Coordinator and Safety Committee Coordinator for Oxford Facility. Attend meetings, trainings, and preparedness drills, implement preparedness activities.


• Gill Tract Community Farm backup liaison with RCNR. Attend meetings, address community concerns and respond to compliance issues.


• Purchasing: Sourcing, researching and compliance with university purchasing procedures and/or the ability to learn. May be Blucard holder and fuel card user.


• Trains and coordinates career staff on plant growth methods, daily processes, facility maintenance, and experimental setups.


• Back up contact in the absence of the Field & Greenhouse Research Manager.


• Trains and coordinates student assistants with responsibility for the quantity and quality of work.


• Develop and refine training materials and procedures for career staff and student assistance.


• Serve on interview committees for student assistants and career greenhouse/facility staff.


• Train staff and researchers on methods, materials, and techniques to improve growth conditions and experimental outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of safety, legal, cultural and regulatory requirements relative to plant science research: 3-6 years experience with routine and specialized greenhouse and/or closely related horticultural practices with a wide range of plants.


• Thorough knowledge of, and demonstrated skills to design, construct, operate, train others on, and supervise the use of greenhouse environmental controls, irrigation controllers, horticultural lighting, fertilizer injectors, shop tools, and other equipment and supplies used for plant science research and teaching.


• Ability to read, write, and perform basic arithmetic; six years of agricultural experience in all phases of operations including heavy and/or complex equipment operation and/or supervisory responsibility; or a demonstrated ability to perform in a highly skilled specialization; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of duties assigned to the position.


• Ability to perform physical labor under often strenuous conditions, including extreme heat.


• Proven ability to work independently and with a team, and to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.


• Ability to independently lift and carry 40 pounds, using ergonomically safe practices and appropriate equipment.


• Strong attention to detail and strong organizational skills, including prioritizing assignments under pressure.


• Proven ability to work in ambiguous conditions and take relevant responsible action as required.


• Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to access, use, and improve online records (for example, pdfs, Google Forms, Docs, Sheets; MS Office) and relevant software packages.


• Proven effective communication skills with research partners and project team members.


• Ability to wear a respirator, including required occupational assessments and compliance measures for proper PPE fit and coverage.


• Ability to identify common greenhouse pests and diseases and safety apply pesticides to control target organisms, while minimizing hazards to humans, plants, and beneficial organisms.


• Knowledge of and/or ability to learn UC and California Department of Pesticide Regulation laws and regulations, pesticide labels, SDS, manuals, and policies.


• Ability to obtain a CADPR Qualified Applicator License, categories B and D, within the first 6 months of employment.


• Skills to lead, train, and delegate duties to students. Ability to work with a culturally and academically diverse group of people.


• Excellent work attendance record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with transgenic plants, and/or USDA-APHIS quarantine procedures.


• Experience with pesticide applications and application equipment.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in horticulture, plant science or a related field; or horticultural technical education and three years' horticultural experience. (Required)


• Master's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. (Preferred)

Licenses / Certifications

• California Department of Pesticide Regulation Qualified Applicators Certificate or License (QAC/QAL) category B and D; OR ability to obtain within 6 months of hire.


• Valid California Drivers License, subject to DMV Pull

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $72,135.00 - $93,106.00.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.


• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

Driving Required

Required to hold a valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.


• This position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between UAW (United Auto Workers) and the University of California Regents for RP.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.