Greenhouse Technician

Actalent; Johnston (IA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Greenhouse Technician to support daily greenhouse operations and research activities at a four-acre Johnston facility. You will perform plant care, assist with experiments, and maintain strict safety and sanitation in a warm, humid greenhouse environment.

The role requires attention to detail, ability to work independently, and strong organizational skills. Onsite schedule is Monday–Friday with rotational weekends; temporary contract with competitive hourly pay.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's degree in agriculture, horticulture, plant sciences, or a related field preferred.
• Two or more years of relevant experience preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and adherence to safety protocols.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Be part of a dedicated crew that pollinates wheat in controlled environments.
• Perform daily plant care including seeding, pollinating, transplanting, watering, harvesting, and seed handling for wheat and other crops.
• Collect and prepare plant tissue samples for laboratory analysis, maintaining sample integrity for large volumes.
• Assist with research experiments, data collection, and record-keeping.
• Maintain greenhouse sanitation by disposing of regulated material and waste appropriately.

Skills

Biology

Greenhouse management

Plant care

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree in agriculture horticulture plant sciences or related field

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Description

The Controlled Environments Team is seeking a motivated and responsible Greenhouse Technician to support research operations at a four-acre facility in Johnston, Iowa. In this role, you will contribute to the advancement of agricultural innovation by supporting daily greenhouse functions and research activities in a safe, professional, and compliant environment.

Job Title: Greenhouse Technician

The Controlled Environments Team is seeking a motivated and responsible Greenhouse Technician to support research operations at a four-acre facility in Johnston, Iowa. In this role, you will contribute to the advancement of agricultural innovation by supporting daily greenhouse functions and research activities in a safe, professional, and compliant environment.

Responsibilities

• Be part of a dedicated crew that pollinates wheat in controlled environments.
• Perform daily plant care including seeding, pollinating, transplanting, watering, harvesting, and seed handling for wheat and other crops.
• Collect and prepare plant tissue samples for laboratory analysis, maintaining sample integrity for large volumes.
• Assist with research experiments, data collection, and record-keeping.
• Maintain greenhouse sanitation by disposing of regulated material and waste appropriately.

Essential Skills

• Biology
• Greenhouse management
• Plant care

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's degree in agriculture, horticulture, plant sciences, or a related field preferred.
• Two or more years of relevant experience preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and adherence to safety protocols.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, ability to work independently and collaboratively with minimal supervision.
• Basic proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and ability to learn internal research software.
• Capability to perform repetitive tasks, stand or sit for extended periods, and lift at least 30 lbs.
• Comfort working in warm, humid greenhouse conditions with year-round pollen exposure.
• Willingness to work with common chemicals and adhere to all safety guidelines.

Work Environment

The work schedule is Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with rotational weekend duty approximately every 6th weekend and holiday work required. The environment is warm and humid, typical of greenhouse conditions, with year-round exposure to pollen. Employees should be comfortable adhering to safety guidelines and working with common chemicals.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Johnston, IA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $20.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Johnston,IA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.