Seasonal Agricultural Workers-Vegetable IPM Program

Rutgers University; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established institution is looking for dedicated Seasonal Agricultural Workers to join their Vegetable IPM Program. This role involves hands-on data collection, pest and disease identification, and collaboration with specialists in entomology and plant pathology. You will play a vital part in supporting local growers by providing essential insights and reports, all while working outdoors in dynamic field conditions. If you have a passion for agriculture and environmental science, this is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to sustainable practices in New Jersey's agricultural landscape.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent experience required.
• Experience in pest and disease identification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regular data collection and pest identification.
• Assist in field research projects and seasonal planning.

Skills

Data Collection

Pest Identification

Disease Identification

Field Research

Education

High school/vocational school education

Tools

MS Excel

Google Software

Job description

Seasonal Agricultural Workers-Vegetable IPM Program

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking seasonal Agricultural Workers for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Vegetable IPM Program within the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Vegetable IPM program is an educational/service program for commercial agriculture in New Jersey. Driven by environmental monitoring and field scouting, and relying on up-to-date research, the program strives to help growers produce high quality vegetables while minimizing pesticide inputs.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Responsible for regular data collection (2 times per week per site), identifying pest and disease presence, identifying beneficial arthropods, completing IPM reports for participating growers, providing weekly summaries of insect catch data for supervisors, and collecting plant tissue samples when needed.
• Shares duties on field research projects with entomology and plant pathology specialists.
• Assists in pre-planning seasonal field activities, therefore, starting on an earlier date.

Position Status: Full Time

Daily Work Shift: Day

Work Arrangement: This position requires a fully on-site work arrangement.

• High school/vocational school education or equivalent experience.

Certifications/Licenses:

• Valid NJ driver’s license; personal vehicle is required for travel and around assigned farms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework in environmental studies, agriculture, biology, chemistry, entomology, plant pathology, and/or GIS databases. Competence in MS Excel and web-based Google software is helpful.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• During growing season technicians spend almost 100% of their time outside in field conditions.

Posting Open Date: 02/11/2025

Posting Close Date: 08/11/2025

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Rutgers University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.