Part-Time Biology Greenhouse Assistant (Staff Wage)

UVA Health • Charlottesville, VA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Biology Department is seeking a Greenhouse Assistant. This part-time position requires an average of 8-32 hours per week of weekend and UVA holiday work as an assistant to the Biology Department Greenhouse Manager. Work may also be scheduled during the Monday-Friday work week. The work schedule may vary from week to week. The Greenhouse Assistant will assist in all aspects of the UVA Biology Department research greenhouse operations.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• At least 1 year of lab experience, which may include student experience required.
• Workers in a greenhouse may be exposed to fumes, chemicals, vibrations, humidity, cold, heat, wind, full sun, noise, and outdoor climate.
• Capable and willing to work long hours in these, and other sometimes unpredictable, environmental conditions.
• Must be able to perform all assigned duties without disturbing or damaging plant material or disrupting experiments in progress.
• The position is moderately labor intensive, and duties are mostly performed standing.
• The job requires frequent bending, stooping, walking, and the use of a stepladder.
• Work is often unsupervised and may be performed alone, so a high degree of responsibility and self-management is required.

Nice To Haves

• Interest in or knowledge of plants and their care
• Careful attention to tasks in a complex and sensitive work environment
• Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision
• Initiative and good judgment
• Ability to learn and execute new tasks and procedures in detail

Responsibilities

• Care for research plant material (plant condition assessment)
• Watering, weeding, pruning, fertilizing, leaf litter removal, potting, and repotting
• Relocating and organizing research plant material
• Pot washing, soil mixing, mixing fertilizer solutions and other material, sweeping, mopping
• Greenhouse workspace and growth area cleaning and sanitizing
• Completing duty shift log, immediate reporting of greenhouse or plant health and condition problems, and other tasks and duties as assigned.
• Ensure the security of the facility (e.g., locking doors, and reporting any unusual activity).

Benefits

• This is a wage position which is not eligible for leave or other benefits and is limited to 1500 hours of work in a year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED