Breeding Technician I CC – Solanaceous

Johnny's Selected Seeds•Albion, ME

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Breeding Technician I - Solanaceous position assists the tomato and pepper breeder in coordinating and executing the yearly breeding cycle, including management of field & greenhouse operations, coordination of logistics with other departments, data collection, and leading seasonal workers. The ideal candidate will be research-oriented with a strong interest in agriculture and crop improvement. This position is full-time and does rotate to the Contact Center in the off season for two days a week, the other three day remain onsite.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required
High attention to detail and accuracy, in both hands-on tasks and record keeping
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel
A work style comfortable with repetitive hands-on activities in the field and in the greenhouse
Able to work effectively on own or as part of a team
Availability to work extended hours and varied days during peak times in the season
Availiablity to travel to offsite nurseries and/or conferences
Brings a positive attitude to the job and enjoys working with a diverse group of people
Strong interest in tomatoes and peppers (both sweet and hot)
Valid Maine driver's license
Ability to follow processes and detailed instructions
Working in a safe and effective manner is required.
Able to maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a positive and professional manner with internal and external customers.
Ability to respect the core values of the company and comply with the company's policies and procedures.
Proven ability to learn difficult information quickly.
Deliver superior experience to our customers and strive for a one-call resolution.
Ability to handle 50+ calls per day.
Provide accurate and timely responses to our customers through multiple channels.
Support customers to resolve problems including order status questions, and other concerns and issues
Able to work in farm fields and greenhouse for extended periods of time including in less-than-ideal weather conditions
Able to work and navigate on uneven, rocky ground
Able to sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time
Able to perform repetitive physical tasks for extended periods of time
Excellent manual dexterity
Capable of frequent bending and occasional heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs)
Able and willing to follow all PPE and safety protocols in seed cleaning facilities, seed vaults, farm fields, greenhouse, and seed production cages
Able and willing to work in proximity to farm machinery and other farming related activities under safety protocols
The ability to sit at a computer for at least 75% of the workday.

Nice To Haves

One or more years of relevant agriculture or research experience is preferred
Crew management experience is desirable

Responsibilities

Support all aspects of the tomato and pepper breeding program logistics and activities, including seeding, transplanting, field & greenhouse maintenance, hand pollinations, harvest, seed extraction and cleaning, quality evaluations, etc.
Assist in data collection in field and greenhouse using hand-held device
Manage seed storage and organization, including maintaining physical inventory and using the breeding database software for digital record-keeping
Lead and train seasonal employees
Acquire and maintain department supplies
Participate in department and crop-specific team meetings
Support efforts in molecular marker testing by collecting leaf tissue samples and data manipulation
Continue training/educational efforts to obtain new skills as required to stay current with the program
Potentially travel to offsite nurseries in other states for seed extraction and data collection
Assist in other projects and perform other duties when needed
Provide professional and high-quality customer service
Self-motivated
Find the right solutions to customers' needs