CALS- Gardener S08- IPM Assistant- Cornell Botanic Gardens

Cornell University•City of Ithaca, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all. Cornell Core values As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture. While position responsibilities vary greatly, the Skills for Success and Leadership Skills for Success are foundational to what is expected of every employee and leader working at Cornell. These skills are essential for individual and organizational success. Staff Skills for Success; Leadership Skills for Success About the College The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world. Cornell Botanic Gardens is a living plant museum comprising over 3,800 acres of University land in three major areas: the Botanical Gardens, Arboretum, and Natural Areas. An administrative unit of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell Botanic Gardens manages and protects these areas to support teaching and research at Cornell University; to preserve habitats and rare/endangered plants; and for public use for learning and recreation. Under direct supervision of the Greenhouse Supervisor, assist the IPM Coordinator by scouting, diagnosing, treating, and working with garden staff and arboriculture staff on plant health care issues using cultural, biological, mechanical, and chemical control strategies to reduce pests to tolerable levels across all areas of the greenhouses, outdoor gardens, and arboretum. This work requires a general understanding of horticultural practices, plant-pest interactions, diverse pest management techniques and pesticide application equipment. This individual will conduct soil samples, implement a variety of application and inoculation techniques, keep records of pest and disease emergence dates, and apply appropriate pest/disease controls throughout the botanic gardens and arboretum. Using Integrated Pest Management approaches, assist the IPM Coordinator to make judgements on best strategies for pest/disease diagnosis, control, and plant health. Maintain scouting reports and treatment notes for outdoor and greenhouse collections in appropriate electronic software programs. Assist the IPM Coordinator by engaging with organizations such as but not limited to the Sentinel Plant Network and Northeastern IPM Center to develop proactive pest prevention care for collections. Maintain the functional plantings at designated areas including but not limited to the Harris Slope and DeCoursey stairs. Maintain demonstration plantings that promote sustainable practices regarding pest management, tree/lawn maintenance, and ecosystem health including but not limited to living mulch tree rings and pollinator strips. Attend conferences or classes to continually pursue professional development within the field. Participate in meetings regarding job priorities, projects, garden reviews, and occasionally hiring committees. Participate in outdoor demonstrations and classes for our priority audiences on scouting techniques and pest and disease identification, and other plant health care issues. This position requires flexibility and is required to work some weekends and holidays to meet the needs of the department. Assist gardening staff with busy season planting and mulching workloads. Ensure that all protocols and procedures adhere to safety requirements, NY State and Federal environmental laws. This is a full-time position at 39 hours/week, located in Ithaca, NY. While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others. Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

Requirements

A.A.S. degree in entomology, plant pathology, or horticulture or equivalent combination of education and training with a minimum of 2 years of work experience in pest management scouting, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of ornamental and edible plants.
Ability to identify a wide range of woody and herbaceous plants and plant pests and diseases.
Working knowledge of IPM best practices.
General gardening skills required include: planting, dividing, mulching, watering, pruning, and familiarity with use of horticultural fertilizers and pesticides.
Ability to operate light-duty equipment including but not limited to sprayers, brush chipper, chain saw, UTVs, tractor, and string trimmers, including sharpening and safety checks.
Demonstrated proficiency with computers, including experience with Microsoft suite, databases, and spreadsheets.
Must be physically capable of performing the functions associated with this position, including some winter snow removal.
Must be willing to work under varying climatic conditions (heat, cold, precipitation, noise, dust).
Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently to accomplish required tasks to achieve departmental objectives.
Ability to develop effective working relationships with a variety of people.
Willing and able to work with pesticides.
Must have and maintain valid and unrestricted NYS driver’s license and be cleared to drive for university business.
Ability to obtain 3A and 7A, Certified Technician within 6 months and NYS Certified Applicator Pesticide License within two years and continuously maintain.
Must be personable, flexible, possess excellent organizational and communication skills and take pride in their work.
Must exercise sound and ethical judgment when acting on behalf of the Department and the University.
Willing and able to report to work outside of the regularly scheduled shift to address Botanic Gardens time-sensitive operational needs, to assist with departmental emergencies, or to deal with issues of public safety.
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in entomology, plant pathology, or horticulture-related field, or equivalent combination of education and training.
Three or more years of work experience involving applying IPM best practices in a botanic garden or arboretum.
Proficiency with Cornell Pesticide Application Database (PAD) or other online pesticide application records, and specialized databases such as IrisBG or Filemaker.
3A and 7A NYS Certified Pesticide Applicator License and continuously maintain.
Familiarity with ArGIS.

Responsibilities

Assist the IPM Coordinator by scouting, diagnosing, treating, and working with garden staff and arboriculture staff on plant health care issues using cultural, biological, mechanical, and chemical control strategies to reduce pests to tolerable levels across all areas of the greenhouses, outdoor gardens, and arboretum.
Conduct soil samples, implement a variety of application and inoculation techniques, keep records of pest and disease emergence dates, and apply appropriate pest/disease controls throughout the botanic gardens and arboretum.
Using Integrated Pest Management approaches, assist the IPM Coordinator to make judgements on best strategies for pest/disease diagnosis, control, and plant health.
Maintain scouting reports and treatment notes for outdoor and greenhouse collections in appropriate electronic software programs.
Assist the IPM Coordinator by engaging with organizations such as but not limited to the Sentinel Plant Network and Northeastern IPM Center to develop proactive pest prevention care for collections.
Maintain the functional plantings at designated areas including but not limited to the Harris Slope and DeCoursey stairs.
Maintain demonstration plantings that promote sustainable practices regarding pest management, tree/lawn maintenance, and ecosystem health including but not limited to living mulch tree rings and pollinator strips.
Attend conferences or classes to continually pursue professional development within the field.
Participate in meetings regarding job priorities, projects, garden reviews, and occasionally hiring committees.
Participate in outdoor demonstrations and classes for our priority audiences on scouting techniques and pest and disease identification, and other plant health care issues.
Assist gardening staff with busy season planting and mulching workloads.
Ensure that all protocols and procedures adhere to safety requirements, NY State and Federal environmental laws.

Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands.
Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays.
Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

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