Greenhouse Plant Technician / Weekend Waterer

Washington State University • Pullman, WA

6d • $3,565 - $4,746 • Onsite

About The Position

As the Greenhouse Plant Technician / Weekend Waterer, you will support research and extension activities related to greenhouse and growth chamber research plants within the Institute of Biological Chemistry. You will be responsible for watering and caring for greenhouse and growth chamber research plants on a 20-hour-per-week schedule. On weekends and holidays, you will water all research plants in the Institute of Biological Chemistry growth facilities, which typically requires approximately 8 to 10 hours per weekend. During the week, you will provide up to 10 hours of plant care and watering support in assigned areas, preferably during morning hours beginning at 8:00 a.m. You will maintain regular communication with growth facility staff on Mondays and Fridays to coordinate plant care needs, with flexibility to adjust work hours as necessary and a priority placed on Friday coordination to ensure adequate weekend and holiday coverage. Additional responsibilities include propagating, planting, and caring for greenhouse and growth chamber plants grown under greenhouse and field conditions. You may oversee part-time student employees or helpers and assist with plant production activities, including weeding, irrigating, fertilizing, pest management, and general plant care. You will monitor environmental conditions, fertilize, plant, cultivate, and maintain plants; propagate plants, including transgenic plants, through seeding, cuttings, grafting, pruning, staking, soil preparation, transplanting, and thinning; monitor for pests and apply appropriate treatments such as sprays, dusts, or fumigation; harvest, clean, treat, and store seeds; label plants and maintain records in accordance with standard operating procedures; maintain greenhouse tools and equipment; clean greenhouse and growth facilities; and perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School graduation or GED certificate AND three years of work experience in plant research, propagation, or related work; OR equivalent education/experience.
• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.

Nice To Haves

• Extensive knowledge of the cultural requirements of plants.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Watering and caring for greenhouse and growth chamber research plants.
• Watering all research plants in the Institute of Biological Chemistry growth facilities on weekends and holidays.
• Providing plant care and watering support during the week.
• Maintaining communication with growth facility staff to coordinate plant care needs.
• Propagating, planting, and caring for greenhouse and growth chamber plants.
• Overseeing part-time student employees or helpers.
• Assisting with plant production activities, including weeding, irrigating, fertilizing, pest management, and general plant care.
• Monitoring environmental conditions.
• Fertilizing, planting, cultivating, and maintaining plants.
• Propagating plants through seeding, cuttings, grafting, pruning, staking, soil preparation, transplanting, and thinning.
• Monitoring for pests and applying appropriate treatments.
• Harvesting, cleaning, treating, and storing seeds.
• Labeling plants and maintaining records.
• Maintaining greenhouse tools and equipment.
• Cleaning greenhouse and growth facilities.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Paid sick and vacation leave
• Paid holidays
• Medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• Retirement
• Deferred compensation
• Optional supplemental retirement accounts
• Training and development
• Employee tuition waiver

What This Job Offers

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