(Casual hire) Research Support Staff (CTAHR/Maui County)

University of Hawaii•Kahului, HI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Hawaiʻi’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), Maui County, is hiring two temporary Research Support Staff members for full-time or part-time casual appointments. The roles support agricultural research across Maui County through field and laboratory trial logistics, data collection, facility operations, equipment maintenance, safety compliance, and research documentation. Appointments are subject to funding and renewal depends on satisfactory performance, staffing requirements, and funding availability. Casual Hire appointments may last up to 89 days for full-time employees or up to one calendar year for part-time employees. Casual Hire employees are not eligible for most benefits provided to regular Board of Regents or Civil Service employees. The work may involve research fields, greenhouses, hydroponic units, and laboratories, as well as travel to various locations. The position may require work outside normal business hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, or holidays, and moving supplies and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds. The salary is $26.00–$30.00 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agricultural engineering, plant and soil sciences, or a related field, and zero years of progressively responsible professional experience involving management of facilities, equipment, and employees; or an equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience providing the required qualifications.
Functional knowledge of agricultural principles, practices, and techniques, including the ability to apply relevant concepts and terminology.
Functional knowledge and understanding of principles, theories, federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and systems associated with agriculture.
Ability to recognize problems, identify possible causes, and resolve common problems in agricultural research.
Ability to understand oral and written documentation, write reports and procedures, and communicate effectively in varied situations.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with organizations, groups, team members, and individuals.
Ability to operate a personal computer and use word-processing software and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Active listening skills; ability to work independently across multiple locations and adapt to changing research or operational needs.
Ability to travel independently to various geographical locations in a timely manner. This may be met through a valid Hawaii Class 3 driver’s license, a comparable driver’s license, or another means of transportation that meets position needs.
Ability to work outside normal business hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays, as needed.
Ability to lift, carry, or otherwise move supplies and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds, with or without assistance or appropriate methods such as carts, dollies, or team lifts.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting agricultural research operations, field trial logistics, greenhouse operations, and/or biological research data collection, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Working knowledge of technical methods in agronomy, horticulture, and/or soil science, including controlled-environment facility operation, standard pest and/or disease identification, and/or scientific data logging and record-keeping procedures.
Ability to coordinate technical field research tasks and maintain accurate data logs.
Ability to operate and program automated environmental and irrigation systems.
Ability to enforce safety protocols for chemical application and facility operation.

Responsibilities

Coordinate technical logistics for field research and laboratory trials evaluating crop performance, soil responses, and pest management systems.
Oversee scientific data logging systems and collect environmental, soil, water quality, and plant growth measurements using scientific field instruments.
Coordinate collection, cataloging, and preparation of soil, plant tissue, water, insect, and/or microorganism samples for laboratory processing.
Conduct technical field evaluations to monitor pest and disease incidence and report crop physiological conditions to research leads.
Enter experimental trial parameters, field mapping coordinates, and observations into research databases and web-based decision tools.
Oversee daily technical operations and environmental schedules for greenhouses, hydroponic units, and/or field plots.
Program, troubleshoot, and calibrate automated irrigation networks, environmental control computers, and specialized research facility equipment.
Coordinate research plot layouts, treatment application schedules, and technical equipment setup for trials.
Inspect research facilities, automated environmental controls, and field instrumentation; perform specialized maintenance and schedule major repairs.
Maintain operational logs, chemical and pesticide application tracking, inventory records, and facility usage schedules.
Manage procurement logistics for research supplies, fertilizers, field tools, and safety gear.
Monitor field and facility compliance with state, federal, and University environmental health, safety, and worker protection standards.
Assist research personnel with trial summary tables, field demonstration plot layouts, and technical documentation.
Transport equipment and materials for research.
Perform other duties as assigned.