Seasonal Technician - Crew Leader 2026

RiceTec•Lajas, PR

10d•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves coordinating temporary/seasonal employees to ensure high-quality, safe, and efficient work. Responsibilities include assisting with field layout for experimental rice plots, seed preparation, planting, data recording, field management, harvesting, cleaning and milling samples, and equipment maintenance. The position requires overseeing plants in the field and greenhouse, including planting, watering, fertilizing, and monitoring for pests and traits like height and flowering time. Field operations involve rice seed increases, planting, making crosses, phenotyping, and harvesting. The role also includes calculating pesticide and fertilizer amounts, performing applications, operating and maintaining farm equipment, assisting with experiments according to specific procedures, and maintaining chemical/supply inventories. Decision-making regarding prospective projects and other assigned duties are also part of the role. On-site work is required.

Requirements

Ability to read, write, and speak English.
Acceptable oral and written communication skills.
Ability to comprehend and apply principles of basic math.
Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
A Puerto Rico Agricultural Department “Private Pesticides Applicator” license is a requirement for this job.
Must be able to obtain a pesticide license within 3 months of employment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Tractors, Combines, or other heavy equipment is preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate work/instructions with temporary/seasonal employees, ensuring work of high quality and performed in a safe an efficient manner.
Assisting: layout of fields for planting experimental rice plots, seed preparation, planting, data recording, field management, harvesting, cleaning and milling samples, and equipment maintenance.
Oversee plants in the field and greenhouse by planting, watering, fertilizing, monitoring for pests; observe field and GH plants for traits such as height and flowering time.
Field operations of rice seed increases, planting, making crosses, phenotyping, selecting and hand and/or mechanical harvesting.
Calculate the appropriate pesticide and fertilizer amounts needed for application.
Perform pesticide and fertilizer application.
Operate and maintain equipment in conjunction with farm operations.
Assist with experiments according to specific procedures, exercising independent judgment and discretion as appropriate.
Assist in conducting experiments at other Research sites, laboratory areas, or groups.
Maintain appropriate inventory of chemicals and/or supplies necessary for the completion of experiments at work location.
Participate in decision making regarding feasibility of prospective projects.
Other duties as assigned.