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The growing and emerging environmental demands for more sustainable yet productive agriculture heighten the critically of developing better and faster genetic solutions for crops including rice. Year-round, accelerated and improved breeding, trait discovery and trait development methodologies are key in driving those improvements, conducted under covered-culture, greenhouse continues nursery program. The successful candidate for this role, will be a key contributor to RiceTec’s pipeline success, providing the operational capacity to successfully grow, develop, pollinate, harvest and turn, rice plant material leading to RiceTec’s newest seed products. Maintaining, operating and continually improving RiceTec’s greenhouse infrastructure and system is the primary responsibility of this role, and the Greenhouse team, as well as monitoring and managing growth irrigation, fertilization, pest management and other greenhouse parameters for successful plant growth. This role will interact directly with facilities and external contractors, as well as with multiple internal breeder and scientist’s client growth plant material in these facilities. Technical and mechanical knowledge and hands-on readiness, attention to detail and problem-solving, multitasking ability, and good communication and ability to effectively support and attend to internal client needs while also driving safe and established processes are some of the key skills to success in this role.
This outline is intended to describe the general nature and level of expectations of the employee and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required; nor do they imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.
Expected to perform the essential functions, responsibilities, and physical requirements of this role with or without reasonable accommodation within the described work environment.
RiceTec, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing qualified applicants consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable federal or state-protected classification.
Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business and legal documents.
Ability to write business and legal reports, business correspondence, and procedures manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, co-workers, clients and customers, attorneys and auditors.
Essential Duties
Manage all operational aspects of RiceTec’s research greenhouse program supporting rice seed product development. Establish objectives with leaders, develop plans, track performance metrics, and provide regular informal and formal updates.
Oversee and supervise employees supporting all aspects of media preparation, growth systems, irrigation, greenhouse operation, material acquisition and handling. Forecast labor, manage job planning and execution.
Maintain RiceTec main campus complex in fully operational and safe conditions and user readiness to support research plant growth and nursery needs. Manage maintenance programs, conduct maintenance work, or manage outsourced projects.
Supervise and manage an effective and safe IPM program providing effective pest and disease management.
Support and contribute to capital, infrastructure, and process innovation projects, enhancing the productivity and quality of the plants grown.
Manage all aspects of supply planning, acquisition, storage, and use.
Predict and manage unexpected climatic and operational events, manage contingency plans and actions.
In collaboration with other stakeholder establish effective and safe greenhouse process and use procedures, maintain user relationship, oversee growth and development, provide problem detection and solution coordination.
Daily scouting and problem detection, support, and coordination for plant heath maintenance.
Other duties as assigned
On-Site work required
Education/Qualifications
BSc or MSC in Horticulture or related field, with at least 5 years of greenhouse operation and/or management experience.
Experience in field or greenhouse rice plant growth and production
Demonstrated knowledge and experience with irrigation, fertilization, illumination, heat/vent/cooling control systems and use.
Knowledge and hands-on experience with general field operation and greenhouse operation systems, including environmental controls systems, irrigation, ventilation, heating, and illumination/irradiation control.
Strong team, communication skills, supervisory skill.
Ability to maintain and drive a safe and compliant work environment.
Ability to support effective internal client relations.
Certified or capable of obtaining Texas Pesticide applicator license in first 90 days.
Capable of working after hours, or weekends, for trouble shooting and problem solving.
Ability to operate under adverse conditions including high heat and humidity greenhouse setting.
Capable of operating heavy machinery forklifts, skid steer and media handling and processing equipment.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to extreme heat (non-weather). The employee is occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather); fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus.
