S08591P

Plant & Research Facilities Professional - PGF Greenhouses

CAES-Greenhouses

PLEASE NOTE: On December 7, 2021, the federal District Court for the Southern District of Georgia issued a preliminary injunction against enforcing the vaccine requirement for
Federal Contractors pending further review. As a result, the requirements of the Executive Order and associated guidance, including the vaccination requirement for covered contractor employees, are currently not in effect.

The University of Georgia (UGA), a land-grant and sea-grant university with statewide commitments and responsibilities, is the state’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). UGA is currently ranked among the top 15 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA was founded in 1785 by the Georgia General Assembly as the first state-chartered University in the country. UGA employs approximately 1,800 full-time instructional faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 39,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 9,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens.

External

TRS or ORP

Employee

Benefits Eligible

Full Time

To be determined by Superintendent.

Commensurate with Experience

05/31/2022

Yes

07/11/2022

Athens Area

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

PLEASE NOTE: On December 7, 2021, the federal District Court for the Southern District of Georgia issued a preliminary injunction against enforcing the vaccine requirement for
Federal Contractors pending further review. As a result, the requirements of the Executive Order and associated guidance, including the vaccination requirement for covered contractor employees, are currently not in effect.

The University of Georgia is a Federal Contractor as defined by Presidential Executive Order 14042 and subject to the requirement that Federal Contractors must ensure that all covered employees, including those working remotely, are fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022. You may be required to show proof of your fully vaccinated status at the time of your start date, or have received a medical or religious exemption from the fully vaccinated requirement at the time of your start date. For more information regarding the Federal Contractor fully vaccinated employment requirement please visit https://coronavirus.uga.edu/executive-order/ or call (706) 542-2222.

Research Paraprofessional/Professional

Non-Exempt

Research And Lab

1.00

Requires technical knowledge in the field acquired through an apprenticeship, a 2-year degree, or professional certificate. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Must have a valid Georgia Department of Agriculture Private or Commercial pesticide applicators license (or the ability to acquire 1 within 3 months following the date of hire) and a State of Georgia driver’s license.

The position oversees all daily operations for assigned Plant Growth Facilities (PGF) subset located within the University of Georgia Athens Campus and executes regular maintenance and upkeep tasks to ensure research integrity, user safety and to support teaching efforts. The incumbent will be among a team of individuals with like assignments and is encouraged to contribute in a collaborative manner with fellow PGF personnel.

The incumbent will be available on site during normal working hours and may perform occasional weekend or evening work on an as needed or emergency basis to ensure optimum plant growth and care. This position will assign daily activities and train part time labor and/or hourly student workers. The incumbent reports to the Plant Growth Facilities Superintendent.

Knowledge of plant growth and care, and pest management in the greenhouse and growth chambers, and sufficient technical skills to successfully maintain and operate greenhouse equipment, environmental controls, and growth chambers. Cooperative and helpful to greenhouse users, and able to supervise and motivate employees.

This is an active, physical position. Some lifting of fertilizer bags, soil mix containers, and other greenhouse supplies. Shoveling quantities of soil into mixers and moving the soil after mixing and sterilization, operating equipment, and moving pots and plants, all in a potentially warm, humid greenhouse environment. Pesticide application necessitates wearing the appropriate protective gear and carrying spray equipment through the greenhouses. Driving.

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Facilities and Equipment Maintenance:
Monitor and maintain the structure, components, function and cleanliness for all assigned headhouses, greenhouses and growth chambers to promote faculty, students, staff and visitor safety and preserve and protect all research projects and the integrity of the data. Maintain outdoor spaces next to the structures in a clean and orderly fashion by addressing pest and pathogen threats and keeping areas free and clear of waste, misplaced, unused and obsolete equipment and consumables. Maintain equipment, climate controls, growth chambers, and vehicles in a safe and working condition. Tasks may include occasional weekend work on an emergency basis and will involve aid from seasonal hourly laborers and student workers under the direction from the incumbent.

50

Shared Resource Coordination:
Inventory and check the use of shared resources including soil, fertilizer, pesticides, PPE, pots, tools and related materials. Regularly communicate and coordinate with other CAES-PGF Professionals and the PGF Superintendent on material and inventory acquisition, proper storage, and prompt and proper disposal of inventory or materials which are broken, obsolete or expired.

15

Research Coordination and Consulting:
Interact with faculty, students and staff in an approachable and helpful manner and answer questions from greenhouse and growth chamber users about PGF policies and the proper use of the available resources. This can include educating PGF users on safety guidelines, disposal locations, what we do and do not provide. This also includes providing limited technical support on research project design and implementation assistance. Further delineations to the Professional’s responsibilities to the research projects are further defined within PGF greenhouse and growth chamber protocols.

15

Ongoing Research Support:
Monitor and scout for pests and apply pesticides as needed and at regular intervals, including restricted-use pesticides. Monitor greenhouse and growth chambers to ensure that environmental controls are working and that proper growing conditions are achievable. Report aberrant findings to PGF Superintendent.

Assist in project-specific cleaning, fertilization, pest management, harvest, disposal, and so forth in coordination with the PGF Superintendent.

10

Additional Duties Consistent with Research Support Obligations:
The incumbent should foster other ideas, priorities and tasks that they find will promote the faculty- and student-user experience. Develop good public relations by leading facility tours and helping with teaching, workshops, labs, and other such university and community engagement activities.

Maintain pesticide records, including application logs, relevant labels and MSD sheets. Maintain additional records for duties performed beyond the scope of this description. Acquire and maintain necessary licenses and certifications.

Regularly communicate with the Plant Growth Facilities Superintendent and other Growth Facilities Professionals regarding updates, assets condition, repair/maintenance needs and progress, requests, policy and procedure, recommendations, and concerns, etc.

10

For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.

Tyler Thompson

tyler.thompson1@uga.edu