Vacancy expired!
Position: Farm Technician 2
Office location: Corvallis, Oregon
Status: Regular, full time
Compensation: $17.27 - $20/hour, depending on experience, plus competitive benefits
package.
Closing date: For full consideration apply by August 21, 2020.
About Us
The Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) is a dynamic nonprofit organization founded in 1999 whose
mission is to conserve native species and habitats through restoration, research and education. We fill
a unique niche among nonprofits and work with a diverse group of partners including federal, state and
county agencies and municipalities to accomplish our mission. We maintain an open and convivial
office environment with approximately 24 regular staff in our main office in Corvallis, OR and branch
office in Santa Fe, NM. We are committed to diversity and equity in our work place and the
communities we serve. Please see our mission and diversity statements.
Position Summary
IAE is seeking to hire a Farm Technician with a diverse skillset to implement native seed and plant farm
operations tasks, including production (greenhouse, nursery, seed farm) and seed cleaning tasks. Our
farm facilities are located in and near Corvallis, Oregon. Plant materials development and production
work supports the conservation and recovery of rare plants (e.g., Nelson’s checkermallow and
Bradshaw’s lomatium), wildlife (e.g., Fender’s blue butterfly and streaked horned lark) and habitats
(e.g. prairie, coastal grassland) using a variety of restoration techniques.
Job Responsibilities
The Farm Technician will implement native seed and plant production projects to support regional
habitat restoration and listed species recovery efforts. The person in this position will also assist with
the coordination of volunteers, interns, subcontractors and/or technicians. In particular, job
responsibilities include:
1. Assist Farm Manager with farm operations and native plant materials production (70%)
Work with Farm Manager to implement all in-house native plant materials production
at IAE farm facilities, including seed production fields at the OSU Farm, Forest Science
Lab raised beds, OSU greenhouse facilities, seed cleaning warehouse, and other TBD
locations.
Prepare farm fields for seeding and/or planting: operate equipment, manage weeds
(including herbicide treatments), install ground cloth and irrigation.
Cultivate plugs for field establishment or outplanting at restoration sites.
Establish new fields by direct seeding or planting plugs.
Engage in all aspects of field and raised bed maintenance at all IAE farm locations,
including but not limited to weeding, watering, fertilizing and pest and disease
management. Anticipates plant needs and provides for optimal growth.
Harvest, dry, clean and store seed.
2. Operate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair equipment (15%)
Safely operate farm and seed cleaning equipment (e.g. tractors, mowers, combine,
discs, and seeders) without supervision.
Clean and maintain all equipment, tools, and storage areas. Perform most repairs.
Troubleshoot equipment problems.
Contribute to the development of maintenance schedules and safety protocols.
3. Supervise/coordinate staff, volunteers and contractors (10%)
Coordinate work of farm seasonal or temporary staff, volunteers and/or contractors
performing tasks related to crop establishment, cultivation, harvest, cleaning, and
storage. Participate in the hiring of technicians and other staff.
4. Record-keeping and reporting (5%)
Document farm activities and results.
Maintain accurate records of field work and ensure that data are entered correctly.
Provide some data quality control.
Assist with maintenance of safety records and help ensure compliance with regulations
including pesticide application records and partner requirements for safety training.
Contribute to writing of annual farm report. Provide plant materials production
information to project reports.
5. Other duties as assigned, which may include the following (5%):
Assist with tours, workshops, and presentations for funders, partners, and the public.
Travel out-of-town as needed to complete work program and to attend meetings and
conferences.
Contribute to program goals and vision and collaborate with coworkers.
Contribute content to IAE newsletter and webpage.
Engage in professional development opportunities.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum qualifications
Minimum of 2 years of experience in horticulture, plant farming, native plant
propagation, or related agricultural pursuit.
Demonstrated ability to safely operate, maintain, repair, and troubleshoot farm
equipment such as tractors, seed drills, combines, and seed cleaning equipment with
minimal supervision.
Knowledge of seed anatomy, assessment, proper handling and storage. Able to
distinguish seed from chaff, assess seed maturity.
Basic plant identification skills. Able to identify majority of forbs and common grasses
in work areas on sight. Able to use plant keys or other resources to identify unknown
plant species.
Positive attitude and excellent oral and written communication skills.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Have or ability to obtain (within three months of hire date) an Oregon commercial
pesticide applicator’s license (agriculture category).
● Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and
Google Suite. Able to organize and manipulate spreadsheets.
Ability to work some weekends.
Ability to lift 50 pounds.
Current U.S. driver’s license.
How to Apply
To apply for this position:
1. Complete the online job application form: https://forms.gle/FvGShTT7efxTmPBe8. You will
need the following information.
a. Current contact information
b. When you would be available to work
c. Contact information (phone and email) for three professional references (including
past employers)
d. Answers to specific online questions (we recommend you complete these offline, then
paste into the application form)
2. Email your letter of interest and resume to jobs at appliedeco.org with "IAE Farm Technician" in
the subject line of the email.
Letters of recommendation, additional writing samples, and/or college transcripts may be requested for
top applicants. Applications must be received by August 21, 2020. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL
NOT BE ACCEPTED. Non-U.S. residents must also include a copy of their work visa. Applications will be
considered upon receipt until the application deadline.
Questions may be addressed to:
Rebecca Currin, rebecca at appliedeco.org.
For more information about IAE and this program, visit our website www.appliedeco.org.
IAE supports diversity and equity, and we encourage applications from all groups of people. We
recognize that the strength of IAE is in our people, and we believe that every employee has the right to
work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. IAE does
not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices, and our comm
