Agricultural Research Specialist - Kearneysville Experimental Farm

West Virginia University's Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design (WVU DCANRD) is seeking applications for an Agricultural Research Specialist.

About the Opportunity

This position contributes to the integrity of research, demonstration, and teaching initiatives conducted by faculty of WVU DCANRD and the WVU Experiment Station. This position will provide labor and knowledge to ensure the highest quality of operation of the DCANRD Research, Education and Outreach Centers (REOC's). The incumbent will provide support to faculty who are conducting classes and demonstrations at research and teaching locations. This position requires the incumbent be willing to work holidays, weekends, and after core business hours.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Agronomic/Horticultural Duties

• Provides daily management and care for production and maintenance of food, fiber, horticultural and orchard crops for support of teaching and research initiatives of the programs of Davis College.
• Soil preparation
• Application of fertilizers and lime
• Seeding
• Transplanting
• Cultivation
• Application of pesticides
• Pruning
• Harvesting and storage of crops
• Follows protocols, policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and requirements as directed, under light supervision.
• Operates standard transmission and automatic University trucks, tractors, and equipment needed to complete tasks.
• Plants and harvests products for animal consumption to meet optimal growth and capacity.
• Attends required meetings, seminars and classes.
• Other relevant duties necessary to fulfill the mission of the REOC's.

Research and Education

• Assists REOC management in the oversight of research activities to include production, maintenance, collection, and collating of resources.
• Responsible for collecting research data and/or samples for the REOC manager. Assists in organizing and collating data for statistical analyses and interpretation.
• Observes and records appropriate data and checks for completeness and accuracy in support of research projects. Prepares data for input in computer and assists in the processing of information generated from analyses.
• Maintains all required records, reports, statistics, etc. as mandated by Federal or State Laws and/or institutional policies and procedures. Maintains established departmental policies, procedures, objectives, and quality assurance, safety, and environmental controls.
• Assists PI's in the development and evaluation of new analytical procedures and techniques
• Performs data collection in field research plots to include measuring, harvesting, weighing, and preparing for storage of plant materials. Assists researchers in laying out replicated plots or replicated animal treatment groups. Requires an understanding of the research process and attention to detail.
• Coordinates pest scouting in research plots and indoor growing facilities at the REOC's.
• Assists faculty who are conducting class demonstrations and techniques in seedbed preparation, plot layout, planting, cultivation, management and plot harvesting.
• Assists faculty and PI with laboratory experiments in Davis College programs. Instructs student workers in laboratories on the operation of lab equipment.
• Maintains an inventory of all supplies and restocks and expands, as needed.

Heavy Equipment Operation

• Conducts visual inspection of all equipment to insure safe and efficient operation.
• Assists REOC management and/or trade specialists in performing routine equipment maintenance such as oil, filter and fuel filter changes, monitoring and maintaining fluid levels, and lubricating tractors and other equipment.
• Operates a wide range of large agricultural and construction equipment such as tractors, sprayers, front loaders, scrapers, balers, haybines, combines, brush cutters, etc. to complete varied tasks associated with the maintenance and operation of the REOC's, including operations in support of research projects.
• Operates a truck weighing 26,000 lbs. GVW or less to haul logs, posts, fertilizer, lime, produce, livestock, equipment, hay and other REOC products and supplies.

• Associate's Degree in an agricultural related field or a high school diploma/GED with at least 2 years of relevant work experience in the required fields (animal or plant research facility including working with layout).
• A minimum of six (6) months of experience in the following:
  • Experience handling/ feeding livestock.
  • Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Data collection and management.
  • Experience in instructing/educating students preferred.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of agricultural and plant science and practices (e.g. production practices of plants)
• Ability to learn, understand, and follow WVU, Davis College and Division lab policies and procedures.
• Ability to utilize Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) to maintain data for research, samples, safety, etc.
• Ability to operate tillage, feeding, and other REOC equipment with a high degree of accuracy for small plot and animal research needs.
• Understanding of basic experimental design, including replication, plots and sub-plots, consistency of data collection.
• Understanding of both precision and accuracy in record collection and the need for research protocol adherence.
• Ability to effectively utilize data sheets and spreadsheets to collect and organize data.
• Ability to use and comprehend record keeping software such as Cattlemax, HerdManager, and FarmWorks.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact with students, faculty, and the general public.
• Effective organizational, task management, and computational skills.
• Ability to understand simple to complex instructions, both written and oral.
• Demonstrated ability to walk/run in rough field conditions and terrain.
• Ability to apply pesticides - may require obtaining license and wearing protective clothing and apparatus.
• Ability to lift, bend, stoop, walk, reach, sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Ability to lift, carry, load and unload supplies and materials.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, write coherently and concisely, and use appropriate grammar and spelling.
• Demonstrated ability to operate normal REOC equipment such as tractors, posthole diggers, spray equipment, balers, mixers, shearing equipment, heaters, etc.
• Ability to follow safety precautions and guidelines (e.g. wearing required clothing, masks, equipment, etc.).
• Ability to travel, with occasional overnight stays.
• Ability to work on holidays, weekends, and after core business hours.
• Willingness to work on a rotating schedule

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree

• Valid Driver's license required.
• Enrollment in WVU Occupational Health's Animal Handling Monitoring required.
• Pesticide applicators license is required to apply pesticides (may obtain this licensure post hire, within 1 year).
• Relevant Environmental Health and Safety requirements and training.
  

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.