Program Associate-Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Job Description:

Current University of Arkansas System employees including student employees and graduate assistants need to log into Workday on My Apps. Simply enter "Find Jobs" in the Workday search bar to view open positions. All Job Postings will close at 12:01 a.m. CT on the specified Closing Date (if designated).If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application process will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through \\"My Draft Applications\\" located on your Candidate Home page.Type of Position:Professional Staff - ResearchJob Type:Regular

Work Shift:Institution Name: Division of Agriculture of the University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is a state wide campus, with faculty based on University campuses, at Research and Extension Centers and in every Arkansas county. It consists of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service (CES), and is home to more than 1400 employees. The Division was established in 1959 and is headed by the Vice-President for Agriculture. The Division headquarters is located in Little Rock with the rest of the University of Arkansas System Administration. As an employer, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click theApply link/button.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process and require reasonable accommodations, please contact the Division's Office of Inclusion, Access, and Compliance at bbatiste@uaex.edu.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 501-671-2219 or 479-502-9820.Department:HORT | Forage and TurfgrassSummary of Job Duties:1.Management of research plantings: Field trials will be conducted at research stations in Fayetteville, Kibler, Clarksville, Hope, and potentially other sites. Responsibilities will include seeding or transplanting, applying fertilizer or pesticide treatments, watering, weeding, pruning, adjusting high tunnel sidewalls, harvesting, and other general maintenance activities.
2.Data collection and uploading: Data associated with field trials will be collected regularly throughout the year, with extended outdoor data collection during peak field season and harvest. Data collection includes taking measurements in the field, such as weather data, plant heights, stand counts, and tissue or soil sampling. Responsibilities also include entering data to digital formats, taking pictures, and uploading all data and images to a shared laboratory folder for subsequent analysis.
3.Propagation and greenhouse management: Starters plants will be initiated in greenhouse, requiring regular visits for sowing seed, watering, temperature adjustment, pesticide application, transplanting, among other activities.
4.Equipment maintenance and assembly: Sprayers, pumps, irrigation controllers, weed-eaters, mowers, and simple implements will require minor maintenance (e.g., cleaning, oil change). Greenhouses and high tunnels will require reskinning, condenser wall replacement, and end wall maintenance. Technical instruments will require regular calibration, battery replacement, software updates, and general troubleshooting. Hand-pump, gas-operated, compressed CO2-operated backpack sprayers are used regularly to apply fertility and pesticide treatments. Boom assembly and sprayer calibration will be the responsibility of the new hire.
5.Purchasing and inventory: Regular inventory such as marker tags, disposable gloves, seeding trays, will be maintained and restocked by this staff member. Purchasing and ordering should be done in advance to maintain sufficient inventory of research supplies, chemicals, and seeds for upcoming and ongoing field trials.
6.Miscellaneous duties: Includes but is not limited to reviewing, writing and editing duties which includes research reports, manuscripts, abstracts, posters, and other forms of written communication by the project leader or others working in the fruit and vegetable production program. Managing employee interactions will be required, including supervising and assisting graduate student employees and others including undergraduate students conducting research and collaboration with employees based at Fayetteville, Fruit Research Station, and Southwest Research and Extension Center. Cooperation is expected with the research station staff, campus and extension faculty, and employees at Center for Arkansas Farms and Food (CAFF) on cooperative tasks. Preparing materials for lectures, laboratories, and various other responsibilities in assisting with teaching efforts will occur occasionally.Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
B.S. in horticulture plus three years of related professional experience OR M.S. in horticulture with training in fruit and vegetable crops or closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with horticultural field research and familiarity with harvest techniques is desirable. Individuals with a certified pesticide applicator license would be preferred. A strong publication record, whether peer-reviewed journal articles or extension fact sheets would be beneficial. Familiarity with postharvest storage evaluations, analytical measurements such as soluble solids, pH and titratable acidity as well as other compositional analyses is preferred. Coursework or experience in fruit or vegetable production is preferred also. Experience with statistical analyses of research data is desired. Applicants should be highly motivated and team-oriented.

Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities:
Applicant must have a driver's license, be able to lift 50 lb., and be able to walk long distances in field conditions. Additionally, applicant must be able to work outside in field plantings in sunny and hot conditions in summer as well as cold conditions in fall, winter, or spring. Travel to the Fruit Research Station, Southwest Research and Extension Center or other research locations is required, and overnight travel is required periodically.
Additional Information:
Special Instructions to Applicants
Please provide a cover letter, resume, transcripts, and contact information for three professional references.

Salary Range
Salary is commensurate with experience and education.

Contact Information
Dr. Matt Bertucci
Assistant Professor
Department of Horticulture
University of Arkansas
316 Plant Sciences Bldg.
Fayetteville, AR 72701

phone: 1.504.453.4390

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture may conduct pre-employment background checks on certain positions for applicants being considered for employment. The background checks may include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal background check or arrest pending adjudication information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absences of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a consistent, non-discriminatory manner consistent with the state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture commits itself to policies of affirmative action and diversity with respect to both employment opportunities and program participation. The Division complies with these policies not merely because of legal requirements, but because we believe that such practices are basic to human dignity. As such, the Division welcomes all applicants to apply without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation,