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SalaryPosition Title:
Agricultural Specialist - HorticultureJob Group:
Professional & ScientificRequired Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degreeSpecial Required Qualifications
Valid U.S. Driver's LicensePreferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in Horticulture, Plan Sciences or related disciplines.Experience in commercial fruit and vegetable production.
Experience in horticulture plot research.
Experience with horticulture machinery and equipment used for planting and harvesting.
Supervisory experience.
Commercial pesticide applicators certification.
Experience with horticultural or agricultural irrigation systems
Job Description:
The Iowa State University (ISU) Research and Demonstration Farms in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University is seeking candidates for the position of Agricultural Specialist I or II. The position will be an individual contributor at the Horticulture Research Station and Hinds Memorial Irrigation Farm to help conduct field research experiments related to vegetable and fruit crop production. The Horticulture Research Station supports the faculty, staff, and students at ISU to enable their field research experiments.
This position will be responsible for interfacing and facilitating research that scientists on campus conduct at the Horticulture Research Station. The position ensures that research is executed according to the scientists’ protocols in a timely and effective manner. Duties will include field level research, including working with and maintaining agriculture machinery and equipment for research scale plots for planting, crop management and harvest. The incumbent will also manage field experiments, including appropriate mechanical and chemical measures, to obtain high quality experimental data, data collection, data management and analysis using handheld devices and commercial software. The incumbent will operate irrigation systems used to support field research and production of horticulture and agronomic crops including turfgrass. The incumbent will be expected to modify procedures to meet specific research / experiment needs and train / supervise staff and students on the use of equipment.
The successful candidate will have excellent written and interpersonal communication skills to assist in report preparation and to effectively interact with and inform faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate student employees, and collaborators. The candidate will be able to direct and guide employees and cooperators, be detail-oriented, and manage multiple ongoing tasks. The candidate will also be self-motivated and capable of working independently when required.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship.
The candidate may be hired as an Agricultural Specialist I or II:
Agricultural Specialist I: Bachelor's degree (PS805)
Agricultural Specialist II: Bachelor's degree and 2 yrs experience (PS806)
Level Guidelines: Agricultural Specialist I
- Individual contributor position with developing professional and/or technical skills working under immediate to general supervision
- Grasps professional-level knowledge and concepts of field while working in a progressive learning mode
- Works on problems and issues of somewhat limited scope
- Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data for which answers are available or can be obtained
- Responds to inquiries and issues, escalating to manager or higher level workers as appropriate
- May lead projects of limited scope and complexity
- May provide guidance to students
Level Guidelines: Agricultural Specialist II
• Intermediate-level position with solid professional and/or technical skills working under general supervision to achieve goals
• Applies broad, working knowledge of the principles of the field to moderately complex, difficult, and varied problems and issues
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action and resolve problems
• Responds to a broad range of inquiries and requests
• May provide training and/or direction to lower-level staff
• May lead projects of moderate scope and complexity
• Provides guidance to students
Appointment Type:
RegularNumber of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work PeriodTime Type:
Full timePay Grade:
PS805Application Instructions:
1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
Why Choose ISU?
Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
- Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
- Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans
- Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
- Life insurance and long-term disability
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Various voluntary benefits and discounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Wellbeing program
- Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.
