Wheat Breeding Station Technician

The Wheat Breeding Technician will support the wheat breeding activities by providing service for yield trial and early generation program parts, as well as actively participating in all other aspects of the wheat breeding program. This position ensures that all Company policies and procedures are followed correctly.

Essential job functions:

• Technical support of the SRW and other breeding activities in the USA.
• Support the Station Manager to execute effective field research operations at all locations, which includes preparation, sowing, maintenance, and harvest of the breeding nursery and yield trials.
• Operation of small research equipment including tractors, plot planters, sprayers and plot combines.
• Ensure that company assets are adequately maintained.
• Assist the breeders in field data collection and harvest activities.
• Coordinate necessary activities to turn around seeds between harvest and sowing.
• Training and providing technical supervision of seasonal staff.
• Ensure purchasing is kept within budget and authority levels are not exceeded.
• Work variable hours as needed.
• Ensure the company handbook, Rules, Guidelines, Procedures, and safety policies are followed, and personal protective equipment is used correctly.
• Regularly travel and/or drive on behalf of the business.
• Meet attendance requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications:

• Knowledge of crop production, farming practices, and farm equipment operation and repair.
• Good mechanical skills.
• Ability to work outdoors.
• Ability to work non-standard hours when needed.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be willing to obtain and maintain a CDL.
• Possess or be able to obtain and maintain a forklift driver’s license.
• Possess or be able to obtain and maintain a pesticide applicators license.
• Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
• Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
• HS diploma or equivalent.

Preferred qualifications:

• BA/BS in Agriculture or related degree.
• 2+ years of appropriate work experience in plant breeding and/or a field-based research environment.
• People management skills.

Working environment:

Must wear required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as needed.  Able to work in varied environmental conditions (loud, hot, cold, dusty, damp, etc.), which will include outdoor work and exposure to different pollens.  Flexibility to work rotating shifts as needed (including weekends, night shifts, and holidays). Ability to work individually and within a team setting. Travel as needed which may include overnights.

Physical demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms and bend and twist. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and move objects up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

We look forward to receiving your online application via our application system SuccessFactors! Please use the "Apply" function in the online advertisement.

Apply now: https://jobs.kws.com/job/Champaign-Wheat-Breeding-Station-Technician-IL/1082790701

Job ID: 14462

About KWS:

KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. Over 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.8 billion in the fiscal year 2022/2023. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for 165 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugar beet, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield for farmers and plants’ resistance to diseases, pests, and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested more than €300 million last fiscal year in research and development. For more information: www.kws.com/career Follow us on LinkedIn® at https://linkedin.com/company/kwsgroup/

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