Job: Organic Farm Instructional Technician, Evergreen State College – WA

Title: Organic Farm Instructional Technician

Type: Full-time Location: Olympia, Washington Compensation: Salary range is $3,135 to $4,114 per month of full-time work. A full state benefits package which includes: paid sick and vacation leave; paid campus holidays; a generous medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts.  Staff are eligible for a free local bus/transit pass. After completion of the probationary period, employees are eligible for the statewide tuition waiver program. Last Day to Apply: 1/28/2011 To Apply, click on below link, then click on "Staff Job Openings" and then on "Organic Farm Instructional Technician": https://www.univjobs.com/extlinks/external_page.php?url=https://www.evergreen.edu/employment/&title=Click&refing_url=https://www.univjobs.com/college/wa.html

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Bulletin number: 2011-001WW

Opens: 1/4/2011

Closing date: 1/28/2011

Committed to equal opportunity and operating with an Affirmative Action Plan, The Evergreen State College is working to build a diverse faculty and staff.  We strongly encourage qualified persons of all races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations, persons with disabilities, persons over forty, women, Vietnam Era and disabled veterans to apply.

SPECIAL NOTE
There is currently one full-time classified, overtime eligible Organic Farm Instructional Technician (classified title: Instruction and Classroom Support Technician 3) position available on the Olympia campus of The Evergreen State College. The candidate pool established from this announcement may be used to fill comparable permanent, full-time, part-time and temporary vacancies for the next six months to one year.

POSITION PURPOSE
The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate all logistical elements of the organic farm operation and, in collaboration with the faculty, provide direct instructional support of the farm-based agriculture curriculum.

NATURE AND SCOPE
This position reports to the Science Operations Manager and is one of seven (7) Instruction and Classroom Support Technicians supporting the science-based academic programs.

The position will primarily support the fifty-student, year-long, farm-based “Practice of Sustainable Agriculture” program. Scope of responsibilities include: student instructional support; directing the work of the farm staff (student, temporary and/or part-time classified); crop production and direct marketing; and maintenance of the farm infrastructure (materials and supplies, greenhouses, equipment, irrigation, etc.).

The nature of the academic experience at Evergreen requires that the Instruction & Classroom Support Technician remain flexible in supporting a frequently changing, multi-disciplinary curriculum. The technician will be expected to develop broad knowledge and skills in multiple scientific disciplines. This position is unscheduled, and the technician may be required to work evenings or weekends.

COMPENSATION

• Experience and training may be considered in salary placement.
• Salary range is $3,135 to $4,114 per month of full-time work.
• A full state benefits package which includes: paid sick and vacation leave; paid campus holidays; a generous medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts.  For more information about Evergreen’s excellent employee benefits, please visit https://www.evergreen.edu/payroll/employeebenefits.htm
• Staff are eligible for a free local bus/transit pass;
• After completion of the probationary period, employees are eligible for the statewide tuition waiver program.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree with coursework in agricultural, biological or natural sciences.
• Experience in organic farm operations and management.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Farm Curriculum and Field Trip Preparation

• In collaboration with the faculty, develops farm-based laboratory exercises, demonstrations and field trips
• Acquires and prepares equipment, materials and supplies needed to implement farm exercises and field trips
• Problem solves as necessary to ensure high quality educational outcomes
• Provides the faculty, students and staff with planning and scheduling assistance

Farm Curriculum Implementation

• Instructs students in organic farming concepts and laboratory and/or field techniques
• Instructs the students and faculty on proper use of farm equipment, supplies and materials
• Coordinates the activities of the students, faculty, and staff in cleaning farm facilities and field equipment following laboratory or field work
• Monitors farm facilities to ensure they are in functional condition
• May serve as subcontractor for student Individual Learning Contracts

Safety

• Designs, implements, and monitors effective safety procedures.
• Trains students, staff, and faculty in current safety procedures
• Monitors potential risks and hazards to ensure a safe educational environment
• Obtains relevant and/or required safety training
• Maintains records of safety training performed

Planning, Facilitation, Communication

• Maintain close working relationships with the agriculture faculty; facilitate and coordinate discussions and plan with program faculty to implement delivery and enhance the quality of the curriculum;
• Act as liaison and farm spokes person to the outside community (public, private, corporate) to promote relationships beneficial to the college.
• Facilitate discussions between the Farm students, staff and faculty.  Refer farm-related conflict/disputes to the Science Operations Manger for resolution.

Administration

• Project biennial revenues, monitor sales and inventory for the sale of farm produce in accordance with college and state policies and procedures.
• Co-develop and monitor yearly operating and student staff allocations.
• Provide organization and oversight of the Farm facilities, equipment, and supplies
• Evaluates equipment needs, and specifications, and makes purchase recommendations
• Maintains farm records as necessary
• Participates in professional development activities designed to update the skills and knowledge needed to continue providing relevant professional guidance and instruction to students, faculty and staff

Staff

• Direct the work of Farm support staff and provide input in their performance evaluation to the Science Operations Manager
• Hire and train student employees as needed.
• Assess and reassign staff responsibilities quarterly to meet needs of the academic programs.

Space Planning and Management

• Coordinate educational, research and community farm use needs; this includes coordination with student groups using the Farm.
• Participate in institutional discussions on Farm space needs.
• Recommend initiatives to be funded.

State/Federal Regulatory Responsibilities

• Maintain county, state and federal standards for organic farming certification, the food-processing kitchen, and other required permits for Farm activities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to manage a direct market organic farm
• Working knowledge of diverse farming operations
• Good working knowledge of scientific principles and practices and their application to organic agriculture
• Good working knowledge of current farm safety procedures
• Ability to maintain and repair farm-related equipment
• Ability to identity equipment and supply needs
• Ability to research, evaluate, and order supplies and equipment within budgetary constraints
• Ability to effectively use various types of computers, associated hardware, and software applications

Behavioral Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse staff, faculty, and students
• Ability to plan, prioritize, execute, and complete projects in timely fashion
• Ability to work with minimal supervision in an environment that requires constant flexibility
• Demonstrated ability to effectively evaluate the quality of agriculture  instructional support including the identification of issues, concerns, and problems
• Ability to solve problems
• Ability to create, organize, and maintain records and files
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Ability to lead and instruct groups

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• As a condition of employment, persons hired must provide proof of identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of beginning work, and persons may be required to submit to a background check.
• This position is assigned to part of the institution that is covered by a union shop provision of the Department of Personnel/Higher Education Division.  Therefore, new employees are required to pay dues to the Federation of State Employees within thirty (30) days of their hiring date.